History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c15.s2.12

c15.s2.12

Among the alloys of copper, bronze has been mentioned in the Ayurvedic treatises, the Charaka and the Susruta, and in the Arthashastra of Kautilya. In the Susruta directions are given for drinking water in bronze vessels. Household utensils made of brass have been mentioned in the writings of Manu. The alloy was also employed in making gongs or bells in those early days Hence, no distinction was made at those times between bronze and bell-metal. Both were designated by the same term *kamsya*. Large quantities of ornamental bronze articles have been found as a result of the excavation of the ancient burial sites at Tinnevelly in the Madras Presidency The bronze articles, which were found along with numerous iron implements, include ornamental vase-stands, jars and cups of different patterns with ornamental bowl lids, besides bronze bangles, necklaces, ear-ornaments and diadems. Cricular tubes, a number of sieve cups and perforated strainers for straining rice were also recovered. It is difficult to ascertain the age of their production or of the burial sites in which they were discovered. It is believed that they belong to the time of the Pandiyan kings of the 3rd and the 4th century B.C., when the custom of the urn burial was probably in vogue. Besides being used for household wares and ornamental articles, bronze has also been used in India from early days in casting statues of gods and goddesses. The bronze casters of Bengal in the 8th and the 9th centuries attained considerable reputation and it is said that the knowledge of bronze casting spread later on to Nepal and Tibet through them.