Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c9.5

c9.5

The intellectual activity as evolved by the Vedic *Charaṇas*, or Academies of Learning was of the highest order in which foundations of many sciences or fields of study (*Vidyā*) were laid, e.g. grammar, exegesis, phonetics, astronomy, medicine, dramaturgy, architecture, law (*Dharma*), besides an elaborate development of the Vedic and domestic ritual. Similarly *Śilpa*, i.e. arts and crafts, received wide attention and were cultivated as so many professions by expert craftsmen for which a new word, viz. *Jānapadi-vṛitti* was introduced in the language (Pāṇini, 4. 1. 42). Expert professions and crafts began even in the Vedic age as shown by the *Sata-Rudrīya* Chapter of the Yajurveda, e. g. physicians (*Bhishak*), trader (*Vaṇij*), house-builder (*Sthapati*), makers of bows, arrows and quivers (*Dhanvin, Ishumat, Dhanushakṛit, Ishukṛit, Ishudhimat*), carpenters or timber fellers (*Takshā*), Cart-wrights (*Rathakāra*), potter (*Kulāla*), blacksmith (*Karmāra*), maker of coats of mail and armour (*Varma, Kavacha* and *Ayudha*), architects who were expert in *Vāstu-vidyā* (*Vāstavya* and *Vāstuka*), makers of beds (*Talpa*) and mattings (*kaṭa*), weaver (*Vayatri*), agriculturist (*Kināśa*), grain-dealer (*Annānāmpati*), warrior, boatsman (*Nāvāja*) with oar (*Aritra*), raft (*Dyumna*), ship (*Nau*) and rudder (*maṇḍa*), dyer (*Rajayitri*), ropemaker (*Rajju-sarja*), lute-player (*Vīṇā-gāthin*), barber (*Vaptṛi*), cook (*Śrapayitri*), elephant-keeper (Hastipa), worker in gold (Hiraṇyakāra), jewellers (Maṇikāra), basket-maker (Vidala-kārī), embroiderer (Peśitrī, Peśaskārī for a female), smelter (Dhmātṛi), drum-beater (Dundu hyaghāta), physician (Talava), corn-grinder (Upala-prakṣiṇī), plough-man (Kṛiṣīvala). Names of musical instrmrnts are given, e. g. Vīṇā (lute), Nāḍī (reed flute), drum (Dundubhi), Kāṇḍa-vīṇā (a kind of lute), Karkarī (a variety of lute), Āḍambara (drum), Āghāṭi (cymbal), Lambara (a kind of pendant drum), Bhūmi-Dundu'hi (a big drum placed on the ground).