The knowledge of our ancestors on the metals are till surprising to us. The quality of the metals that they had prepared cannot be prepared by us even today. Thes is a great example that could show the greatness of their knowledge. Metal is called as ‘uloagam’, which is not a word of Tamil origin. Our ancestors used to call the metals as ‘ponn’(gold) .
In the alchemy the portion of metallurgy is very clearly told. The technique of separating the constituent metals from the main ones, the way of extracting them by melting, the way of using them, their natures like this many information are shared by them..
The Siththars have told the characteristics, behavior, uses and types of the metals. Also they have mentioned about the mixing of two metals and the resultant metal that we get and also their uses. These information gives us surprise. They have also mentioned the methods of converting one metal into the other metal. They have told methods of converting a low quality metal to a high quality metal and vice versa.
To say an example about the Siththars knowledge on the metals, the pancholoagam* statue is an apt example. Even today we are not able to judge the composition of the metals they used to make statues. If we form a panjaloagam statue definitely it will not be the same as our ancestors made.
Bogar in his book “Bogar 7000” has told about the various types of metals in the following way:
"சொலென்று பூமாது தானும் கேட்க
solenru poomaathu thaanum kaetka
சுருதிமகா விட்டுணுவும் சொல்லலுற்றார்
suruthimahaa vittunuvum sollalutraar
புல்லென்ற பூருவத்தில் பொன்வெள் ளிசெம்பு
pullenra pooruvaththil ponvel lisembu
பேரான காரீயம் வெள்ளீயந் தானும்
paeraana kaareeyam velleeyan thaanum
துல்லென்ற த்துதநாகத் தினோடு தான்
thullenra ththuthanaagath thinoadu thaan
துளுவான நல்லிரும்பு கருப்பி ரும்பு
thuluvaana nallirumbu karuppi rumbu
ஏல்லென்ற எக்குவாகும் திராவுந்தானும்
aellenra ekkuvaagum thiraavunthaanum
ஏற்றமான வெங்கலமும் பித்தளை யுந்தானே
aetramaana vengalamum piththalai yunthaanae".
The situation of the song is like Lord Vishnu explains about the metals to the goddess Bhoodevi. As per the song he says that there are eleven types of metals like gold, silver, copper, black lead, white lead, zinc, wrought- iron, black iron, steel, bronze and brass.
The other song,
"தானான பதினோன்று லோகந்தானும்
thaanaana pathinoanru loaganthaanum
தனித் தனியே உற்பத்திக் குணா குணமே
thanith thaniyae urpaththik kunaa kunamae
வேனான லட்சணங்கள் குருச்செந் தூரம்
vaenaana latchanangal kurussen thooram
மிக்கன சத்து வகை களங்கு தானும்
mikkana saththu vagai kalangu thaanum
பேனான பிரித்துமே தான் ஒவ்வொன்றாக
paenaana piriththumae thaan ovvonraaga
பிசமாக சொல்லுகிறேன் பின்பு கேளு
pisanaaga sollukiraen pinbu kaelu
பானான பூரூவத்தில் சிவபிரான் தானும்
paanaana pooroovaththil sivapiraan thaanum
பார்வதியும் இருவருமாய் பகன்றார் காணே
paarvathiyum iruvarumaai pakanraar kaanae".
He says that he have clearly mentioned about the formation of these eleven elements, their nature, capability and the formation of red oxide out of those metals .He also says that listen clearly as all these was said by Lord Siva and Paarvathi on the kailasha mountain.
In the next post we shall see about the metallurgy of the Siththars which are far advanced than our modern metallurgy.
*Panjaloagam - The five metals of gold, iron, copper, lead and silver, or thier alloy
Original - www.siththarkal.com
