Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c37.4

v2.c37.4

THIS volume seeks to record ancient India’s long acquaintance and sustained expertise in the fields of gems, non-gem minerals, metals and alloys, as revealed from the Vedic and Sanskrit literature. The period from the Rgveda to the Rasaratnasamuccaya (RRS) covers nearly three millennia. Traditionally, the ‘ancient’ period in India is said to have ended around AD 1200 with the firm grip of the Muslims over this sub-continent. Our narrative however includes RRS, an early fourteenth century AD treatise, since it provides a comprehensive review of the earlier Sanskrit literatures and the state-of-the art in the field of our interest. We have also given references to some Pāli and Prākṛt texts, to substantiate our findings.