History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c35.s1.6

v1.c35.s1.6

Several articles of furniture find mention in the *Sūtras*. The house holder is enjoined upon to ascend a couch at the conclusion of *Śrāvaṇā* sacrifice. A seat called *Āsandi* had four legs and was inter-woven with cords of *Muñja* grass. The *Baudhāyana Śrautasūtra* (X, 12) and the *Śaṅkhāyana Śrautasūtra* (XVII, 2, 6-9) lay down that the *Āsandi* (made of *udumbara* wood) legs should be one span high, that the length-wise and cross-pieces of this seat should be one cubit long and that it should be woven with cords of *Muñja* grass. The *Vasiṣṭha Dharma Sūtra* (XII. 36) forbids a *snātaka* to take his meals on a chair. A soft seat called *Bhadrapīṭha* is mentioned in the *Paraskāra Gṛhya Sūtra* (I. 15.4). The priests of the *Mahāvrata* rite were allotted *Bṛsīs*, cushions of grass (*Kāt. Śr.*. XIII. 3.1; *Śāṅk. Śr.* XVII. 4.7). The skins of a red bull and a black antelope were used as seats on sacrificial occasions. Besides, a plaited seats of various kinds of grass was also in vogue (Ram Gopal, p. 156.)