The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c10.148

v1.c10.148

**Turbans and Caps :** Where the body is generally nude or ill-clothed, it is not to be expected that much will be seen on the head besides the hair ; but examples are not wanting of various kinds of caps, turbans and other ornaments for the head. Turbans are rarely seen at Bhuvaneśvara, though this part of the male dress was held in considerable esteem in India, and frequent mention of it is made in Sanskrit writings. Under the name of *Uṣṇīṣa*, it is alluded to in the *Atharvaveda*,⁸⁷ and in the bas-reliefs of Sāñcī and Amarāvatī, a great many varieties of it are represented. Illustrations Nos. 111, 112, 113 and 114, are taken from the temples of Bhuvaneśvara, and show the turban as worn by *durwans* and *sannyāsīs*. The forms differ in no respect from those in common use in the present day. Caps too are not of frequent occurrence. There are, nevertheless, several specimens of rich caps which are [ 95 ] worthy of notice. One in the Temple of Vaitāl Devī is very like the forage cap which was in common use by officers in the English army until the beginning of this century. A brocaded specimen of it occurs on the head of a dancing girl in the same temple. (Illustration No. 115) Caps of various kinds may also be seen in the bas-reliefs of Sāñcī, Amarāvatī, and Udayagiri. The modern bridegroom's light wood crown, the *ṭopar*, is common everywhere.