House-hold-Articles in ancient India

Ample are our references to the various house-hold articles in the stories from the Kathasaritsagara Various seats, 988. Nirnaya Sagar 12.7.165 5.1.29 6.3.19,20, 7.2.120, 6.3.38, 39, 7.8.25-28, 18.1.10. Contemporary lexicons mention dolls of wood, cloth, ivory or clay; playing with balls as the favourite pastime for children and swinging as the popular amusement of the people, Mujumdar R.C. op.cit. Vol.V. p.404,480. Also Abhilasartha Chintamani and Vaijyanta 137 (11-14). 989. Nirnaya Sagar 16.3.58. 990. Ibid. 9.2.121-123.

454 curtains, boxes, pots, utencils, lamps, mirrors and many other articles that were in the daily use of the people have been mentioned. Furniture and Seats In furniture we come across the various thrones such as the emerald throne (marakatasana), the jewelled 992 991 throne (ratnasana), (ratna simhasana), the ivory-throne 993 994 (dantidantasana), (dan tidanta sana), the lion-throne (simhasana), the jewelled 996 995 coach (mani paryanka, ratnaparayanka), the golden-coach (suvarna paryanka), the sleeping-bed (shayaniyaka), the sofa 998 999 or coach (paryanka), the bed (shayniya), manchaka or sayana), 1000 a the bed-sted (shayyakha) and a comfortable coach (sukhashayya). The table and a chair were in use. The pillow and the 1002 skin of black antelope used for sitting is referred to. The kings and the rich had costly furniture in their palaces. At times it was inlaid with jewels and gold. The common man used simple furniture. Curtains Various kinds of curtains, canopies, coverlets, quilts, cushions etc. have been discussed in details under 991. Nirnaya Sagar 12.5.78. 992. Ibid. 12.15.99, 5.3.224, 1.6.67. 993. Ibid. 12.37.117. 994. Ibid. 7.8.128. 995. Ibid. 9.1.86, 5.3.48, 4:2.3, 3.6.178, 8.7.156, 8.2.291. 996. Ibid. 10.7.16. 997. Ibid. 14.2.55, 6.7.177, 12.22.34. 998. Ibid. 18.5.194, 12.4.35, 10.2.125, 6.6.70, 12.8.76. 999. Ibid. 12.4.26, 6.1.175, 7.1.24, 6.1.91, 18.4.181, 8.2.264. 1000. Ibid. 18.5.212, 10.8.155. 1001. Ibid. 4.2.6. 1002. Ibid. 12.6.173.

455 "Dress and ornaments" in Chapeter IV P.436. Bags and Boxes The bag (valgulika), generally carried by painters 1004 and wandering ascetics is mentioned. The painters carried 1005 1006 painting material in them. A casket (karanda) and a small basket or casket (karandika) used by the ladies to keep ornaments and other things is referred to. A strong casket 1009 1007 (samudgaka) was used for storing jewels. The simple box 1008 (peti) is often mentioned. Another strong box (samputa) was probably used to keep important documents. A special type of box or basket called the manjusha is also referred to. A big trunk (manjusha) with bolts in which the faithful 1010 wife Upakosha) locked the four royal officers is mentioned. 1011 Leather-trunk (charmapeta or peti) was used by the caravans to carry loads of clothes on camel-back along the land 1012 trade-routes. A chest (bhanda) or box placed in the treasury is mentioned. Pots and Utencils In pots we come across the jewelled-pitcher (ratnakalasha), the golden-pitcher (suvarana kalasha, hemakumbha or 1003. Nirnaya Sagar 17.7.16, 12.15,39, 10.7.16, 12.15.39, 12.19.95-97. 1004. Ibid. 12.34.74, 9.5.79. 1005. Ibid. 6.3.38, 10.9.105. 1006. Ibid. "1 14 1007. Ibid. 7.5.69, 7.4.47,48, 9.3.27. 1008. Ibid. 1.6.40. 1009. Ibid. 3.1.38. 1010. Ibid. 1.4.80. 1011. Ibid. 10.6.195, 10.8.100. 1012. Ibid. 5.1.133. 1013. Ibid. 8.7.204.

1014 1015 456 Kamchanaghata), jars (purnakalasha), jars studded with 1016 1017 jewels, the silver-vessel (rajatanbhajana, raupya bhajana) 1018 1019 the silver-utencil (raupyya kalasha), the copper-vessel 1020* (tamrakumbha), the brass-bot (kamsya patra), the vessel 1022 of sand (sikatapatra), the cooking vessel (pakabhanda), 1023 the rice-cooking pot (charubhanda), the pitcher (ghata, 1024 1025 kumbha), the water-vessel (waridha), the water-offering pot 1027 1026 1028 (arghaya (arghaya patra), the porringer (bhandaka) used for begging 1029 alms, the oil-pot (taila patra), and a perforated vessel. Various plates have been mentioned. 1030 The earthen-plates (sharavas) which a potter's wife brought for sale in kaushambi are mentioned. The dishes 1031 (patras) in which various vinds were kept, the jewelled 1032 1033 plates (ratna patras), the emerald dish (marakata patra), 1035 1034 the alm-plate (bhikshapatra), the frying-pan (karpara), - 1036 1037 golden-dishes (hiran-maya-patras) the meal-bean and a pot 1014. Nirnaya Sagar 8.7.204, 15.2.77, 3.4.356, 4.1.7. 10.0.313. 1015. Ibid. 15.2.126. 1016. Ibid. 10.1.22. 1017. Ibid. 10.5.279, 5.2.228. 1018. Ibid. 5.2.228. 1019. Ibid. 7.1.42.10,5.48.180. 1020. Ibid. 12.4.268. 1021. Ibid. 12.4.85. 1022. Ibid. 14.4.77. 1023. Ibid. 8.6.142. 1034. NS 5-1-92-96 1035. Ibid. 18.2.74. 1036. Ibid. 7.9.55. 1037. Ibid. 12.4.270. 1024. Ibid. 6.1.91, 6.4.131. 1025. Ibid. 6.1.91. 1026. Ibid. 12.5.42. 1027. Ibid. 10.5.96. 1028. Ibid. 6.1.43, 10.5.190. 1029. Ibid. 12.26.91. 1030. Ibid. 6.3.88, 4.1.134. 1031. Ibid. 18.5.135,15.2.132, 12.4.270. 1032. Ibid. 10.7.22, 7.9.55. 1033. Ibid. 4.3.41,42.

457 1038 with golden ends etc. are referred to. A goblet (chasaka) of red colour and one of crystal 1039 (sphatika) is also mentioned. Costly dishes and plates were used by the kings as well as the golden and silver vessels. Lamps 1040 The jewelled lamp (ratnadipa) used in the places has often been mentioned. The protective-light (rakshapradipa) that used to burn in the lying-in-chamber of a pregnant lady, 1041 is also mentioned. A lamp at the palace-gate and one in 1042 the house of a Sabara is mentioned. Shops were lighted with 1043 lamps. There were special servants in the palace to light 1044 the lamps. 1045 The mirror (darpanam) is only once mentioned. Other Miscelleneous Articles Among other miscelleneous house-hold articles we have 1046 the rope (rajju or trunarajju), the knotty-stick (granthi 1047 1048 musala), the axe parashu, kuthara) used for cutting the wood 1038. Nirnaya Sagar 7.9.55. 1039. Ibid. 4.1.90,10, 15.2.125. 1040. Ibid. 9.1.186, 14.2.61, 4.3.62, 6.8.48, 255, 12.36.207. 1041. Ibid. 6.2.4, 6.8.48. 1042. Ibid. 18.5.56-58, 6.6.63. 1043. Ibid. 2.2.140. 1044. Ibid. 3.5.26. 1045. Ibid. 5.3.54. 1046. Ibid. 12.8.119,10.1.11, 10.9.19,54. 1047. Ibid. 10.9.135, 136, 18.4.55. 1048. Ibid. 18.4.61, 6.2.157.

1049 1050 458 1051 the whip, the saddle, the spade or shovel (khanitraka) 1052 1053 1054 the fan, the pestal (musala), the lock (argarala), the chain (srunkhala), that was used to fasten a dog, the 1055 1056 1059 1057 1058 broom (margani), the spade (kuddala), the razor (kshura), 1060 the shoes (paduka), the hilt (vajramusti), the umbrella 1061 1064 1065 1062 1063 (chchattra), the cage (pingara), charcoal (angara), trident 1067 1066 1070 1071 1074 1068 (trishula), bolts, iron bars mechanical toys, candle, skin 1072 of a black-antelope, flap (chamara), wand, dogs, foot, 1069 1073 1076 1075 water-vessel (varidha), pitcher (kumbha) braizer (manchaka), 1077 1078 iron-wheel (lohachaka), ball (kanduka), Box (peta), plate 1079 1080 1081 (Saravakam), big-box (valgulika), dishes (patras), glass- 1 1082 bowels (chashakas), etc. 1049. Nirnaya Sagar 12.27.14. 1050. Ibid. 12.27.17.12.14.20. 1051. Ibid. 6.3.88,93,10.5.108. 1052. Ibid. 18.3.68. 1053. Ibid. 12.18. 1054. Ibid. 12.4.52. 1055. Ibid. 4.9-118,12.4.52,6.1.169. 1056. Ibid. 6.1.91. 1057. Ibid. 6.7.44. 1058. Ibid. 6.6.163. 1059. Ibid. 1.3.49. 1060. Ibid. 7.1.42. 1061. Ibid. 6.7.178. 1062. Ibid. 10.3.25,10.9.75, 12.10.6.8. 1063. Ibid. 13.1.76, 12.7.170. 1064. Ibid. 12.8.155,157. 1065. Ibid. 12.4.52, 3.5.27. 1066. Ibid. 8.7.14. 1067. Ibid. 6.3.3,19.20. 1068. Ibid. 6.6.63. 1069. Ibid. 12.6.173. 1070. Ibid. 6.7.178, 6.5.41, 3.6.178, 3.5.63. 1071. Ibid. 14.4.2. 1072. Ibid. 2.5.142. 1073. Ibid. 6.1.91. 1074. Ibid. 1075. Ibid. " 1076. Inid. 9.6.147. 1077. Ibid. 3.6.213. 1078. Nirnaya Sagar 10.8.10. 1079. Ibid. 6.3.8. 1080. Ibid. 12.34.72. 1081. Ibid. 10.7.22,10.5.96. 1082. Ibid. 4.1.10.