Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c28.s10.5

v1.c28.s10.5

Abul Fazl mentioned in *Āin-i-Akbarī* (I, 40, N, Kishore edition) that the *aṣṭa-dhātu* of the Hindus contains ‘six of *haft-josh* plus *ruh-i-tutiya* (zinc) and *kāmsya* (bronze)’. Khan (1986: 80) stated that the Hindu *aṣṭa-dhātu* was supposed to contain copper, tin, zinc, lead, iron, gold, silver and mercury, “the last being considered most auspicious and probably added in the form of an amalgam with the gold”. We have already discussed in connection with the Tibetan icons the issues related to gilding. Thus Khan’s list has a touch of realism.