Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c43.s3.t2.13

v2.c43.s3.t2.13

Asterias or star Sapphire is a special variety which when viewed against light appears like a six-rayed chatoyant star. This is due to the reflection of light from the surface of a multitude or microscopically small tubular cavities or rifts enclosed in the crystal, and grouped into three sets, each of which is parallel to a face of the hexagonal prism. (Bauer, 1968: 284) This variety of *indranīla* was mentioned by Kauṭilya as *śravanmadhya* (AS, 2.11.31) which has been interpreted by one Sanskrit commentator as streaming interior or ‘having rays shooting like flowing water’.