Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c43.s2: The Scope of Ratnaśāstra (Gemmology)
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c43.s2
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The Scope of Ratnaśāstra (Gemmology)
v2.c43.s2.1
AM (3-4) outlined the scope of the Ratnaśāstra texts:
v2.c43.s2.2
उत्पत्तिम् आकरान् वर्णान् जातिदोषगुणाम् स्तथा
मूल्यम् माण्डलिकम् चैव ग्राहकं हस्तसंज्ञया
*utpattim ākaran varṇān jātidoṣaguṇām stathā*
*mūlyam māṇḍalikam caiva grāhakam hastasamjñayā*
v2.c43.s2.3
The theory of origin (utpatti) of the gems was shrouded in the extravagant emphasis on a myth which we would discuss later. The texts discussed ākaras or the mine-sites. The colour and ‘castes’ (categories) of individual gems were mentioned. The defects of gems and the qualities of excellent gems were specifically discussed. In order to be acceptable, the gems must have well-defined and uniform colour, lustre and geometrically defined crystal shapes. There must be appropriate directionality of radiance when a gem is held against the sun (AM, 213).
v2.c43.s2.4
RRS (4.33) mentioned five typical doṣas or defects of gems:
v2.c43.s2.5
ग्रासः त्रासश्च बिन्दुश्च रेखा च जलगर्भता
*grāsaḥ trāsaśca binduśca rekhā ca jalagarbhatā*
v2.c43.s2.6
Grāsa means black spot, bindu black spot due to erosion, rekhā line and discolouration, jalagarbhatā refers to bubbles. Trāsa means grain boundaries; ML (2.4.423) defines this term as bhinnabhrāntikara, creating an illusion of being broken. Satrāsa means a gem with fractures.
v2.c43.s2.7
Many Ratnaśāstra texts discuss the norms of price fixation (mūlya) of gems. However, Agastimata (61-75) is the only text which discusses the qualifications of an expert of gems or a gemmologist, titled maṇḍalika, and the various hand-signs (hastasamgā) by which he negotiates transactions with the grāhaka or the customer, thereby crossing language barrier.
Linked texts (2)
- Rasaratnasamuccaya — Vāgbhaṭa (alchemist), Sanskrit
- Mānasollāsa (Abhilaṣitārthacintāmaṇi) — Someśvara III, Sanskrit