Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c43.s3.t7.20

v2.c43.s3.t7.20

Maṇimālā (442) described brahmamaya as brahmasūtramaya, threaded or full of ‘sacred threads’. It could have been brahmamaṇi mentioned in Bṛ. Saṃ., 80.5 or chatoyant quartz cat’s eye. In the same śloka (MM, 442), rājamaya has been described as the red variety of quartz, or ferruginous jasper or carnelian; this could have been the rājamaṇi referred to in Bṛ. Saṃ., 80.4. Blue golden quartz was given the name rājāvarta (MM, 442); most possibly this was not quartz but blue lapis lazuli, bedecked with yellowish pyrite.