Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c43.s3.t6.22

v2.c43.s3.t6.22

Garuda Purāṇa elaborated the second part : śaṅkhābja·bhṛṅgārka vicitravarṇāḥ svacchāḥ māṅgalyayuktā citrā pulakā transparent and like the conch, the lotus, the bee or the sun, threaded or striated (GP, 1.77.3 and MM, 431). The second description matches more with the transparent and light coloured chrysoberyl or quartz of the cat’s eye variety with horripilation or chatoyancy, rather than the dark red coloured garnet. It may be noted that we had referred earlier to the statement in RYP, 100 that the Narmadā Valley abounds in gomeda or zircon having the colour of indragopa or cochineal insect. This could easily pass as guñjāñjana pulaka or garnet.