History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c23.s2.t1.2

v1.c23.s2.t1.2

Linen, referred to as *Kṣaumā* in early texts, is obtained from the plant *Linum usitatissimum*. The plant is called *Umā* in the *Caraka Saṃhitā* while Pāṇini uses the term *Kṣumā* and *atasi*. *Uma* and *Kṣumā* had the connotation of linen while *atasi* had that of linseed oil (Singh, M.N. pp.11-12). *Linum usitatissimum* was not indigenous to India and in antiquity it was cultivated in Egypt, Europe and Northern India. The attempt to popularise that plant for its flax fibre failed in this country, but as a source of linseed oil it was extensively cultivated (Singh, M.N. p.1)⁴. Flax fibres are long, lustrous, strong, and can stand up to high tension. They are smooth, hard faced, inelastic and resistant to abrasion. They are good heat conductors and readily absorb water.