Sambodhi 2014 Vol 37

Author(s): J B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 75

Vol. XXXVII, 2014
Relevance of Sanskrit to Modern World
67
Allan, J. and Stern, S.M., 208; The Beginning of the Coinage in India, World Archaeology, Dhavalikar, M. K. Taylor & Francis, 1975). Early iron objects found in India can be dated back to 1400 BC, by employing the method of carbon dating (Ceccarelli, Marco, International Symposium on History of Machines and Mechanisms : Proceedings HMM Symposium, Springer, ISBN 07923-6372-8). There is an iron pillar erected by the side of the Qutub Minar in Delhi. This pillar is believed to be cast in the Gupta period around Circa 500 AD. 7.32 Meters tall and weighed about six tones, it is standing in the open for more than 1500 years. It has not rusted. Michael Danino says that, a thin layer of iron and phosphorus compound has made the pillar rust proof even after more than 1500 years (Michael Danino, August 2009, landmarks of Science in Ancient India). Zink mines of Zawar were active during 400 BC near Udaipur, Rajasthan (Zink Production in Medieval India, Craddock, P.T., World Archaeology, 15(2), Industrial Archaeology, 1983).
When one speaks about ancient Indian metallurgy, one cannot avoid the topic of mercury. Mercury is liquid metal and it is difficult to solidify mercury. There is lot of research done in this direction in ancient India. Sanskrit name for mercury is 'Rasa' or 'Pārada'. There are umpteen numbers of treatises on purification, solidification, compounding and changing the molecular properties of mercury. The famous few treatises are : Rasahỉdayatantram by Govindabhagavadpadacharya, Rasārņavam, Rasamitram, Rasayogasāra, Rasendravijnanam, and Rasendrasangraha etc. There is a philosophical school called 'Raseswara Darśanam'.
Mercury in its raw from could be fatal poison. Therefore it is necessary to purify mercury. In the long standing tradition of Alchemy, there are number of methods, developed in order to purify the mercury. The main methods are eighteen (Rasadarśanam, Sarvadarśansangraha, p.234). It is known fact that purified mercury is used in many Ayurvedic medicines. There are possibilities mentioned in different texts that mercury prepared in certain ways can be used as fuel in air craft. Though, methods are not known today. There is mention of King Kārtavīryājuna's air craft in Matsyapurāna. The king used to travel in his chariot in seven continents and find thieves and criminals (Matsyapurāna, 43.25). It is very difficult to imagine about the vehicle which can travel around the Earth in a day.
It is not only science that ancient India thinks about, but it also has concern regarding social well being from all aspects. The thought of nonviolence is stressed and well presented in many treatises. Mahābhārata is