Date uploaded in London – – 22 March 2024
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I have already given the gist of Varahamihira’s chapter on Pearls in his encyclopaedic work Brhat Samhita. In this new article I give the full chapter with Sanskrit couplets with my inputs. (all my old articles on gems are listed at the end of this article)
Kalidasa , the world famous poet, who lived 2100 years ago ,during the reign of Emperor Vikramaditya, mentioned pearls in his Raghuvamsa. He mentioned about the pearls in Gulf of Mannar
ताम्रपर्णीसमेतस्य मुक्तासारं महादधेः|
ते निपत्य ददुस्तस्मै यशः स्वमिव संचितम्॥ ४-५०
taamraparNiisametasya muktaasaara.n mahaadadheH |
te nipatya dadustasmai yashaH svamiva sa.ncitam || 4-50
Prostrating themselves at the feet of Raghu the PAnDya kings have presented finest pearls to him, which have been accumulated by the River TAmraparNi and the great ocean at the mouth of that river, and in doing so the PAnDya kings have passed over, as it were, all of their accumulated glory to Raghu. [4-50]
Kalidasa , like Varahamihira, talks about the pearls from the head of elephants in his works Raghuvamsa and Kumarasambhava.
Chinese and other travellers also mentioned pearls from South India and Sri Lanka (Ceylon)
UAE Postal Stamps: The Oldest Pearl in the World
The world’s oldest natural pearl has been discovered on an island off Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The 8,000-year-old pearl was found during excavations at Marawah Island which also revealed the earliest architecture in the UAE.(May ,2022)
There are 36 slokas/couplets in the chapter called Mukta Lakshana Adhyaya in Brhat Samhita.
Pearls in Brhat Samhita – Full Details
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ENGLISH TRANSLATION IS FROM WISDOMLIBRARY.
Chapter 81 – On Pearls (muktā-lakṣaṇa)
Source of Pearls
1. Pearls (muktā) are produced in elephants, serpents, oyster-shells, fish, clouds, bamboos, whales and boars. Of these, pearls of the oyster-fish are produced in abundance and are beautiful.
2. Ceylon, the island of Pāralaukika, Saurāṣṭra, the Tāmraparṇi river, Pāraśava (Persia), the island of Kubera, the country of Pāṇḍyavāṭa and the Himālayas, are places in which pearls are largely found.
3. The pearls of Ceylon are of various shapes, glossy, of the colour of the swan and large. The pearls found in the mouths of the Tāmraparṇi are white or slightly copper-coloured and pure.
4. The pearls of the island of Pāralaukika are black, white or yellow, mixed with minerals and rough; the pearls of Saurāṣṭra are neither very large nor very small and of the colour of butter.
5. Persian pearls are bright, white, heavy and of excellent qualities. The Himālayan pearls are light, brittle, of the colour of curdled milk, large and of various shapes.
6. The pearls of the country of Kubera are rough, black, white, light, large and bright; and those of Pāṇḍyavāṭaka are of the colour of the fruit of the margosa, resembling a pulse or the coriander seed.
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(My comments- Now we know that the pearls are taken out of oysters living in water. But Sanskrit and Tamil literature list land animals also have pearls in them. No one has reported such finding)
(My comments – Though Brhat Samhita reports various parts of India as source of pearls, now we get them only from Gulf of Mannar and Persian Gulf near India )
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Pearls and Gods
7. Pearls which are blue are sacred to Viṣṇu and those which are white like the Moon are sacred to Indra; those which are yellow are sacred to Varuṇa and those which are black are sacred to Yama.
8. Pearls which are red like the ripe fruits of the pomegranate or the cocoon of the silk worm or the guñjā seeds (Abrus precatorius) are sacred to Vāyu and those which are of the colour of the flame of fire or of the lotus flower are sacred to Agni.
(My comments: Varahamihira associates all gems with Hindu Gods and Four Varnas. He used colour codes too. We see even directions in the compass also have colours according to ancient Hindu scriptures. Mayans in South America and Buddhists also followed Hindus in this matter. Even Shiva’s five faces are attributed with different colours. Bharata’s 2000 year old Natya Shastra even talk about colour coding of Seats for different caste people in the theatres. In the modern world, we follow them and colour code seats in Foot ball stadiums and other concert halls. We do it based on Ticket prices.)
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Price of Pearls
9. The price of a superior pearl (muktā) weighing four Māṣas[1] is 53,000 Kārṣāpaṇas.
10. The prices of pearls weighing half a Māṣa less and less are respectively 3200, 2000, 1300, 800 and 353 Kārṣāpaṇas.
11. The price of a single pearl which is a Māṣa in weight is 135 Kārṣāpaṇas, and the price of a pearl which is 4 Guñjās in weight is 90 Kārṣāpaṇas and that of one which is 3½ Guñjas in weight is 70 Kārṣāpaṇas.
12. The price of a pearl which is 3 guñjās in weight is 50 Kārṣāpaṇas, and the price of a pearl which is 2½ guñjās in weight is 35 Kārṣāpaṇas.
13. One-tenth of a Pala is known as a Dharaṇa. The price of a collection or string of 13 good pearls weighing a Dharaṇa is 325 Kārṣāpaṇas.
14. The price of a string of 16 pearls weighing a Dharaṇa is 200 Kārṣāpaṇas; of 20 pearls of the same weight is 170 Kārṣāpaṇas; of 25 pearls of the same weight is 130 Kārṣāpaṇas.
15. The price of a string of 30 superior pearls weighing a Dharaṇa is 70 Kārṣāpaṇas; one of 40 pearls of the same weight is 50 Kārṣāpaṇas and one of 55 pearls of the same weight is 40 Kārṣāpaṇas.
16. The price of a string of 80 pearls weighing a Dharaṇa is 30 Kārṣāpaṇas; that of a string of 100 pearls of the same weight is 25 Kārṣāpaṇas; of 200 pearls of the same weight is 12 Kārṣāpaṇas; of 300 pearls, 6 Kārṣāpaṇas; of 400, 5 Kārṣāpaṇas, and of 500, 3 Kārṣāpaṇas.
17. A collection or string of 13 pearls weighting a Dharaṇa is known as Pikkā; one of 16 pearls of the same weight is known as Piccā; one of 20 pearls is known as Arghā; one of 25 is known as Ardhā, one of 30 as Ravaka; one of 40 as Siktha; one of 55 as Nigara: one of from 80 to 500 pearls is known as Cūrṇa.
[Note—According to Buddha Bhaṭṭa, the price of a superior pearl weighting 5 Māṣas is double the price of one weighting 4 Māṣas, and the price of a pearl weighting 6 Māṣas is double the price of one of 5 Māṣas. and so on, doubling the price for each additional weight of a
18. Thus have I described the price of various collections of superior pearlshttps: weighing a Dharaṇa. The prices of collections of pearls of intermediate numbers shall be ascertained by proportion. If the pearls he not of superior quality, the price shall be reduced.
19. If these superior pearls be black or white or slightly rough the price shall be reduced by a third; if they be only very rough the price shall be reduced by a sixth; and if yellow by one-half.
(My comments- It is true that we get different colour pearls from different parts of the world, but not from India. It is amazing to see Varahamihira knew all these colourful pearls; moreover he gives the prices as well He must be a great gemmologist.)
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Pearls from Land Animals; Mysterious Pearls from the Sky!
20. An elephant of the Airāvata family born when the Moon passes through the asterism of Puṣya or Śravaṇa, on a Sunday or Monday in the Uttarāyaṇa (i.e. when the Sun passes from sign Capricorn to sign Cancer) and at the solar or lunar eclipse is known as Bhadra.
21. Pearls (muktā) which are bright, of various shapes and large are produced in large quantities in the tusks, testicles and crates of the Bhadra elephant.
22. These pearls cannot be valued and cannot be bored through. They are exceedingly bright and will bring to the wearer success, health and sons, and make him pure. They are fit to be worn by kings.
23. Pearls of superior qualities and of the colour of the moon are produced at the roots of the hog’s teeth and pearls of good qualities and which are large, pure, and of the shape of the eye of the fish, are found in whales.
24. Pearls of the shape of the hail and which fall from the seventh region of the atmosphere and resembling the lightning are produced in clouds; they are carried away by the Devas.
(My Comments; Hindus were great meteorologists; they studied all the different layers of atmosphere. This seven Spheres of atmosphere in Kalidasa and other books)
25. Pearls are also produced in the heads of serpents of the family of Takṣaka and Vāsuki; they are black and glossy.
26. When the rainfall occurs out of season, pearls which fall from the sky into vessels of silver placed on pure spots are known as Nāga pearls.
[Notes—According to Buddha Bhaṭṭa, rain may be produced in the dry season as follows: the priest shall, after bathing, and in an auspicious hour get to the tops of storyed buildings whose floor reflects the sky above and shall recite aloud mantras accompanied by the music of the Dundubhī. Heavy rain will fall.]
27. The Nāga pearls worn by kings bring to them success, renown, the ruin of the enemy and freedom from misery.
(My comments- Here Varahamihira talks not only about pearls from land animals but also about mysterious pearls from the sky. Cobra jewel—Nagaratna is mentioned in 2000 year old Sangam Tamil books as well. But no one has shown us any pearl from the sky or land animals. We need to do more research and report it)
28. Pearls (muktā) produced in bamboos are of the colour of camphor or crystal, and are flat and rough. Those produced in conch-shell are of the colour of the Moon and round, bright and beautiful.
29. Pearls produced in conch-shells, whales, bamboos, elephants, hogs, serpents and clouds are not to be bored through. As they are of very superior qualities, the Śāstras have not stated their value.
30. All these are pearls of superior qualities, and they make the wearer wise, wealthy, happy and renowned, free him from diseases and grief and secure for kings the object of their desire.
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Pearl Necklaces
31. A collection of pearls consisting of 1,008 strings, each 4 cubits long is known as Inducchanda. This must be used as ornaments for the Devas only. A collection of pearls consisting of 504 strings each 2 cubits long is known as Vijayacchanda.
32. A collection of pearls consisting of 108 strings each 2 cubits long is known as a Hāra; one of 81 strings of the same length is known as Devācchanda; one of 64 strings is known as Ardhahāra; and one of 54 is known as Raśmikalāpa.
33. A collection of pearls consisting of 32 strings each 2 cubits long is known as Guccha; one of 20 strings is known as Ardha-Guccha; one of 16 as Māṇavaka; and one of 12 as Ardhamāṇavaka.
34. A collection of pearls consisting of 8 strings each two cubits long is known as Mandāra, and one of 5 strings is known as Hāraphalaka or a necklace-slab, a cubit in length, consisting of a string of 27 pearls is known as a Nakṣatramāla.
35. A Nakṣatramāla with gems or gold beads between the pearls (muktā) is known as Maṇisopāna. A Maṇisopāna with a central gem is known as Cāṭukāra.
36. A necklace, a cubit in length and consisting of an indefinite number of pearls is known as Ekāvalī. An Ekāvalī with a central gem is known as Yaṣṭī among jewel-merchants.
(My comments- Varahamihira gives details about 1008 string pearl necklace and 5 string necklace. I don’t see any exaggeration; even today we have full cover dress for gods and goddesses in Tamil Nadu temples. So gods and kings of olden days must have had them.)
FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES:
[1]:
A Māsa is equal to 5 Guñjā seeds.
Gunja seeds= Rattis= Krishnalas.
5 gunjas- 1 Masa
16 Masa- 1 Suvarna
4 Suvarnas- I Pala
Half Pala- 1 Dharana or Suvarna
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FOLLOWING IS FROM SANSKRITDOCUMENTS.COM
८० मुक्तालक्षणाध्यायः
द्विपभुजगशुक्तिशङ्खाभ्रवेणुतिमिसूकरप्रसूतानि ।
मुक्ताफलानि तेषां बहुसाधु च शुक्तिजं भवति ॥ ८०.०१॥
सिंहलकपारलौकिकसौराष्ट्रिकताम्रपर्णिपारशवाः ।
कौबेरपाण्ड्यवाटकहैमा इत्याकरास्त्व् अष्टौ ॥ ८०.०२॥ (K.ह्य्)
बहुसंस्थानाः स्निग्धाः हंसाभाः सिंहलाकराः स्थूलाः । (K.स्निग्धा)
ईषत्ताम्राः श्वेतास्तमोवियुक्ताश्च ताम्राख्याः ॥ ८०.०३॥
कृष्णाः श्वेताः पीताः सशर्कराः पारलौकिका विषमाः ।
न स्थूला नात्यल्पा नवनीतग्निभाश्च सौराष्ट्राः ॥ ८०.०४॥
ज्योतिष्मत्यः शुभ्रा गुरवोऽतिमहागुणाश्च पारशवाः । (K.मन्तः)
लघु जर्जरं दधिनिभं *बृहद्द्विसंस्थानम् अपि हैमम् ॥ ८०.०५॥ (K.बृहद्विसंस्थानम्)
विषमं कृष्णश्वेतं लघु कौबेरं प्रमाणतेजोवत् । (K.कृष्णं श्वेतम्)
निम्बफलत्रिपुटधान्यकचूर्णाः स्युः पाण्ड्यवाटभवाः ॥ ८०.०६॥
अतसीकुसुमश्यामं वैष्णवमैन्द्रं शशाङ्कसङ्काशम् ।
हरितालग्निभं वारुणमसितं यमदैवतं भवति ॥ ८०.०७॥
परिणतदाडिमगुलिकागुञ्जाताम्रं च वायुदैवत्यम् ।
निर्धूमानलकमलप्रभं च विज्ञेयमाग्नेयम् ॥ ८०.०८॥
माषकग्चतुष्टयधृतस्यैकस्य शताहता त्रिपञ्चाशत् ।
कार्षापणा निगदिता मूल्यं तेजोगुणयुतस्य ॥ ८०.०९॥
माषकदलहान्यातो द्वात्रिंशद्विंशतिस्त्रयोदश च ।
अष्टौ च शतानि शतत्रयं त्रिपञ्चाशता सहितम् ॥ ८०.१०॥
पञ्चत्रिंशं शतमिति चत्वारः कृष्णला नवतिमूल्याः ।
सार्धास्तिस्रो गुञ्जाः सप्ततिमूल्यं धृतं रूपम् ॥ ८०.११॥
गुञ्जाग्त्रयस्य मूल्यं पञ्चाशद्रूपका गुणयुतस्य ।
रूपकपञ्चत्रिंशत्त्रयस्य गुञ्जार्धहीनस्य ॥ ८०.१२॥
पलदशभागो धरणं तद्यदि मुक्तास्त्रयोदश सुरूपाः ।
*त्रिशती(ऊ।त्रिंशती) सपञ्चविंशा रूपकसङ्ख्या कृतं मूल्यम् ॥ ८०.१३॥
षोडशकस्य द्विशती विंशतिरूपस्य सप्ततिः सशता ।
यत्पञ्चविंशतिधृतं तस्य शतं त्रिंशता सहितम् ॥ ८०.१४॥
त्रिंशत्सप्ततिमूल्यं चत्वारिंशच्छतार्धमूल्यं च । (K.मूल्या)
षष्टिः पञ्चोना वा धरणं पञ्चाष्टकं मूल्यम् ॥ ८०.१५॥
मुक्ताशीत्या त्रिंशच्छतस्य सा पञ्चरूपकविहीना ।
द्वित्रिचतुःपञ्चशता द्वादशषट्पञ्चकत्रितयम् ॥ ८०.१६॥
पिक्काग्पिच्चार्घार्धा रवकः सिक्थं त्रयोदशाद्यानाम् ।
सञ्ज्णाः परतो निगराश्चूर्णाश्चाशीतिपूर्वाणाम् ॥ ८०.१७॥
एतद्गुणयुक्तानां धरणधृतानां प्रकीर्तितं मूल्यम् । (K.प्रकीतितम्)
परिकल्प्यमन्तराले हीनगुणाणां क्षयः कार्यः ॥ ८०.१८॥
कृष्णश्वेतकपीतकताम्राणामीषदपि च विषमाणाम् ।
त्र्यंशोनं विषमकपीतयोश्च षड्भागदलहीनम् ॥ ८०.१९॥
ऐरावतकुलजानां पुष्यश्रवणेन्दुसूर्यदिवसेषु ।
ये चोत्तरायणभवा ग्रहणेऽर्केन्द्वोश्च भद्रेभाः ॥ ८०.२०॥
तेषां किल जायन्ते मुक्ताः कुम्भेषु सरदकोशेषु ।
बहवो बृहत्प्रमाणा बहुसंस्थानाः प्रभायुक्ताः ॥ ८०.२१॥
नैषामर्घः कार्यो न च वेधोऽतीव ते प्रभायुक्ताः ।
सुतविजयारोग्यकरा महापवित्रा धृता राज्ञाम् ॥ ८०.२२॥
दंष्ट्रामूले शशिकान्तिसप्रभं बहुगुणं च वाराहम् ।
तिमिजं मत्स्याआक्षीभं बृहत् पवित्रं बहुगुणं च ॥ ८०.२३॥
वर्षोपलवज्जातं वायुस्कन्धाच्च सप्तमाद्भ्रष्टम् ।
ह्रियते किल खाद्दिव्यैस्तडित्ग्प्रभं मेघसम्भूतम् ॥ ८०.२४॥
तक्षकवासुकिकुलजाः कामगमा ये च पन्नगास्तेषाम् ।
स्निग्धा नीलद्युतयो भवन्ति मुक्ताः फणस्यान्ते ॥ ८०.२५॥
शस्तेऽवनिप्रदेशे रजतमये भाजने स्थिते च यदि ।
वर्षति देवोऽकस्मात् तज्ज्ञेयं नागसम्भूतम् ॥ ८०.२६॥
अपहरति विषमलक्ष्मीं क्षपयति शत्रून् यशो विकाशयति ।
भौजङ्गं नृपतीनां धृतमकृतार्घं विजयदं च ॥ ८०.२७॥
कर्पूरस्फटिकनिभं चिपिटं विषमं च वेणुजं ज्ञेयम् ।
शङ्खोद्भवं शशिनिभं वृत्तं भ्राजिष्णु रुचिरं च ॥ ८०.२८॥
शङ्खतिमिवेणुवारणवराहभुजगाभ्रजान्य्*अवैद्यानि । (K.अवैध्यानि ऊऽवेद्यानि)
अमितगुणत्वाच्चैषामर्घः शास्त्रे न निर्दिष्टः ॥ ८०.२९॥
एतानि सर्वाणि महागुणानि
सुतार्थसौभाग्ययशस्कराणि ।
रुक्ग्शोकहन्तॄणि च पार्थिवानां
मुक्ताफलानिगीप्सितकामदानि ॥ ८०.३०॥
सुरभूषणं लतानां सहस्रमष्टोत्तरं चतुर्हस्तम् ।
इन्दुच्छन्दो नाम्ना विजयच्छन्दस्तदर्धेन ॥ ८०.३१॥ (K.इन्द्रच्छन्दो)
शतमष्टयुतं हारो देवच्छन्दो ह्यशीतिरेकयुता ।
अष्टाष्टकोऽर्धहारो रश्मिकलापश्च नवषट्कः ॥ ८०.३२॥
द्वात्रिंशता तु गुच्छो विंशत्या कीर्तितोऽर्धगुच्छाख्यः ।
षोडशभिर्माणवको द्वादशभिश्चार्धमाणवकः ॥ ८०.३३॥
मन्दरसंज्ञोऽष्टाभिः पञ्चलता हारफलकमित्युक्तम् ।
सप्ताविंशतिमुक्ता हस्तो नक्षत्रमालागिति ॥ ८०.३४॥
अन्तरमणिसंयुक्ता मणिसोपानं सुवर्णगुलिकैर्वा ।
तरलकमणिमध्यं तद्विज्ञेयं चाटुकारमिति ॥ ८०.३५॥
एकावली नाम यथेष्टसङ्ख्या
हस्तप्रमाणा मणिग्विप्रयुक्ता ।
संयोजिता या मणिना तु मध्ये
यष्टीति सा भूषणविद्भिरुक्तम् ॥ ८०.३६॥
इति श्रीवराहमिहिरकृतौ बृहत्संहितायां मुक्तालक्षणाध्यायः समाप्तः ॥ ८०॥
Largest Burmese Pearl
MY OLD ARTICLES
1.Eight Types of Pearls: Varahamihira’s 1500 year Old Price List! No. 1636; Dated 9th February 2015
2.Pearl is available from Twenty Sources! (Post No.3538) Date: 12 January 2017
3.Pearls in the Vedas and Tamil LiteraturePost No. 1048 ; dated 17th May 2014.
4.PEARL IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES (Post No.11,059) 28 JUNE 2022
5.Gemmology in Brhat Samhita
No 1634; dated 8th February 2015
6.Nagaratna/ Cobra Jewel, Rubies and Emeralds in Brhat Samhita
No 1643; Date:- 11th February 2015
7.Don’t buy Diamonds without Testing ; Bad Diamonds kill Your Family (Post No.13,111) 20 March 2024
8.INDIAN ORIGIN OF DAMONDS! (Post No.9516) –21 APRIL 2021
9.Surprise! Surprise!! Sri Rangam Temple Diamond is in Russian Sceptre (Post No.7499) , 26 January 2020
10.Diamond hunting in Anantapur, Kurnool regions on in monsoon season (Post.12,097) 7 June , 2023
11.If you return Kohinoor , British Museum will be Empty – British P M (Post No.11,665) 13 JANUARY 2023
12.Krishna’s Diamond in USA ? April 23, 2012
13.Kohinoor Diamond: Interesting Anecdote by Hallam Murray (Post No.2864) Date: 3 June 2016
—subham—
Tags- Pearls, Varahamihira, strings, sources, prices, pear
Tamil and Vedas 