Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c43.s2.7
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c43.s2.7
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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.