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== Does Ayas mean a metal or iron? ==

== Does Ayas mean a metal or iron? ==

The history of iron can be traced back based on the historical and archaeological sources including modern radiocarbon dating. The early hymns of [[Rigveda (ऋग्वेदः)|Rigveda]] revealed the knowledge of extracting metals from ores. 'AYAS' (iron) was the third Rig-Vedic metal (after gold and silver) according to some scholars<ref name=":1" /> while others, Lallanji Gopal, Tripathi<ref name=":0" /> argued that it stood for metal in general in Rigveda. [[Yajurveda (यजुर्वेदः)|Yajurveda]] mentions gold, silver, copper, lead, tin and iron in the famous Rudra adhyaya. The terms 'krishna or shyamaayas' (the black metal) and lohitayas (the red metal) denoting iron and copper, respectively were coined in the Shukla Yaurveda (28.13) text.<ref name=":0" /> <blockquote>अश्मा च मे मृत्तिका च मे गिरयश् च मे पर्वताश् च मे सिकताश् च मे वनस्पतयश् च मे हिरण्यं च मे ऽयश् च मे श्यामं च मे लोहं च मे सीसं च मे त्रपु च मे यज्ञेन कल्पन्ताम् ॥ (Yaju. Samh. )<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AE Shukla Yajurveda] </ref>   

The history of iron can be traced back based on the historical and archaeological sources including modern radiocarbon dating. The early hymns of [[Rigveda (ऋग्वेदः)|Rigveda]] revealed the knowledge of extracting metals from ores. 'AYAS' (iron) was the third Rig-Vedic shining metal (after gold and silver). Ayas meant different meanings in different periods. In early Vedic period, it means either copper or copper alloys.<ref name=":5">Dube, R. K. ''[https://vedicheritage.gov.in/vedic-heritage-in-present-context/metallurgy/ Ancient Indian Metallurgy]'' in Vedic Heritage Portal (2015)</ref> According to some scholars<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5" /> Ayas meant 'iron', while others, Lallanji Gopal, Tripathi<ref name=":0" /> argued that it stood for 'metal' in general in Rigveda. [[Yajurveda (यजुर्वेदः)|Yajurveda]] mentions gold, silver, copper, lead, tin and iron in the famous Rudra adhyaya. The terms 'krishna or shyamaayas' (the black metal) and lohitaayas (the red metal) denoting iron and copper, respectively were coined in the Shukla Yaurveda (28.13) text.<ref name=":0" /> These words were also found in Atharvaveda (9.3.7) and other synonymous forms are krishnaayas (Chand. Upan. 4.1.6, Taitr. Brah. 3.2.6.5) and other references in Chandogya Upanishad and Jaimini Upanishad.<ref>Subrahmanyam, B.R. [http://hdl.handle.net/10603/123440 Iron age in India - Studies in material culture between 7th century BC and 1st century A.D.] (1966) Acharya Nagarjuna University</ref> <blockquote>अश्मा च मे मृत्तिका च मे गिरयश् च मे पर्वताश् च मे सिकताश् च मे वनस्पतयश् च मे हिरण्यं च मे ऽयश् च मे श्यामं च मे लोहं च मे सीसं च मे त्रपु च मे यज्ञेन कल्पन्ताम् ॥ (Yaju. Samh. )<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AE Shukla Yajurveda] </ref>   

aśmā ca me mṛttikā ca me girayaś ca me parvatāś ca me sikatāś ca me vanaspatayaś ca me hiraṇyaṃ ca me ’yaś ca me śyāmaṃ ca me lohaṃ ca me sīsaṃ ca me trapu ca me yajñena kalpantām || </blockquote>However, according to A. K. Vaish, et. al.<ref name=":1" /> Rig-Vedic hymns have reference to the soldiers putting on '''coats of mail''' (a jacket covered with or composed of metal rings or plates, serving as armour) and using '''metallic helmets'''. Ancient Indians deployed the use of iron in '''agriculture and warfare'''. The uses of iron extended down to southern tip of Tamil Nadu. Based on the weapons and implements cited in Rigveda and the [[Puranas (पुराणानि)|Puranas]], iron making technology existed to fulfill man's needs for war and peace.<ref name=":1" />

aśmā ca me mṛttikā ca me girayaś ca me parvatāś ca me sikatāś ca me vanaspatayaś ca me hiraṇyaṃ ca me ’yaś ca me śyāmaṃ ca me lohaṃ ca me sīsaṃ ca me trapu ca me yajñena kalpantām || </blockquote>However, according to A. K. Vaish, et. al.<ref name=":1" /> Rig-Vedic hymns have reference to the soldiers putting on '''coats of mail''' (a jacket covered with or composed of metal rings or plates, serving as armour) and using '''metallic helmets'''. Ancient Indians deployed the use of iron in '''agriculture and warfare'''. The uses of iron extended down to southern tip of Tamil Nadu. Based on the weapons and implements cited in Rigveda and the [[Puranas (पुराणानि)|Puranas]], iron making technology existed to fulfill man's needs for war and peace.<ref name=":1" />

# Reduction or smelting in a Blast Furnace  

# Reduction or smelting in a Blast Furnace  

'''Collection of raw materials''': Iron is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust. Because of its strong affinity to oxygen, it is not found in the elemental state but predominantly in its combined forms such as oxides, and much less as sulphide and carbonate.   

'''Collection of raw materials''': Iron is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust. Because of its strong affinity to oxygen, it is not found in the elemental state but predominantly in its combined forms such as oxides, and much less as sulphide and carbonate.   

== Extraction Process in Ancient Times ==

== Extraction Process in Ancient Times ==