Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c38.s1.2

v2.c38.s1.2

Ṛgveda (RV) contains several words for the stone: aśman, adri, pāṣya, etc., of which the first, i.e., aśman is the most significant one. Mehta and Kantawala (1987) have discussed the varieties of stone-tools in the Ṛgveda. In RV, 1.191.15 the text bhinadmy aśmanā indicated a cutting stone-tool which could be a blade, celt or cleaver. The aśmānam vajram (RV, 4.22.1) is evidently a vajra or weapon made of stone. Later a similar weapon was made of ayasa or metal. The simultaneous appearance of the words kārmāra and aśman in 9.112.2 led Mehta et al. (1987) to propose that kārmāra was a stone-worker rather than a blacksmith. It may be recorded here that in the Pre-Harappan stratum of Kālibaṅgan, chalcedony and agate blades have been found. These were serrated, mounted on wooden handle and probably used for cutting and sowing. At a later stage, chert blades were introduced. Side by side copper-made axe and paraśu were found, the latter probably used for cutting scrubby bushes. (Lal, 1979:70) Chert and chalcedony blades have been found at Banawālī also. (Bisht, 1982)