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Home , Arthashastra, Charaka Samhita

CORRESPONDENCE

MINING GEOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE FROM ANCIENT TEXTS

I found the editorial by Dr .B .P. Radhakrishna on - "A I fully concur with the views expressed by him that our Few Fascinating Geological Observations in the Rnmayana ancient epics/classics and early Sanskrit texts are'sources of Valmih" (Jour. Geol. Soc. , v.62, Dec.2003, pp.665- of a great treasure of valuable information relevant to 670) very interesting and was greatly delighted to read the scientific knowledge. The promotion of Sanskrit and same. What is striking is that this ancient epic (approximately study of the ancient literature in this language should be dated 1600 BC) by the sage and poet Valrniki not only pursued, especially by the younger generation and all contains vivid descriptions of the nature -rivers , mountains, encouragement and support should be extended by oceans etc., while narrating a great story, but also about the educational institutions and scientific organizations. the detailed knowledgelinformation that was available There is definitely great scope for the research scholars during that time - a sign of great advancement achieved and the scientists to mine more valuable information relevant by our ancient civilization, which is over 5000 years to geologylearth science from the ancient Sanskrit texts old. As Dr. B. P. Radhakrishna has pointed out, the in addition to what is already available. mentions the various dlzatunnm or metals Apart from , , and , there known at that time and that they were mined on a fairly are many ancient Sanskrit texts written on smelting/ extensive scale. The importance of mining minerals1 extraction of metals, medicinal chemistry, and other metals was well established as a source of revenue even relevant aspects. I have tabulated below a list (by no means during the time of the other great epic Mahubharatha exhaustive) of the rnetals/minerals known in ancient'1ndia (1000 BC). based on early Sanskrit texts.

METAW SANSKRIT Period METAU SANSKRIT Period MINERAL TEXTS (approxi mate) MINERAL TEXTS (approximale) Copper Vedas (Atharva) Silver Vedas (Atharva) Arthashastra Arthashastra Ti n Vedas (Yajur) Arthashastra Rasarathna Samuchhaya Rasarathna Samuchhaya Gold Vedas Rasopanishad Arthashastra Zinc Charaka Sarnhita Iron Vedas (Yajurva) Arthashastra Susruta Sarnhita Susruta Samhita Rasarathnakara ( ) Arthashastra Rasarnavam Rasatantrum Brihat Samhita Rasakalpa (Varahaamihira) Prakasha Sudhakara Rasarathna Samuchhaya (Yashodhara) Lead Vedas Vedas (Rig) Arthashastra Arthashastra

Rasarathna Samuchhaya ' Agastyamata Rasarnavam Rasatantram . Brihat Samhita (V) Mercury Arthashastra Garuda Mahapurana Charaka Samhita . - Yukti Kalpataru Rasarathnakara Skanda Purana Rasarathna Samuchhaya , Ratnasastra

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