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An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c11.s28: 6.28 Vessels, Special

An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c11.s28

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6.28 Vessels, Special

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Special vessels comprise those that were very likely used on religious, auspicious or ceremonial [12.3] occasions and are different in shape from vessels of everyday use, though no convincing evidence of their actual use is forthcoming. They include spouted pots—simple and decorated, with and without handles,—handled vessels decorated with human and animal motifs, perforated pots, theriomorphic and anthropomorphic vessels, ladles and so on. They are variously made of steatite, silver, copper and bronze, pottery, bone, etc.

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A few shapes from BURZAHOM (Neolithic [4.6] levels) include high-necked vessels. Channel-spouted bowls come from ALAMGIRPUR, LOTHAL, SURKOTADA (all Harappa [4.9]), BRAHMAGIRI, CHANDOLI, NAGARJUNAKONDA, NAVDATOLI, PANDU RAJAR DHIBI, PIKLIHAL, T. NARSIPUR (all Neolithic-Chalcolithic [4.6, 4.14]). Offering stands occur at the Harappa sites of KALIBANGAN, ROPAR, SURKOTADA, etc. Sankalia (*IAR 1958-9*, p. 30) suggests that channel-spouted bowls and similar other vessels from NAVDATOLI were for pouring water for worship. Spouted vessels with decorations are known from LOTHAL, ROJDI (both Harappa) and BRAHMAGIRI, CHANDOLI, ERAN, INAMGAON, JORWE, NAGARJUNAKONDA, NEVASA, where they were associated with human burials, PIKLIHAL, SONGAON, etc., (variously Neolithic-Chalcolithic). Channel-spouted bowls with vertical handles are found at ALAMGIRPUR and KALIBANGAN and those with horizontal handles at LOTHAL. At CHANDOLI and NAVDATOLI occur theriomorphic bottles in the form of a bull, the body painted in black with oblique stripes; the bull has for its head a bottle-like opening with a small hump, as also a short tail and a wheel on each leg or foot instead of a real leg.

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Ceremonial vessels are known from a few sites of the earlier half of the 1st millennium B.C. in n.-w. Rajasthan and the Ganga valley. The early ones, from SARDARGARH, consist of spouted pots and handled vases. Channel-spouted basins occur at AHICCHATRĀ, HASTINĀPURA, ROPAR and ŚRĀVASTĪ, and perforated vessels at AHICCHATRĀ, ALLAHAPUR, ATRANJIKHERA, NOH, ROPAR, SARDARGARH and ŚRĀVASTĪ. From about the 5th century B.C. the variety of shapes increases and this continues till the 5th century A.D. and even later. Spouted and handled vessels with manifold decorations, with the spout separately moulded and luted to the body of the vessel, are numerous.

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Two early types at Taxila are: one with a tall narrow neck having perforation at the base of the spout and another furnished with a loop handle like a bull and a moulded spout. Some have more than three or four spouts. BAIRAT has yielded them near temple environs. At SAMBHAR the spouts are decorated with a kneeling female holding vases with heads in the form of *makara*, lion, boar, parrot, long-bearded male figure, etc. Decorated ones also occur at BRAHMAPURI, RAIRH and TRIPURĪ. A unique carinated bowl of bronze at BRAHMAPURI of the Sātavāhana period is engraved in two parts, the upper with a galloping horse, panther, bear, lion and winged mythical figure with eagle beak and the lower with geese and other aquatic animals; the lid is decorated with the features of an elephant. VAIŚĀLĪ has yielded spouts with grotesque human and *makara* heads. At BESNAGAR vessels have *makara* spouts.

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From the 1st century B.C. to the 4th century A.D. the occurrence of spouts is widespread. Simple spouts are known from AHAR², AMRELI, BHITA, Charsada and NEVASA. Sometimes they are decorated with applied bands. Spouts have also been found at DWARKA, NAGARI, PANDU RAJAR DHIBI, SALIHUNDAM, SAMBHAR and SHAMALAJI. A vase with a turtle-shaped spout and strap handle is known from SISUPALGARH in levels of 200-300. Crocodile- and *makara*-shaped spouts occur in large numbers at KAUŚĀMBĪ. Spouted vessels also come from BRAHMAPURI, KAUNDINYAPURA, MAHESHWAR, PAUNAR and PAUNI. A spout from PAUNAR resembles the beak of a bird. Varieties of them are reported from Devnimori. MAHESHWAR has yielded them with rope designs. Spouted jars occur profusely at RANG MAHAL with striking features such as a human face and bust, animal head, etc. Those belonging to *c.* 400-800 are reported from BHOKARDAN, RAJGHAT⁴, TIMBARVA and VADNAGAR. At BHOKARDAN the *makara* is prominently represented.

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Globular pots, jars and jugs are sometimes provided with handles. Some handles are decorated with human figures and animal motifs, while others are plain. The early ones known from CHIRAND in Mauryan levels have been called *kamaṇḍalu* vessels. At NASIK, NEVASA and Taxila they are datable to 100 B.C. to A.D. 100. In Afghanistan they occur in the contemporary site of Begram. A unique vessel called *kinnarī* pot from UJJAIN (*c.* 100) has the front shaped like a female figure and the back decorated with a winged bird. Another from VAIŚĀLĪ has a female bust with folded hands placed between the breasts. This is a typical shape reported extensively from sites of Rajasthan and Ganga valley between the 1st and 4th centuries. Some of the best ones are from AHICCHATRĀ, ATRANJIKHERA, KAUŚĀMBĪ, MATHURA, RAJGHAT¹, etc. The finest ones, from BHOKARDAN, NAGARI, RAIRH, RANG MAHAL and SAMBHAR, are datable to the Kushan and Gupta periods. The ones from SAMBHAR include an ornamented female bust, a lady in toilet, a female with a dwarf below a unique handle identified as Ganga coming out of the matted locks of Śiva. BHOKARDAN has yielded one with the neck and breast portion of a *kinnarī* pot, another a vessel-lid with three human faces with differing head-dresses. At RANG MAHAL they have been found with male and female busts, motifs made separately and affixed to vessels. SALIHUNDAM has yielded them with human and animal motifs. In addition lids with animal motifs are reported from the megaliths [4.17] at ADICHANALLUR and MAHURJHARI. Perforated globular vessels, bowls and jars are found at the Harappa sites of KALIBANGAN, LOTHAL, ROPAR and SURKOTADA, not to speak of Mohenjo-daro, Harappa and other Indus sites; in levels of the 1st millennium B.C. at ALLAHAPUR, ATRANJIKHERA, NOH, ROPAR, SARDARGARH; and in early historical levels at AHICCHATRĀ, ŚRĀVASTĪ, etc. AHAR¹, RANG MAHAL and Taxila have yielded them in levels of 50 to 200. At Sirkap a bowl has three triangular holes. Another find at AHAR² has a pot base with rough surface. At RANG MAHAL small pots and bowls are found with perforation up to the shoulder and neck.

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A set of pedestalled cups and discs of silver from ROPAR belongs to the 3rd century. The pedestalled cup is similar to the many varieties reported from Taxila and dated to the 1st century. A long ladle of silver from ROPAR has decorations appropriate for vessels of ritualistic use. Varieties of them from Sirkap reported near the enviorns of religious edifices include pedestalled cups of copper and silver, goblets and strainers with the without handles, jugs, dishes, plates, ladles and so on.

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Double vessels joined together, all of which are known from Taxila, include double beakers, bowls and saucers in levels of the 3rd century B C.

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Theriomorphic and anthropomorphic vessels occur at a few sites. Early anthropomorphic vessels are reported from the Mauryan levels of CHIRAND. A pot with full human form occurs in Śuṅga levels of PURANA QILA. A similar small one used as a rattle is known from PĀṬALIPUTRA. BHITA has yielded a full ‘human’ pot from the Kushan levels. A specimen from RAIRH has a monkey head affixed to a portion of the rim. A small pot from DEVNIMORI depicts a human face, two ears and eyes applied by hand and has a flat base. It is datable to *c.* 300-400.

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Ladles with vertical and horizontal handles are made of steatite, copper and bronze, iron, terracotta and bone. The early ones from the Chalcolithic levels of CHANDOLI are made of terracotta. At Charsada a clay bowl ladle belongs to *c.* 600-400 B.C. Ladles of copper are known from PĀṬALIPUTRA, RAIRH, SAMBHAR and Taxila. Ladles with horizontal handles come from Śuṅga levels of PĀṬALIPUTRA and RAIRH. At Taxila a specimen is made of beaten copper in one piece ending with a pointed knob. Ladles with vertical handles come from SAMBHAR and Taxila; the latter has yielded them in many varieties. Iron ones are found in levels of *c.* 300 B.C. to A.D. 200. NAGDA and NASIK have them with a horizontal and vertical handle respectively. NEVASA has both types having bowl-ends. Varieties of similar ones are known from SISUPALGARH, *c.* 200 to 300. Horizontal-handled ladles of 200 B.C. to A.D. 200 are also reported from BHOKARDAN, KAUŚĀMBĪ, NAGDA, NEVASA, PAUNI and RANG MAHAL. They are shallow bowls with long handles. A ladle of terracotta from Taxila belongs to the 5th century A.D. Bone ladles of the 1st century come from Sirkap.

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Sprinklers with high necks occur mostly in the Red Polished Ware [11.20] from the 1st to the 4th century. It is widespread in regions of c. and w. India and the Deccan, the more prominent sites being AHAR², BRAHMAPURI, KAUṆḌINYAPURA, MAHESHWAR, NEVASA, PAUNAR, PIKLIHAL, PRAKASH, RAIRH, YELLESWARAM, etc. AMRELI and RANG MAHAL have yielded them in large numbers from levels of 200 to 350. Sprinklers from Baroda, SHAMALAJI and VADNAGAR belong to *c.* 400.

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Vessels with stamps and symbols are extensively reported from n. Indian sites dating from Kushan to Gupta times. They continue up to the 4th-5th century.

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Miniature vessels [also 6.7.4] are reported from the Chalcolithic to late historical times. The typical shapes are jars, cups, bowls and globular vessels. Most of them are handmade and are plain.

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Agrawala, R.C., 1970, *Human Figurines on Pottery Handles from India & Allied Problems*, Baroda. Marshall, J., 1951, *Taxila*, Cambridge, 2, pp. 414-15, 420, 423-4, 428, 500, 541-2, 611-4, 660. Tripathi, V., 1976, *Painted Grey Ware, an Iron Age Culture of n. India*, Delhi, pp. 46, 73-6, 79, 80, 84. For sites see respective entries in vol. II.—C. MARGABANDHU

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