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Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c41.s10: On Vaikṛntaka, Vṛtta and Tikṣṇa

Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c41.s10

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On Vaikṛntaka, Vṛtta and Tikṣṇa

v2.c41.s10.1

We have already discussed the unsolved puzzle regarding the identity of vaikṛntaka. All we know is that it was a metal or alloy prepared from its ore or dhātu (2.12.16) which, according to Roy (1946:113), could be magnetite. Vaikṛntaka has been referred some times (2.12.23; 4.1.35 etc.) with vṛtta, which is identified by many scholars including Kangle, as steel. In one place (2.17.14), vaikṛntaka and vṛtta have been mentioned with kālāyasa, which is evidently the Vedic name for pig or wrought iron; thus, the three (in 2.17.14) were presumably believed to be different from each other. On the top of it, tikṣṇa mentioned as iron, had its ore or dhātu (2.12.15), and the metal was used as an alloying component (2.12.24; 2.13.48 & 58).

v2.c41.s10.2

We propose that kālāyasa stood for pig or wrought iron and tikṣṇa was carburised iron (not cast iron) which gave sharp (tikṣṇa) tools. Tikṣṇadhātu was possibly hematite. Iron prepared from South Indian magnetite or *vaikṛntakadhātu* was wrongly believed to be a different metal *vaikṛntaka*. *Vṛtta* was most possibly steel or carburised iron prepared in crucible; this cementation product was later known in South India as wootz. The name *vṛtta* arose possible in view of the approximately circular cross-section of the steel ingot solidifying in the crucible. About 108 such ingots, each approximately 1-2 inch in cross-section, 5-6 inch in length and 3-4 lbs. in weight, were obtained in the first century AD stratum of the Sirkap mound at Taxilā. These specimens were not tempered like steel but assayed high (1.2-1.7) p.c. in carbon.

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