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If is interesting to note that there is mention of zinc (jasta or jasad)". Later on, eight kinds of metal are named by including two alloys brass (Prtal)and bell metal (Kamsa)“, viz. iron, lead, tin, copper, bell metal, brass, silver, and gold.
Both the words (Loha), and "Dhātu” have been used in the Jaina MSS. to denote metals.
Metals have been used in various chemical processes and medicinal preparations. According to the Rasaratna Samuccaya, there are stated to be three kinds of metal, viz, (1) pure metal, which includes-gold, silver, copper and common iron. (2) pūtiloha-these are lead and tin (3) Miśralauha (mixed metal) brass, bell-metal and vartta (bharat). The word, (loha) is derived from the conjugation luh, the meaning of which is to draw (attract), i.e. to throw out the defects (impurities) by drawing them out.
Although the Suvarņa-Raupya-Siddhi śāstra has not classified metal into the aforesaid three groups, neverthless, it includes all of them as eight kinds of metal as pointed out.
METALS
Savarna' (gold) In the SRSS there are stated to be two kinds of gold (1) natural and (2) artificial gold obtained by the transmutation of the baser metals10 in conjuction with mercury. 1. Ibid, Jasta (Chs. 3.1, 2, 3, 16; 3,24, 37, 39, 40, 70, 73; jasada
(3.104, 1,07). 2. SRSS., Ch: VI. 13, “Lohanāmāni loha 1, nāga 2, vamga 3, trato
· 4. kamso 5, pitala 6, tara 7, hema 8. 3. Ibid. 4. Ibid. 5. Ibid. 6. Ibid. 7. Ibid., Ch. 1.2; 2.1; 4.16; 5.1. 8. Śuddham loham kanakarajatam bhānulohāšmasāram. / Putiloham
dvitayamuditam nāgavāmbhidhānam | Misram loham tritayamuditam pittalam, Kamsyavartam II Dhaturlohe luha iti mahaḥ, so' apyanekārthavācı 11
RS., Vagbhaț. 5.1. 9. SRSS., Ch. II. 2, 4. 6, 8, 14; III, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 19, 20, 32, 36,
37, etc. 10. Ibid., Ch. 1.1: Ch. II. (Comm.) etc. See the section on the process
of gold-making.
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