Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India
by Remadevi. O. | 2009 | 54,177 words
This page relates ‘Materials (e): Indranila (Sapphire)’ of the study on cosmetics, costumes and ornaments of ancient India based on Sanskrit sources. Chapter one deals with cosmetics and methods of enhancing beauty; Chapter two deals with costumes, garments and dresses; Chapter three deals with ornaments for humans and animals. Each chapter deals with their respective materials, types, preparation and trade, as prevalent in ancient Indian society.
1.2. Materials (e): Indranīla (Sapphire)
Indranīla is a precious gem with blue colour. Garuḍapurāṇa[1] compares its colour with that of the throat of Śiva, throat of a cuckoo and a blue lotus. It also believes that the eyes of the demon Bala that created this gem. Garuḍapurāṇa forbids the fire test for this gem, for it will become spoiled, when placed on fire. A good variety of sapphire has a rainbow like hue at the centre and such sapphire can turn milk blue.
Kauṭilya[2] mentions eight varieties of sapphire. They are as follows.
| Name | Colour |
| Indranīla | Peacock wing |
| Mahānīla | Dark blue |
| Kalāyapuṣpaka | Colour of pea flower |
| Nandaka | Inside white, outside blue |
| Jīmūtaprabha | Resembles rose apple |
| Nīlabalīya | Having blue strips |
| Srvamadhya | Spreading rays like water flow |
Ornaments decorated with sapphire are prescribed for Rākṣasī type characters by Bharata[3]. This gem is known by some other names like Kuruvinda, Nīlamaṇi and Mahānīla.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
I.13,17,18
[2]:
DAOAI, p.144
[3]:
Nāṭyaśāstra, XXI.56-76