History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c20.s2.t1.3

v1.c20.s2.t1.3

Madayantikā, which is mentioned in many ancient texts, is mentioned in Navanītaka as an ingredient for hair-dye. It is identified as mendī also for colouring nails. Hence madayantikā was, no doubt, a plant yielding a dye used in the preparation of cosmetics and hair-dyes during the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D. Some of the ingredients given above were obviously used as dye- producing agents in hair-dyes. Some among them were used as dye- producing agents in ink manufacture also.