History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c15.s2.53

c15.s2.53

Among the dyes or colours used by the ancient Indians we find mention of indigo (*nila*), lac (*laksha*), turmeric (*halidda*), maddar (*menjetthi*) and resin (*rajana*) in a passage in Samyutta Nikaya (part III, p. 152) where Buddha makes an incidental reference to them. The great Sanskrit grammarian, Panini (c. 500 B.C.) also makes mentions of indigo, lac and red-ochre for dyeing cloth (IV. I, 42 ). The Vinaya text of the Buddhists also describes six sources of dyes for robes : viz., dyes made from roots, trunks, barks, leaves, flowers and fruits of trees. The dye is extracted from these raw materials and the robes are dyed in a dyeing trough (M. VII. 10, 1). Early in the sixth century Varahamihira in the Vrihat Samhita alludes to the preparation of fast dyes for textile fabrics by the treatment of natural dyes like *manjishtha* with alum and other chemicals (e.g. sulphate of iron), as also with cow-dung :