Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c39.s3: On Trapu or Tin
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c39.s3
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On Trapu or Tin
v2.c39.s3.1
We have already referred to the early citations on trapu Ś.YV, 18.13, AV, 11.8.7-8, Chā. Up, 4.17.7). Several other words for tin, such as kastira, vaṅga and raṅga were evolved during the much later Historical period in India.
v2.c39.s3.2
The word trapu is derived from the root trap, which means ‘to be ashamed or shy’, to which the suffix un has been added to convey the sense agnim drṣṭavā trapate lajjate iva (Tārānātha’s Vācaspatyam quoted by V.S. Apte, 1890, 1985: 483; also Monier-Williams, 1899, 1986: 457) or that the low melting point metal easily melts in fire. It may be noted than tin has a very low melting point 232°C and low latent heat of melting 14.5 cal/gm.
v2.c39.s3.3
Monier-Williams (1899, 1986: 266) suggested that the word kastira was derived from the root kāns or to shine, and led to the Greek word kassiteros for tin and the modern word cassiterite, for tin ore. Many scholars on the other hand (such as Chakrabarti, 1979: 68-69) believe that kastira was derived from the Greek word kassiteros. We subscribe to the latter view on account of two reasons. Firstly, the word kastira was used in the Indian literature during the period of Indo-Greek contact few centuries before the Christian era, not earlier and rarely later. Secondly, whereas the Indian word for brass has been traditionally pīta tāla or pitala, the other word which was used during the period of Indo-Greek contact, namely ārakūta (Kauṭilya’s Arthaśāstra) seemed to be a loan word from the Greek Oreichalcos.
v2.c39.s3.4
Monier-Williams’s suggestion regarding kāns (to shine or to glitter) as the root for kastira cannot be altogether ignored specially in view of the strong possibility that this root might have led to the famous word kaṃsā which stands for the copper-tin alloy bronze, also known as bell-metal or white copper. The word kaṃsā has been generally used to indicate copper alloys, not necessarily containing tin. Just as trapu has sometimes denoted (erroneously) lead, similarly kaṃsā has often stood for brass (copper-zinc alloy) or copper-arsenic alloy. The Sanskrit name for arsenic mineral löllingite is kāṃsya vimala.
v2.c39.s3.5
Kaṃsā or bronze has been used widely in the Harappan and Vedic civilization for making various utensils (Ait. Brā, 8.10, Nir. 7.23) such as vessels or bowls (B.Up., 6.3.1). Small pieces of kaṃsā were used as exchange units (śataṃ kaṃsāḥ, AV, 10.10.5).
Linked texts (3)
- Chāndogyopaniṣad — Sanskrit
- Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit
- Atharvavedasaṃhitā — Atharvan & Aṅgiras, Sanskrit