Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c44.s5.t2: Varāhamihira’s Bṛhatsaṃhitā
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c44.s5.t2
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Varāhamihira’s Bṛhatsaṃhitā
v2.c44.s5.t2.1
We have earlier discussed the valuable references to gem minerals in *Bṛhatsaṃhitā* (*Bṛ. Saṃ.*), a composition belonging to the later part of the Gupta era (sixth century AD). This treatise also contains some useful references to rocks, non-gem materials and metals, which we propose to cite.
v2.c44.s5.t2.2
The colour and plant associations of rocks enabled one to decide whether some rock had subsurface water. The rocks associated with *muñja* or sacrificial grass, or a colour resembling beryl or green gram were likely to yield sweet water (*Br. Sam.*, 54.103 and 107). Land coloured like the sun, fire or ashes (igneous rock) is likely to be waterless (*Br. Sam.*, 54.106). On the other hand:
v2.c44.s5.t2.3
सशर्करा ताम्रमही कषायं क्षारं धरित्री कपिला करोति आपाण्डुरायं लवणं प्रविष्टं मृष्टं पयो नीलवसुन्धरायाम्।। *saśarkarā tāmramahī kaṣāyaṃ kṣāraṃ dharitrī kapilā karoti* *āpāṇḍurāyāṃ lavaṇaṃ praviṣṭaṃ mṛṣṭaṃ payo nīlavasundharāyām* (*Br. Sam.*, 54.104)
v2.c44.s5.t2.4
A copper-coloured earth mixed with gravel or rocks with copper-red spots (probably allude to garnet porphyroblasts) will yield water with astringent taste; red-brown earth makes the water brackish; pale white earth salt-water and blue earth, sweet water.
v2.c44.s5.t2.5
Varāhamihira prescribed several methods for quarrying massive rocks, using the principle of alternate heating and cooling for disintegrating the rocks (*Br. Sam.*, 54.112-114). Presence of horizontal and vertical joints sometimes helped in the quarrying of massive sand stones (like the Vindhyan sandstones). (Lahiri, 1971: 496) Recently a series of stone quarries has been discovered near Chunar in Mirzapur. The Maurya period massive pillar-like stones were carefully chiselled.
v2.c44.s5.t2.6
*Mākṣika* (pyrite) and *śilājatu* (bitumen) powder were recommended (*Br. Sam.*, 76.3) as ingredients in health tonics. The use of alum as a mordant in the dyeing process were suggested:
v2.c44.s5.t2.7
“*Tuvari* (alum), *mañjiṣṭha* (maddar dye), *rāgabandhanī* (colour-binding)”. Earlier, Pāṇini had suggested (4.1.42) the use of various dyes such as indigo, lac and red ochre; turmeric and maddar were mentioned in *Saṃyutta Nikāya*.
v2.c44.s5.t2.8
*Bṛhat Saṃhitā* described several preparations of cements or powders called *vajra-lepa*, characterised as ‘paints or coatings as strong as *vajra* or diamond’. The various recipes included concentrated aqueous extracts of plant products rich in gummy and resinous substances, levigated powder of lac, resins, gummy fruits, concentrated extract of animal matters rich in glue or gelatine, etc. (*Br. Sam.*, 57.1-7). These were used as cements in temple architecture.
v2.c44.s5.t2.9
The metal cement *vajra-saṅghāta* was described as :
v2.c44.s5.t2.10
अष्टौ सीसकभागाः कांसस्य द्वौ तु रीतिकाभागः।
v2.c44.s5.t2.11
मयकथितो योगः अयम् विज्ञेयो वज्रसंघातः।। aṣṭau sīsakabhāgāḥ kāṁsasya dvau tu ritikābhāgaḥ | mayakathito yogaḥ ayam vijñeyo vajrasaṁghātaḥ ||
v2.c44.s5.t2.12
A compound of eight parts of lead, two of bell-metal, and one of brass has been mentioned by Maya and is to be known as vajrasaṁghāta, a metal-joining cement.
v2.c44.s5.t2.13
This was possibly used in hot soldering of broken metallic parts of the idol, made of bronze or brass etc.
v2.c44.s5.t2.14
In a separate chapter (no. 50) on swords, entitled khaḍgalakṣaṇam, Varāhamihira provided some recipes about the hardening of steel which was called śastrapāna or ‘sword-drink’ (the word śastra had been used in Yavanajātaka to indicate steel). A sword rubbed with sesamum oil, and then smeared with an unguent prepared with the juice of the plant arka (calotropis gigantea), the gelatine from the horn of the sheep, and the excreta from the doves and mice, was to be given one of the ‘drinks’; the steel pasted with oil and unguent was made red-hot in fire and then treated with one of the following: blood, ghī, water, milk of mammal animals or fish-bile. Then this had to be sharpened. (Br. Saṁ., 50. 23-25) Another process of heat-treatment was described as:
v2.c44.s5.t2.15
क्षारे कदल्या मथितेन युक्ते
दिनोषिते पायितमायसं यत्
सम्यक् शितं चाश्मनि नैति खड्ग
न चान्यलोहेषु अपि तस्य कौण्ठयम्
kṣāre kadalyā mathitena yukte
dinoṣite pāyitamāyasam yat
samyak śitam cāśmani naiti khadga
na cānyaloheṣu api tasya kauṇṭhayam
(Br. Saṁ., 50.26).
v2.c44.s5.t2.16
An iron weapon treated with a day-old drink made of the burnt powder of bananas (or its ribs) mixed with butter-milk, and then sharpened properly, will not break on stones, not become blunt on other instruments’.
v2.c44.s5.t2.17
Bṛhat Saṁhitā reveals that during its era, the metallurgical activity in the country was intense. Gold was tested, melted, heated in the fire, hammered for testing its purity, purified nikaṣa santāpa abhiniveśaiḥ kanakasya eva adhikatarā amalīkṛtasya to make sacrificial ladles, thrones, images, etc. (Br. Saṁ., 26.9; 43.12; 47.46) Varāhamihira’s statement shows that in India of his time, there were silver mines or rajatākara (Br. Sam., 16.26). Red-hot copper, evidently used for casting into various shapes, was referred to: taptatāmraprabhābhaḥ (6.13). References were made to the metal-smiths who fabricated weapons, and made a living working on fires:
v2.c44.s5.t2.18
शस्त्रवार्ता: जीवन्ति च ये हुताशवृत्या
śastravārtāḥ jīvanti ca ye hutāśavṛtyā
(Br. Sam., 5.35 see also 5.28, 10.4, 85.29 etc.)
v2.c44.s5.t2.19
Archaeological evidences such as copper images of Buddha, Mehrauli iron pillar made during Candragupta II’s reign etc., substantiate the literary claims about the advanced state of Indian metallurgy during the Gupta era. Even later, Vāṇa (seventh century AD) mentioned some of his companions as assayists and metallurgists. Hiuen-Tsang reported widespread use of noble metals and brass in India.
v2.c44.s5.t2.20
The two subjects of astronomy and mathematics were deeply pursued during the Gupta era. One of the outstanding scientists, Āryabhaṭa (born AD 476), emphasized on direct observations and only four elements, de-emphasizing the fifth: non-material ākāśa.
v2.c44.s5.t2.21
The Padārtha-dharma-saṃgraha of Praśastapāda was probably composed in the fifth century AD. It was more than a commentary on the Vaiśeṣikasūtra of Kaṇāda. This treatise gave a new exposition of the subject-matter and important additions to the original work. Chandra’s Daśa-padārtha-śāstra is available only in the Chinese varsion of AD 648.
v2.c44.s5.t2.22
Praśastapāda described the formation of gross bodies from the atoms (aṇu) through dyads (dvyāṇuka) and the structural arrangement (vyūha) of the dyads to triads (tryāṇuka) which gives rise to different qualities in a substance. In Praśastapāda-bhāṣya was outlined the notion of impetus (vega) which accounts for continued motion of a body.
v2.c44.s5.t2.23
Some Buddhist scholars like Dignāga and Vasubandhu had questioned the Vaiśeṣika postulates on atoms. But others like Sarvāstivādin Śubhagupta, who flourished in the second century AD, defended atomism and the idea of a central atom combining with other atoms surrounding it. Dignāga had denied the existence of atom because it could not be separately perceived. Śubhagupta argued:
v2.c44.s5.t2.24
न अणु आभासम् इति प्राहः
चित्त च एतसिकानां च सन्दिधता भवेत् एव
na aṇu ābhāsam iti prāhuḥ
citta ca etasikānāṃ ca sandigdhatā bhavet eva
v2.c44.s5.t2.25
that in that case one had to doubt the existence of mind and the mental phenomena.as well!
Linked texts (5)
- Bṛhatsaṃhitā — Varāhamihira, Sanskrit
- Aṣṭādhyāyī — Pāṇini, Sanskrit
- Padārthadharmasaṅgraha — Praśastapāda, Sanskrit
- Vaiśeṣikasūtra — Kaṇāda, Sanskrit
- Saṃyuttanikāya — Pāli