[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956) › c40.s2 # History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c40.s2: Measures Of Weight And Capacity History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c40.s2 - **Language:** English ### Measures Of Weight And Capacity ### [c40.s2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c40.s2.1) The Amarakosha mentions measures of three kinds—weight, length, and capacity. ### [c40.s2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c40.s2.2) The \*kristnala gunja raktika\*, the black-and red-berry of the shrub \*Abrus precatorius\*) was employed as a natural measure of weight. 80 \*krishnala\* berries on the average weigh 105 grains Troy, and this must be taken as the basis of our computation, though in current practice 80 \*krishnalas\* are taken to be equivalent to 210 grains ### [c40.s2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c40.s2.3) The conventional measures were, however;—one gold \*masha\* was the weight of 5 \*krishnalas\* of gold, 1 \*suvarna\* or \*tola\* weighed as much as 16 \*mashas\*, and one \*pala\* as much as 4 \*suvarnas\* or tolas. A \*pala\* of gold, therefore, weighs 320 \*krishnalas\* (Manu Chap. VIII). ### [c40.s2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c40.s2.4) A \*masha\* of gold, therefore, would weigh 6 9/16 grains, a \*tola\*, 105 grains (in current practice it weighs about 180 grains); and a \*pala\*, 420 grains Troy ### [c40.s2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c40.s2.5) 1 \*silver masha\* = 2 \*krishnalas\*, 1 \*dharana\* = 16 \*silver mashas\*; 1 \*pala\* = 10 \*dharanas\*. 1 \*krishnala\* = 1296 \*trasarenus\*. ### [c40.s2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c40.s2.6) A \*trasarenu\*, as a measure of weight, therefore, is the equivalent of 7/6912 of a grain Troy, or double this according to current measures ### [c40.s2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c40.s2.7) But the \*trasarenu\* of physics is a different conception. It stands for the 'minimum visible', i e., as the physicists define it, that which is 'just discernible' as a glancing particle in the slanting beams of the morning (or afternoon) sun, coming into dark room through a chink or orifice of a window. This is a measure of size. ### [c40.s2.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c40.s2.8) \*Measures of Capacity\*:—Here the standard was furnished by the \*kudava\*, a vessel described as 3 \*angulis\* long, 3 \*angulis\* broad, and 1½ \*anguli\* deep,—with a cubical capacity of 13½ cubical \*angulis\* 4 \*kudavas\* = 1 \*prastha\*, 4 \*prasthas\* = 1 \*adhaka\* 4 \*adhakas\* = 1 \*drona\*, and 4 \*dronas\* = 1 \*khari\* or \*bhara\*. ### [c40.s2.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c40.s2.9) 24 \*angulis\* make 1 \*hasta\*, cubit, which may be taken to be 18 or 19 inches. ### [c40.s2.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c40.s2.10) A \*kudava\* would contain about 4 \*palas\* of distilled water at 30°C ### [c40.s2.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c40.s2.11) SIZE OF THE MINIMUM VISIBLE (ATOM) ### [c40.s2.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c40.s2.12) The supposed thickness of the just discernible mote in the sunbeam, called a \*paramanu\* in technology and a \*trasarenu\* in Natural Philosophy, follows directly from Varahamihira's table:—8 \*paramanus\* make 1 \*rajas\* (\*ratharenu\*), 8 \*rajas\* make 1 \*balagra\* (filament of hair), 8 \*balagras\* make 1 \*liksha\*, 8 \*likshas\* make 1 \*yuka\*, 8 \*yukas\* make 1 \*yava\*, 8 \*yavas\* make 1 \*anguli\*, 24 \*angulis\* make 1 \*hasta\* (cubit, 18 inches). The thickness of the \*minimum visible\* (the finest perceptible mote in the slanting sunbeam) is, therefore, taken to be 3 × 2⁻²⁰ or 1/349525 of an inch. The volume of a spherical \*trasarenu\* (or \*paramanu\* of the \*silpasastra\* or technology) would, therefore, be ⅙π × 3³ × 2⁻⁶⁰ of a cubic inch. It may be here noted that such a \*trasarenu\* is supposed in the medical schools to contain 30 chemical atoms (\*paramanus\* of Natural Philosophy) according to one estimate, or 60 according to another. The size of an atom must have been conceived to be less than π × 3 × 5⁻¹ × 2⁻⁶² of a cubic inch. ### [c40.s2.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c40.s2.13) The magnitude of \*paramanu\* is called \*parimandalya\* in the Nyaya-Vaiseshika, the name suggesting that the \*paramanus\* were conceived to be spherical in shape. The Nyaya-Vaiseshika calls a \*paramanu\* a mere point without any dimensions, but in the Samkhya-Patanjala, a \*paramanu\*, though indefinitely small, had still dimensions, being divisible into \*tanmatras\*, which were themselves integrations of \*bhutadi\*. The diameter of a spherical \*paramanu\* must have been conceived to be less than 3 × 2⁻²⁰ of an inch (i e., less than the conventional \*paramanu\* with which linear measures begin), and the volume of a \*paramanu\* would, therefore, in accordance with Bhaskara's formula, be smaller than 4/3π × 3³ × 2⁻⁶³ or π × 3³ × 2⁻⁶¹ of a cubic inch. The \*tanmatras\* were conceived as smaller still. ### [c40.s2.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c40.s2.14) That these were conventional measures arbitrarily assumed goes without question; for, of course, the Hindus had no physical data for a mathematical calculation of these minute quantities. ### [c40.s2.15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c40.s2.15) I shall now proceed to give an account of the chemistry of the schools other than the Samkhya-Patanjala, and the affiliated Yoga and medical schools, discussed above. I shall confine myself here to the theory of the subject in the briefest outline. ## Linked texts (2) - [Mānava Dharmaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.dharma.manu) — Manu & Bhṛgu, Sanskrit - [Tibetan translation ('Chi med mdzod)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.art.kosa.paryaya.amarakosa*bo) — Classical Tibetan --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c40.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c40.s2) · Pramāṇa