Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c39.s5.2

v2.c39.s5.2

We have mentioned different kinds of golden ornaments used in the Ṛgvedic era. We need not repeat those names; the items continued to be used in the post-Ṛgvedic period. In Ś. Brā., 5.4.1.12-13 rukma or gold plate is mentioned to contain sometimes a hundered holes (śatavitṛnna), sometimes nine holes (navavitṛnna). Sacrificers often gave as a dakṣiṇā, a golden plate with eight indentations (Āpastamba Sūtra, 9,18, 16-19, 14). Other forms of gold offering were: gold chips or shavings, hiranya sakala (Ś.Brā., 6.1.2.30, 7.5.2.8-9), hiranya iṣṭaka or gold-brick (Ś. Brā., 6.1.2.30). The Ś. Brā., 12.8.3.11 mentions gold and silver plates placed beneath the feet of the sacrificer at the consecration during the Sautrāmaṇi sacrifice. The Āsval. ŚS (10.3) and Sāṅkh. ŚS (15.27) state that a hotṛ priest should sit on a golden cushion (hiraṇyakaśipu), cushion in which gold threads are woven, during the Rājasūya sacrifice.