A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c48.s3.14

v3.c48.s3.14

The metals (dhātu) are seven or nine in number; the series of seven consists of gold, silver, copper, tin, zinc, lead and iron (3.1); the series of nine metals, connected with the nine grahas, comprises gold, silver, copper, tin, lead, tīkṣṇaka, āra (= pittala), kāṃsya and vartaloha (3.3–4ab). The usual varieties of gold, silver, copper, tin and lead are described. The three varieties of muṇḍaloha are mṛdu, kuṇṭha and kaḍāraka (3.206); the six varieties of tīkṣṇaloha are kharākhya, sārasamjñaka, huṇṭāla, tārāvaṭṭa, vājira, and kālaka (3.207); the five varieties of kāntaloha are bhrāmaka, cumbaka, karṣaka, drāvaka and romaka (3.208). Three varieties of vimala are described: svarṇa-, rūpya- and kāṃsyavimala (4.27), two varieties of pittala (brass): rājaritikā and kākatuṇḍī (4.69). The alloy, called pañcaloha or bharta, consists of bronze (kāṃsya), brass (pittala), copper, lead and tin (4.83).