History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c20.s1.3

v1.c20.s1.3

Early in the 6th century A.D., Varāhamihira has alluded in Bṛhat Saṃhitā to the preparation of fast dyes for textile fabrics by the treatment of natural dyes like mañjiṣṭhā with alum and other chemicals (like sulphate of iron, kāsīsa in Sanskrit) as also with cowdung⁵. Tuvarī (alum) is described as colour-binding substance of maddar. It is well-known that alum and sulphate of iron are even now largely used as mordants.