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History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c37.s1.t1: Early Indian Variety

History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c37.s1.t1

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English

Early Indian Variety

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The Indus Valley people domesticated humped bull, sheep, camel, elephant, buffalo, goat, cow etc. The valley engravings on seals show what perfection had been attained in the breed of these magnificent creatures which were worshipped in India from time immemorial. They were fond of hunting as on certain Seal representation of men shooting a wild goat and large antelope with bows and arrows. The art of writing was known to them as found in Seals and may be on parchment, too. But the condition in the valley was so devastating that we cannot expect the relics of the leather craft to survive for us to witness.

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India being a tropical country, the use of leather was much less for footwear among the working class who were poor and illiterate and often barred from wearing by the Caste Hindus from later Vedic period. However, the demand for a variety of footwear from Kṣatriya and Vaiśya were quite high. The demand from the priestly community was meagre and their necessity was fulfilled by using cheap and simple leather as well as wooden sandals.

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Major amount of leather were utilized for defence and agricultural purposes. Most of the development in leathercraft might have taken place only through the invaders and the tradesmen and not much by the craftsmen themselves since they were illiterate.

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In the time of *Ṛgveda*, Indra was said to have produced rain by piercing *masak* (skin water bag). In the Laws of Manu, the peculiar form of *dṛti* (skin water bag) with the four feet left intact is pointed out. According to the law books of Sankhya that water was declared pure which was kept in older leather bottles. The use of such word as *carmanta*, *carmapath*, *vastra*, *casabandha*, etc. in older Sanskrit work indicates that straps, bands, and strings of leather were in common use and sails were also made of leather.

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The *Ṛgveda* often refers to the quiver and the gauntlet. Megasthenes mentions about the bridle. When it is said that an Indian by springing forward in front of a horse, can check his speed and hold him back, this is not true of all Indians but only of those trained from boyhood to manage horses for it is a practice with them to control their horses with bit and bridle, and to make them move at a measured pace and in straight course.

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Harness and chariot in which leather was used are also mentioned in the *Ṛgveda*. Here are some verses ‘The Pairaj, the kingdom of Kashirat rub down the high spirited steed, decorated with golden trappings’ ‘Harness with traces to thy car thy long manned ruddy steeds to the sacrifices’. ‘Ascend Aswins, your sky touching chariot with golden seat and golden reins. Golden is its supporting shaft, golden the axle, both golden the wheels’. Shoes, for example are mentioned in the code of Manu as a suitable gift for a Guru.

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The *Ṛgveda* refers to the many uses of leather including chariot, rein and whips, bow strings, wrist guards, slings etc. Chariots are described in detail with leather bodies mounted on a light wooden frame, the axles were attached by leather straps ‘As with the leather thong they bind the chariot yoke to hold it fast and crossing a river, so let your wave bear up the pins and ye oh water, spare the thongs...’. Examples of chariot such as these have been found in a number of places, including Egypt which was ruled by Persian pharaohs between the 6th and 4th century B.C. The floor of Tutankhamens’s chariot was made of interlaced leather thongs. Raw and tanned hides and skins were also used as tyres for chariot. This indicates the art of tanning and manufacturing of leather products are more inter-related among the ancient civilization.

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In the *Rāmāyaṇa*, the leather industry was one of the many other thriving industries of the day. The Ayodhyakāṇḍa tells us of the inhabitants who went out with Bharat seeking after Rama including ‘curriers’, musical instrument makers and armourers.

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In Manu and the *Mahābhārata*, the slippers are mentioned. The *Viṣṇu Purāṇa* recommends the use of shoes to protect the feet.

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The art of utilizing the hides and skins especially that of game animals to make stuffed life-like animals is known as taxi dermy. Sometimes head alone is preferred. Sometimes the skin without hair or fur on alone is processed. The human being wearing the full skin with head, like the one of the tiger, bear, guerilla etc to dramatise a scene in the drama, to attack enemies and scare people as well as to entertain them, might have been very common during the ancient time. The various humans in animal form depicted in mythological stories may be even human beings camouflaged with animal skin.

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In India, the place of life stock resources in the Agriculture economy is well known. In the early period of Indian civilization cattle were considered to be one of the main sources of wealth. A further illustration is found on this aspect in the *Arthaśāstra* which describes about cattle feeding and in the *Mahābhārata*, a mention has been made on the cattle census and pedigree register.

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*Carmār* (*cāmar*) tanned the ‘*carmax*’ (the covering of animals) and handed over to *cakkilīya* to stitch into shoes, *aṅgustra* (a protective cover for thumb of bow), *vastra* (garment), *kavasa* (shield), kuppies (bottles), *kavalai* to draw water sources for irrigation, etc. These are no doubt leather products of ancient India.

Cites (6)