- The Rigveda, the oldest Vedic text, primarily mentions 'ayas', which is generally interpreted as copper or bronze. - Later Vedic texts, composed after the Rigveda (c. 1000 BCE onwards), show clear knowledge and use of iron. The term 'Shyama ayas' or 'Krishna ayas' (black metal) is used to distinguish it from 'lohita ayas' (red metal, i.e., copper/bronze). - The Yajurveda is one of the principal later Vedic texts where such references appear. - The Samaveda is primarily a collection of hymns meant for chanting and does not contain as much material on material culture as the Yajurveda or Atharvaveda. - The Vinaya Pitaka is part of the Buddhist canon (Pali Canon) and belongs to a later period (post-6th century BCE) compared to the Vedic texts.
The earliest literary references to iron in the Indian Sub-Continent are found in the :
Asked in UPSC CAPF 2016 · Topic: Ancient Literature and Litterateur (Vedic and Later Vedic Literature (Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads))
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