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History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c20.s2.t4: Metals and Minerals

History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c20.s2.t4

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English

Metals and Minerals

v1.c20.s2.t4.1

At the beginning, even though natural organic and plant materials were used as dyes, in the course of the Gupta Age, as Tantric cult developed and alchemical techniques were practised, dyes also were prepared from minerals and other substances by means of several chemical processes. The art of dyeing, in this manner, has indirectly helped the development of chemistry in ancient India.

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Mineral dyes were utilized in colouring cotton, wool, linen, silk, cloth of natural fibres, ink, hair, cosmetics etc. Many soluble dyes were converted into pigments by forming insoluble salts for use in paints, inks etc. Many works of the Tantric period contain information on dyes being utilized in colouring metals also.

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In the texts dealing with alchemy and allied topics of ancient and middle ages we come across words like *loharañjaka*, *rasarañjaka*, *sūtarañjaka* etc¹². It is quite probable that in 4th or 5th century A.D., people were efficient in the techniques of colouring metals and minerals for several purposes. *Rasārṇava*, a tantric work says, "Iron, lead and copper are coloured by means of calamine - the whole thing turns into gold"¹³. *Rasaka* (calamine) is of three kinds, of the colour of the earth, of the colour of stones and of the appearance of treacle. *Rasaka* mixed with certain organic matters and roasted three times with copper converts the copper into a golden stuff. To obtain vermilion (*sindura*) of the colour of rising sun, it is advised that ash of mercury and sulphur of equal weights should be rubbed and roasted in a covered crucible. Blue vitriol (*tuttham*) which is of the colour of the neck of peacock, saffron (*kunkumam*), calamine (*rasaka*) and also the excreta of a young calf, the poisons (*visa halahala*), powdered *Plumbago zeylanica*, (*raktacitracūrṇa*), all in equal proportions should be rubbed with acids and dried in shade.

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Then adding honey to the mixture it should be smeared on a thin sheet of lead. When roasted in a covered crucible, the lead gets a beautiful colour fit to be used for bedecking gods (*Rṇv* VII.31-34; XIV.81; XVII. 70.74; Ray, pp 138-139).

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Apart from the Sanskrit texts dealing with alchemy in ancient India, a few Tibetan texts also furnish some information on the chemical process of colouring metals with organic and inorganic dye-stuffs. *Bilva* (wood apple), *dāḍima* (pomegranate) and a special kind of dye (*smantshos*) are to be burnt and mixed with sour wine in a copper pot for three days. In this manner, a paint will be prepared which should be applied twenty one times to a thin piece of iron and it becomes copper (copper coloured) [*Dhātuvāda*, 2,3, vide Ray] for Extracts.

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A plant named *kuṣṭha* (*Costus speciosa*) grown in the Himalayas are often mentioned in ancient Indian medical texts. It is said that the leaves of this plant drop a fluid towards the earth having a colour like bright gold. This has a dyeing effect when comes into contact with the ashes of pure lead and quicksilver. It turns copper mixed with silver into a golden material (*Dhātuvāda* 12). *Hingula* alum, blue vitriol etc. are said to be favourable for importing colour to quick-silver (*Śiv. R.* VI. 15.50-51; *Rhr*, Pātala VIII). To brighten the blue tinge of the precious stone *nila* (sapphire), it is said that the gem should be placed in a bronze vessel filled with indigo juice mixed with the juice of citrus fruit (*Śiv. R.* VI. 17.112)

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