History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c15.s2.14

c15.s2.14

Brass articles, belonging to the first century A.D. or near about, have been unearthed by excavations of ancient Buddhistic stupas. A beautifully turned, cast brass casket was discovered in the deposits derived from the excavation of the stupas at Manikyālaya in 1830 by General Ventura. From the inscription on the various articles of the deposits and the accompanying Indo-Scythian coins, the age of the casket has been ascertained to be near about 2nd century A.D. Both bronze and brass were used in ancient India for coinage. Circular punch-marked brass coins of Dhanadeva and Āryavarma of Ayodhyā (c. 1st century B.C.) and other brass coins of the same period have been collected and can be found preserved in the Indian Museum. Like bronze, brass was also largely used in early days for making statues of gods and goddesses. An inscribed brass statue of Buddha was discovered in a pilgrim house at Fatehpur near Kāngrakot. It has a size of 30 cm in height and 13.5 cm. in width, and, as the inscription indicates, is a product of the 6th century A D. A very remarkable use of brass for large-scale constructional purpose has been recorded by the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang. It refers to an unfinished brass *vihara* (convent) near Nālanda made during the reign of Rājā Śīlāditya, known also as king Harshavardhana, in the seventh century A.D. It is stated that this *vihara* would have measured 100 ft. when completed in accordance with the plan. This bears undoubtedly an eloquent testimony to the skill of the ancient Indians in the smelting and working of metals.