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208 : Scientific Contents in Prākrta Canons
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4
5 37. Jalakānta Jalakānta Jalakānta Jalakānta - 38. Sūryakānta Sūryakānta Sūryakänta Sūryakānta - 39. Candana -
Candana Candana 40.- " Manikānta - 41. Gairika
Gairika Gairika 42. Pulaka
Pulaka Pulaka 43. Saugan
Saugan- Saugandhika
dhika
dhika 44. Hansa
Hansa- Hansagarbha
garbha garbha 45. -
Pānduranga46. -
Rucakānka -
Puşparāga, Baka 48. –
Rucakānka -
47.-'
On chemical examination of these various earths, it is seen that they contain elements, compounds, minerals, alloys, gems and mixtures known during different canonical periods. The earths are said to be carriers of many valuables. Dasavaikālika mentions 24 such valuables including some trees and medicinal plants but excluding cereals and pulses 56.
Gold has an important status among all the solids. It was used for coins, ornaments and medicines. It is said to be anti-posion and rejuvenator. It was taken to be an auspicious metal, inert, unattacked by fire and valuable. Its purity is judged by heat resistence, beating, rubbing and drilling. It was assumed that when lead was converted into gold, many factors including vital force worked. It is obtained by heating its ores with salt and borax. Other metals are also obtained similarly57. Artificial gold has also been mentioned in Niryuktis. Tempering has been one of the ways to improve the qualities of iron. Description of other earths or metals is not available in canons.
The earths described above form the gross class. There are fine earths too. They are found everywhere in the
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