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Were ancient indians using electricity? Were electrical appliances common household items in india then?
An ancient indian text agasthya samhita describes the manufacturing of electrical batteries as follows:
“Place a well-cleaned copper plate in an earthenware vessel. Cover it
first by copper sulfate and then moist sawdust. After that put a
mercury-amalgamated-zinc sheet on top of an energy known by the twin
name of Mitra-Varuna. Water will be split by this current into
Pranavayu and Udanavayu. A chain of one hundred jars is said to give a
very active and effective force.”
By the way, mitra is cathode and varuna is what we call anode today, Pranavayu is oxygen and udanavayu is hydrogen.
The actual Sanskrit text from the book Agastya Samhita goes as follows
Sansthapya Mrinmaya Patre Tamrapatram Susanskritam
Chhadyechhikhigriven Chardrarbhih Kashthpamsubhih
Dastaloshto Nidhatavyah Pardachhaditastah
Sanyogajjayte Tejo Mitravarunsangyitam
Anen Jalbhangosti Prano Daneshu Vayushu
Evam Shatanam Kumbhanamsanyogkaryakritsmrita