A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v1.c12.t5.31

v1.c12.t5.31

Kāntam: there are 5 kinds of it, namely, bhrāmaka, chumbaka, karshaka, drāvaka and romā-kānta. It possesses one, two, three, four and five faces and often many faces [with which to attract iron] and is of yellow, black and red colour respectively. The variety which makes all kinds of iron move about is called bhrāmaka, that which kisses iron is called chumbaka, that which attracts iron is called karshaka, that which at once melts the iron is called drāvaka (lit. a solvent) and the fifth kind is that which, when broken, shoots forth hair-like filaments. 84-89