International Journal on Science and Technology

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The Vibrant Palette of Ancient India: The Chemistry of Colors

Author(s) Dr. Rajarshi Chatterjee
Country India
Abstract Ancient Indian artisans crafted stunning hues for textiles, murals, pottery and body art using natural minerals, plants and insects. The colors, derived from natural mineral and organic sources, were deeply integrated into art, textiles, and ritual, with a palette dominated by white, yellow, red, black, and blue. These colors stemmed from inorganic and organic compounds, leveraging principles like electron transitions, coordination chemistry and resonance stability of pigments. The concept of color is as old as human civilization. From Vedic literature, it was found that the natural colorants were available to human from the ancient times. Pigments like red ochre, lapis lazuli, and indigo were used in cave paintings (Bhimbetka, Ajanta) and textiles, guided by ancient treatises such as the Vishnudharmottara Purana and Natyasastra. Our Indian Vedic literature gives many proofs regarding colour used in ancient times. The study of these pigments reveals an advanced understanding of material science, with many colors retaining their intensity for thousands of years, as seen in cave and temple murals. In this paper, we have selected some period from Vedic time to historic time regarding colour utilization. Also here is a breakdown of key colors, their sources and the underlying chemistry.
Keywords Color, Pigment, Vedic period, The Ramayana, The Mahabharata, Indian Folk paintings
Field Chemistry
Published In Volume 16, Issue 4, October-December 2025
Published On 2025-12-31
DOI https://doi.org/10.71097/IJSAT.v16.i4.10037
Short DOI https://doi.org/hbhj5t
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