Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India

by Remadevi. O. | 2009 | 54,177 words

Buy relevant books

Summary: This essay studies the cosmetics, costumes and ornaments of ancient India based on Sanskrit sources. Chapter one deals with cosmetics and methods of enhancing beauty; Chapter two deals with costumes, garments and dresses; Chapter three deals with ornaments for humans and animals. Each chapter deals with their respective materials, types, preparation and trade, as prevalent in ancient Indian society.

Source 1: exoticindiaart.com
Source 2: shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in

Contents of this online book ( + / - )

The full text of the Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India in English is available here and publically accesible (free to read online). Of course, I would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. You can see all this book’s content by visiting the pages in the below index:

+ Chapter 1 - Cosmetics

. 1. Materials for Cosmetics (Introduction)

. 1.1. Use of Candana (Sandal)

. 1.2. Use of Campaka

. 1.3. Use of Madayantikā (Henna)

. 1.4. Use of Ambara

. 1.5. Use of Kuṅkuma (Saffron)

. 1.6. Use of Karpūra

. 1.7. Use of Gorocana (Bezoar)

. 1.8. Use of Aguru (Agallochum)

. 1.9. Use of Kastūrī (Musk)

. 1.10. Use of Jāti (Nutmeg tree)

. 1.11. Use of Lākṣā (Lac)

. 1.12. Use of Lodhra

. 1.13. Use of Uśīra

. 1.14. Use of Kakkola

. 1.15. Use of Sarjarasa

. 1.16. Use of Kunduruka (Olibanum)

. 1.17. Use of Guggulu

. 1.18. Use of Lavaṅga (Cloves)

. 1.19. Use of Kuṣṭha

. 1.20. Use of Sindūra (Vermilion)

. 2.1. Pharmaceutical use of Oil

. 2.2. Pharmaceutical use of Añjana (Collyrium)

. 2.3. Pharmaceutical use of Tāmbūla (Betel)

. 2.4. Pharmaceutical use of Soap

. 2.5. Pharmaceutical use of Nail Polish

. 2.6. Pharmaceutical use of Lipstick

. 2.7. Pharmaceutical use of Keśarāga (Hair dye)

. 2.8. Pharmaceutical use of Tooth Sticks

. 2.9. Pharmaceutical use of Anulepana (Unguents)

. 2.10. Pharmaceutical use of Powders

. 2.11. Pharmaceutical use of Incense

. 2.12. Pharmaceutical use of Perfumes

. 3.1. Use of Medicines (Introduction)

. 3.2. Medicinal Baths

. 3.3. Protective Footwear

. 3.4. Hair Dressing: Styles and Care

. 3.5. Eyebrow Shaping

. 3.6. Ornamental Painting

. 4. Art of Decoration

. 5. Articles of make-up (a): Mirror

. 5. Articles of make-up (b): Comb

. 6. Make -up for Stage Performance

. 7. Cosmetics According to Different Regions

. 8. Cosmetics for Worship

. 9. Prohibition of Cosmetics

. 10. Business and Trade of Cosmetics

+ Chapter 2 - Costumes

. 1. Materials for Garments (Introduction)

. 1. Materials for Garments (a): Fibers made out of Barks

. 1. Materials for Garments (b): Silk fibers from Silkworms

. 1. Materials for Garments (b): Cotton cloth from Fruit fibers

. 1. Materials for Garments (c): Woollen clothes

. 1. Materials for Garments (d): Skin clothes from Animals

. 1. Materials for Garments (d): Grass clothes

. 2. Types of Garments (Introduction)

. 2.1. Upper Garments (a): Head Dress: Uṣṇīṣa

. 2.1. Upper Garments (a): Head Dress: Veṣṭana

. 2.1. Upper Garments (b): Avaguṇṭhana (Veil)

. 2.1. Upper Garments (c): Karapaṭa (Handkerchief)

. 2.1. Upper Garments (d): Uttarīya (unstitched cloth)

. 2.1. Upper Garments (e): Kūrpāsaka (stitched garment)

. 2.1. Upper Garments (f): Kañcuka (tailored garment)

. 2.1. Upper Garments (g): Colaka (stitched dress)

. 2.1. Upper Garments (h): Vārabāṇa (armour)

. 2.1. Upper Garments (i): Yogapaṭṭaka (meditation cloth)

. 2.1. Upper Garments (j): Atka (male costume)

. 2.1. Upper Garments (k): Drāpi (embroidered garment)

. 2.1. Upper Garments (l): Ardhoruka (hanging coat)

. 2.1. Upper Garments (m): Prāvāraka or Prāvāra (covering)

. 2.1. Upper Garments (n): Breast Cloth

. 2.2. Lower Garments (a): Peśas (embroidered garment)

. 2.2. Lower Garments (b): Caṇḍātaka (under-garment)

. 2.2. Lower Garments (c): Tārpya (sacrificial garment)

. 2.2. Lower Garments (d): Nīvi (lower garment)

. 2. Various other Upper Garments and Lower Garments

. 2.3. Night Wears

. 2.4. Kambala (Blanket)

. 2.5. Thin and Soft Clothes

. 2.6. Dress for Bath

. 2.7. Dress of Prostitutes

. 2.8. Dress of Widows and Old Women

. 2.9. Dress for Worshipping

. 2.10. Clothing for Śrāddha

. 2.11. Wedding Dress

. 2.12. Dress of Ascetics, Monks and Hermits

. 2.13. Costumes of Deities

. 2.14. Dress for Stage performance

. 2.15. Dressing on the Basis of Hierarchy

. 2.16. Dressing According to Financial Status

. 2.17. Dressing According to Region

. 2.18. Dressing on the Basis of Profession

. 2.19. Seasonal Clothing

. 2.20. Royal Dress

. 2.21. Dress of Separated Woman

. 2.22. Dress of a House Holder

. 2.23. Dress of Students and Celibates

. 2.24. Sacrificial Dress

. 3.1. Dress Making: Spinning and Weaving

. 3.2. Dress Making: Stitching or Sewing

. 3.3. Dress Making: Printing and Painting

. 3.4. Dress Making: Bleaching

. 3.5. Dress Making: Embroidery

. 3.6. Dress Making: Washing

. 3.7. Dress Making: Dyeing

. 3.8. Dress Making: Perfuming of Clothes

. 4. Dressing of Women

. 5. Clothes as Gift

. 6. Some Beliefs Associated with Dressing

. 7. Trade and Commerce (of clothes and dresses)

+ Chapter 3 - Ornaments

. 1. Materials for Ornaments (Introduction)

. 1.1. Materials for Ornaments: Metals (Introduction)

. 1.1. Materials (a): Gold

. 1.1. Materials (b): Silver

. 1.1. Materials (c): Iron and Lead

. 1.2. Materials: Gems (Introduction)

. 1.2. Materials (a): Vajra (Diamond)

. 1.2. Materials (b): Pearl

. 1.2. Materials (c): Padmarāga (Ruby)

. 1.2. Materials (d): Marakata (Emerald)

. 1.2. Materials (e): Indranīla (Sapphire)

. 1.2. Materials (f): Puṣparāga (Topaz)

. 1.2. Materials (g): Vaiḍūrya (Lapis lazuli, cat’s eye)

. 1.2. Materials (h): Karketana (Agate)

. 1.2. Materials (i): Pulaka (Amethyst)

. 1.2. Materials (j): Vidruma (Coral)

. 1.2. Materials (k): Bhīṣmamaṇi

. 1.2. Materials (l): Rudhiraratna (Blood Stone)

. 1.2. Materials (m): Sphaṭika (Crystal Gem-Pebble)

. 1.2. Materials (n): Candrakānta (Moon Stone)

. 1.2. Materials (o): Sūryakānta (Sun Stone)

. 1.2. Materials (p): Cintāmaṇi

. 1.2. Materials (q): Syamantaka

. 1.2. Materials (r): Various other Precious Gems

. 1.3. Materials: Flowers

. 2. Different Types of Ornaments (Introduction)

. 2.1. Head Ornaments (a): Kirīṭa

. 2.1. Head Ornaments (b): Mukuṭa or Makuṭa

. 2.1. Head Ornaments (d): Cūḍāmaṇi

. 2.1. Head Ornaments (e): Paṭṭa

. 2.1. Various other Head Ornaments

. 2.2. Ear Ornaments (a): Kuṇḍala

. 2.2. Various other Ear Ornaments

. 2.3. Nose Ornaments (Vesara)

. 2.4. Neck Ornaments (a): Hāra

. 2.4. Neck Ornaments (b): Mālā

. 2.4. Neck Ornaments (c): Yajñopavīta

. 2.4. Neck Ornaments (d): Pearl Necklaces

. 2.4. Various other Neck Ornaments

. 2.5. Hand Ornaments (a): Keyūra

. 2.5. Hand Ornaments (b): Aṅgada

. 2.5. Hand Ornaments (c): Valaya

. 2.5. Hand Ornaments (d): Kaṭaka

. 2.5. Various other Hand Ornaments

. 2.6. Finger Ornaments (a): Aṅgulīyaka

. 2.6. Finger Ornaments (b): Hīraka

. 2.6. Various other Finger Ornaments

. 2.7. Waist Ornaments (a): Mekhalā

. 2.7. Waist Ornaments (b): Raśanā

. 2.7. Waist Ornaments (c): Kāñcī

. 2.7. Various other Waist Ornaments

. 2.8. Leg Ornaments (a): Nūpura

. 2.8. Various other Leg Ornaments

. 3. Ornaments for Different Occasions

. 4. Beliefs Associated with Ornaments

. 5. Ornaments for Animals

. 6. Caskets of Ornaments

. 7. Trade and Commerce of Ornaments

Comments:

Comment functionality currently not enabled

Last Updated: 11 October, 2022

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website:

Donate on Patreon

Buy me a Coffee

|

Why? | More options...