Ratna Pariksha
{{Short description|Hindu technique to test jewellery}}
Ratna Pariksha is an ancient science on testing gemstones.{{Harvnb|Mubarak|1978}}{{Harvnb|Asiatic Society|1848}} It was used by the Kosadhyaksha (Superintendent of Treasury) and mentioned in Kautilya's Arthashastra in order to control the trade of pearl, diamonds and all the other important gems in antiquity.{{harvnb|Mookerji|1990|p=364}} It classifies gemstones into Maha-Ratna and Upa-ratna (lit. Great Gems and Second Class Gems).{{harvnb|Roger Calverley|2007|p=274}}
History
Ratna Pariksha is mentioned in Kautilya's Arthashastra (323-299 B.C.).{{harvnb|Mookerji|1990|p=363}} Vatsayana, the author of the Kamasutra also mentions rupa-ratna-pariksha.[https://books.google.com/books?id=Wk4_ICH_g1EC&dq=Ratna-Pariksha&pg=PA240 Ancient Indian History and Civilization], Sailendra Nath Sen, {{ISBN|81-224-1198-3}}, Page 240 The method was also studied by princes in Karnataka during the medieval period.[https://books.google.com/books?id=5CczZrHsc7EC&dq=Ratna-Pariksha&pg=PA50 Social Life in Medieval Karnataka], Jyotsna Kamat
The author of this treatise is very commonly known to be one Buddha Bhatt. There is also mention of another author in the medieval period, Thakkar Pheru, who is again credited with having worked on this subject. There's a mention of one Vaidyaraj Shri Radha Krisha Navetia who uses Ratna Pariksha for preparing a type of alcohol meant in the use of gem refining.{{harvnb|Johari|1996}}
References
Bibliography
- {{Citation |last1=Mookerji |first1=Radhakumud |title=Ancient Indian Education: Brahmanical and Buddhist |volume=11 of History and Culture Series |year=1990 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0423-4 |access-date=2009-10-05 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mjFfqpq7HhkC}}
- {{Citation
| title = The Healing Power of Gemstones: In Tantra, Ayurveda, and Astrology
|last=Johari
|first=Harish
|publisher=Inner Traditions / Bear & Company
|year=1996
|isbn=978-0-89281-608-8
|page=202
| access-date = 2009-10-05
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HV96xZ9WoMoC&q=ratna+pariksha&pg=PA202
}}
- {{citation |title=The A'in-I Akbari : an encyclopaedia of Hindu philosophy, science, literature and customs, with the life of the author and Akbar's wise sayings |volume=3 |last=Mubarak |first=Abu al-Fazl ibn (1551-1602) |others=translator: Jarrett, H. S, revised and further annotated by Jadunath Sarkar |publisher=Oriental Books Reprint Corporation |year=1978 |location=New Delhi}}
- {{citation
|title=Bibliotheca Indica
|volume=270
|publisher=Asiatic Society
|location=Calcutta, India
|year=1848
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=SVE0AAAAIAAJ&q=Ratna-Pariksha&pg=PA253
| access-date = 2009-10-05
|ref=CITEREFAsiatic_Society1848
|author=Asiatic Society (Calcutta, and Bengal)
}}
- {{citation
|title= Crystal Yoga I: The Crystal Mesa (v. 1)
|publisher= Lotus Press
|year= 2007
|isbn= 978-0-940985-92-6
|url= https://www.amazon.com/reader/0940985926?_encoding=UTF8&ref_=sib_books_pg&qid=1254731214&query=ratna%20pariksha#reader-page
| access-date = 2009-10-05
|author= Roger Calverley
}}
Gemmology- a study based on ancient Sanskrit Sources- (2013)PhD Thesis- submitted by Dr.G.Sudev Krishna Sharman under the guidance of Dr.C. Rajendran at Department of Sanskrit, University of Calicut, Kerala, India