Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c43.s3.t1.1

v2.c43.s3.t1.1

Diamond (vajra, later also known as bhidura and hīraka, hīrā) was known as the hardest gem or mineral. Its property became proverbial in Bhavabhūti’s *Uttara Rāmacarita* (2.7): *vajrādapi kaṭhorāṇi* . . . ‘something tougher or harder than even diamond’. Apart from its gem quality, diamond was used as an abrasive. It was mentioned in the *Maṇilakṣaṇa* chapter of the *Skanda Purāṇa* (*SP*, 23.79) that diamond cannot be scratched by any other gem.