India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c9.s2.10

c9.s2.10

(4) *RAJAK A* (III.1.145 as interpreted by Kātyāyana). Pāṇini refers to several dyes then known, the cloth dyed being named after the dye (*Tena raktaṁ rāgāt*, IV.2.1.). *Rāga* signified both colour and dye-stuff (VI.4.26,27). Cloth dyed with red colour was known as *lohitaka* (V.4.32); and with black colour *kālaka* (V.4.33). *Lākshā* (IV.2.2, also called *jatu*, IV. 3.138) was a popular commercial dye produced in India from very early times. Lacquer work was called *jātusha*. Madder (*manjishṭhā*, VIII.3.97), indigo (*nīlī*, IV.1.42), and orpiment (*rochanā*, IV.2.2.) were also known as dyes. A garment dyed in indigo was known as *nīlā* (IV.1.42). According to Kātyāyana *śakala* (powdered potsherds) and *kardama* (black mud from the bottom of a pool) also served as dyeing stuff, probably for the first process of bleaching of coarser fabrics, thus called *śākalika* and *kārdamika* (*Bhāshya*, IV.2.2; II.271). *Haridrā*, and *mahārajana* are mentioned by Katyāyana as dye-stuffs (IV.2.2, *vārttika*).