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Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c39.s6: Iron Implements

Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c39.s6

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Iron Implements

v2.c39.s6.1

India entered the iron age after the Ṛgvedic era. Many metallic implements, probably made of copper or bronze, were mentioned in our previous chapter on the Ṛgveda. Similar tools continued to be made using the newly discovered metal, iron. We need not mention them again in this chapter. Just by the way of illustration, it may be noted that kṣura or razor known in the Ṛgveda continued to be popular thereafter (AV, 12.5.20,55; Tait. Sam., 2.1.5.7; Ś. Brā., 2.6.4.5; 3.1.2.7; 3.6.2.9, etc.). The ‘sharp edge of the razor’ kṣurasya dhārā nisitā (Kaṭha Upaniṣad, 1.3.14, B.Up., 3.3.2) became a popular expression. Svaḍhiti in Tait. Sam., 6.3.3.2, Vā. Sam., 2.15 and 5.43 meant an axe or a sword as in RV, 2.39.7, 3.2.10, etc.

v2.c39.s6.2

The names of several new iron instruments appeared in the later Vedic literature; possibly there had been no prototypes in copper or bronze. Parigha was an iron bar to keep door(s) closed from inside (Chā. Up., 2.24.6, 10 and 15). It also represented an iron cudgel used in warfare. Pariṇaha was an iron chest or sinduka for storing valuable items (AV, 19.48.1). Two-armed iron tongs was known as pariśās (Ś. Brā., 14.1.3.1; 14.2.1.16; 14.2.2.54; 14.3.1); this resembles modern sandāsi and was used to lift hot crucibles and vessels from a furnace. Praśasa was an axe or some other instrument for cutting (Ait. Brā., 2.6.5, Nir., 5.11). Śāsa stood for a sword or knife (Ait. Brā., 7.17.15, Sāṅkh. ŚS., 15.25.1, Ś. Brā., 3.8.1.4-5, 13.2.3.16). A stick of iron was known as śalyaka (Vā. Sam., 24.35, Ait. Brā., 3.26.3).

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