Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c42.s5.2

v2.c42.s5.2

The Buddhist literature mentioned seven kinds of jewels or ratna: suvanna (gold), rajata (silver), muttā (pearl), veluriya (beryl), vajra (diamond), pravāla (coral) and maṇi or miscellaneous gems (Milinda, Vol.1, p. 267, Jātaka, Vol. 6, p. 480). Different kinds of loṇa or lavaṇa or salts mentioned are: samuddaloṇa, kālaloṇa, saindhavaloṇa, sovirka, etc. loṇakāras used to process salts. Decorative pigments or añjanas were widely used. Five kinds were mentioned: kālā, seta, rasa, geruka and kappila (Dīgha Nikāya, Vol.1, pp.7, 12; Jātaka, Vol.1, p.194; Vol.2, p.369; Vol.5, p.416).