Manasara Series (I. A Dictionary of Hindu Architecture; II. Indian Architecture according to Manasara-Shilpashastra; III. Manasara on Architecture and Sculpture: Sanskrit Text; IV. Architecture of Manasara: Translation; V. Architecture of Manasara: Illustrations; VI. Hindu Architecture in India and Abroad; VII. An Encyclopaedia of Hindu Architecture) v6.c40.s7.41

v6.c40.s7.41

‘The ritualistic types of furniture cannot, however, be taken as a faithful counterpart of the contemporary secular ones, for it is well known that sacrificial and ritual requisites almost always remain primitive and unchanged throughout long ages, and it is particularly true of India; so that the furniture of the priestly texts is almost that with which the Brāhmaṇic cult and civilization started. So great is the ritual conservatism in these respects that even where special circumstances required alteration in the sacrificial paraphernalia, the external items are transformed into Brāhmaṇical-looking accessories, by the employment of primitive materials sacred in ritual tradition.’ Thus even today the *prastara*, a sacrificial seat, consists only of strewn grass (*darbha*, *R.-V.*, X, 14, 4; *A.-V.*, 2, 6; *Taitt. Sam.*, 1, 7, 7, 4; *Vāj. Sam.*, 11, 18; XVIII, 63; *Ait. Brā.*, I, 26; II, 3; *Śat. Brā.*, 1, 3, 3, 5). Similarly *barhis* made of *bulbaja* grass strewn on the sacrificial ground and used as the seat for gods is a sort of litter. The *kūrcha* is a small square grass-mat (*Taitt. Sam.*, VII, 5, 8, 5; *Śat. Brā.*, XI, 5, 3, 4, 7; *Ait. Āraṇ.*, V, 1, 4; *Bṛihad. Upan.*, II, 11, 1). The golden *kūrcha* (*Śat. Brā.*, XIII, 4, 3, 1) is interpreted as a ‘golden stool with feet, having a *kūrcha*-like pad over it,’ or ‘a wooden seat carved or painted so as to resemble a *kūrcha*.’ The *bṛisī* (or *vṛishī*) is a cushion seat often spread over the grass *kūrcha*. The *kaśipu* (*A.-V.*, VI, 138, 5) implies a mat (or cushion) made from grass, but the chief priest (*hotṛi*) is stated to sit upon a golden *kaśipu*, which must be of stronger material than grass and of better craftsmanship. The *sadas*, wherefrom the term *sadasya* (councillor) is formed, must have been a ‘raised seat and of a style specially associated with his office.’ It is elsewhere (*Śat. Brā.*, XIV, 3, 1, 8) used as domestic furniture and implies a seat in a dwelling-house. The *pīṭha* is a wooden low seat, square or rectangular. The *naḍvalā* (*Vāj. Sam*., XXX, 16; *Taitt. Brā*., III, 4, 12, 1) is also a mat or cushion made of reeds (*naḍa*). The *kaṭa* (*Taitt. Sam*., V, 3, 12, 2) is a rattan mat made of split cane (*vaitasa*).