Town Planning in Ancient India c5.24

c5.24

Macdonell and Keith give in their Vedic Index a summary of what can be culled from the Vedas about the Vedic towns (Pur, pp. 538-39) and villages (Grāma, pp. 244-5) as follows :—" Pur is a word of frequent occurrence in the Rig Veda and later, meaning ‘rampart’, ‘fort’ or ‘stronghold’. Such fortifications must have been occasionally of considerable size, as one is called broad (pṛthvī) and wide (ūrvvī). Elsewhere a fort made of stone (aśmamayī) is mentioned. Sometimes strongholds of iron (āyasī) are referred to, but these are probably only metaphorical. A fort ‘full of kine’ (gomatī) is mentioned showing that strongholds were used to hold cattle. ‘Autumnal’ forts (śāradī) are named, apparently as belonging to the Dāsas; this may refer to the forts in that season being occupied against Aryan attacks or against inundations caused by overflowing rivers. Forts ‘with a hundred walls’ (śatabhūji) are spoken of.