India has been always a land full of diversification and rich heritage. It is no wonder that practices of chemistry in India can be witness from the ancient times. There lies a vast tradition of chemical practices in ancient India.
Chemical activities had been common to ancient Indians and a part of their day to day life from prehistoric time. Earliest chemical practices started with the Paleolithic period, intimately associated with medicine purpose, metallurgical operations and technical art. The Ancient Indians had excellent metallurgical skill. Metals like gold, silver, iron, tin, lead and mercury were used in various forms in ancient Indian society by the 5th century B.C. Indian steel and iron objects earned the admiration of the people in the other part of the world. Apart from the high level metallurgical skill, ancient Indians made great strides in respect of the use of alkalis, acids and salts, preparations of glass, cosmetics and perfumes, pyrotechnics and many chemical arts and crafts.
In ancient texts amazing information is available on chemical knowledge and chemical practices. In the ancient text ‘Ras Ratna Samuchchay’ of Vaagbhatta, ten chemicals Maharas, Upras, Samanya Ras, Ratna Dhatu, Vish, Kshar, Ami, Lavan and Lohbhasmi has been mentioned as the main chemicals. There is a description of chemical laboratory also in the 7th chapter of ‘Rasratna Samuchchay’. 32 instruments were used in this laboratory. Nagarjuna has explained in his texts Ras Ratnakar, Arogya Manjari, Yoga Saar) the methods of purifying and medicinal use for good health of mercury in detail. He has given the method of preparing a mixture of various metals, purification of mercury and other metals, purification of maharas and converting various metals into gold or silver. The people of ancient India had the considerable knowledge of medicine. In ancient India Rasshastries used to extract juices from various plants and trees for their medicinal properties. In the field of medicine, Ayurveda is the most significant contribution of ancient India. In Atharvaveda hymns refer to the topics of Ayurveda. ’Charaka Samhita’ and ‘Susruta Samhita’ were the two celebrated Ayurvedic treatises on medicine and surgery. Copper, silver, lead and iron are mentioned for use as drugs in Charak Samhita.
There are some 44 ancient texts that describes the process of Indian metallurgy. Before 18th century B.C. humanity was aware of only 7 metals viz. gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, lead and mercury. All these seven metals were mentioned in India’s ancient scriptures including Rigveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda. These materials were used in society. Kautilya’s Arthashastra is a treasure of knowledge discussing about the mines, metals, precious articles like gems, rubys, pearls etc. The advent of iron technology in India is of great significance. indian iron and steel objects earned the admiration of the people in other parts of world by the 5th century B.C. The Greek historian Herodotus in 5th century B.C. indicates that the Indians in the Persian army used arrows tipped with iron.
India was one of the first country to mine gold. Greek visitors like Megasthenese had mentioned in their record. Much of the gold used in the Persian empire in the 5th century B.C came from India. A typical naturally occurring gold powder mentioned in the Mahabharata was known as Pipilika Gold. Indian also knew the techniques for isolation, distillation and use of Zinc. Indian metalsmiths were the first to achieve success in developing the method of extraction of zinc from its ores. Silver was also important in ancient India. The archaeological finds of silver artifacts have helped to clarify the antiquity of the Vedic culture. Artisans of that time were not only skilled in kshepana (setting), Guna (properties) but also making solid or hollow articles of gold and silver. Another metal expertly used by ancient Indians was copper.
In ancient India glass was used to make beads, bangles and laboratory ware. Different areas were known to produce pottery in the historic period of ancient India. There were 18 cities from the 5th to 1st century BCE in Northern and Central India that were known for making pottery including Sarnath, Mathura, Sanchi, Patna and other towns in this area.
Preparations of salt petre and gunpowder were known in ancient India. Firearms were mentioned in Rigveda, Atharvaveda, Arthashastra, Manusmiriti and Tamil texts describe the preparation of fireworks using sulphur, charcoal, salt petre, mercury, arsenic, camphor etc. An inkpot was also found duirng the excavations of Taxila which shows that ink was also used in India from the fourth century B.C.
Ancient India Science and Technology
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