History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c26.s2.t2.31

v1.c26.s2.t2.31

A Buddhist monk was permitted to carry eight items : *bhṛṅgāra*, water jar; *saraka*, drinking cup; *īhavika*, water bag; *piṭaka*, basket; *kumbhi*, cooking pot; *tattaka*, plate; *pariyoga*, dish; and *kadapiyan*, pan (Prakash, Om, 1961, pp.58-86). Utensils mentioned by Patañjali (mid-2nd century BC) include a tiny water-jug, *kuṇḍikā*, for the use of students, and a cauldron, *ukha* (Puri, 1957, pp. 89-115). The *Rāmāyaṇa* mentions three drinking goblets, *śarava*, *karaka* and *golvarka* (Sharma, 1971, pp. 232-242), an iron pan *lauhi*, a deep frying pan *kaṭāha* (modern *kaḍahi*) and a boiler *pithara* (Prakash, Om, 1961, pp. 102-131). The *Amarakośa* (5th century AD) includes the deep frying pan *kaṇḍu*, the roasting plate *bhrasta* (*tāvā*?), ladles *kambhi*, *kajaka* and *tardu* (with a wooden handle), strainers *karkari* and *galantika*, a goblet *kausa*, a pot *pithara* and leather bottles *kutuh* and *kuṭup* for storing oil (Deshmukh, 1981, pp. 99-110). The portable *śigrī* of today was called *culli*, *aṅgāradhanika* or *hasauṭi*. Kālidāsa has *kumbha* for a big pitcher, and *ghaṭa* for a small one (Upadhyaya, 1947, p, 216). At three places in the *Harṣacarita* occur various utensils, though mentioned in rather a tangle (Cowell and Thomas, 1961). These have been sorted out (Agrawala, 1940) as various very large water pots alinjara, mahakumbha, gola and kantakita (also called panasa, since it has the shape of a jackfruit), small pots kusumbha, karkari and votakuta, jars kalasa and kumbha, a cup kosa, and an earthen vessel for molasses (phanita-sthālī). Frying pans (kaṭāha) are here again, besides baking trays talaka and sakatika, simmering pans tapika (Hindi tai), the saucepan as caru, the tāvā as tapaka, spits as hastaka and śūla, and baskets as pitaha.