Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c39.s7.2

v2.c39.s7.2

Baudhāyana Śrautasūtra (9.1-4 and 10.1-8) of c. 800 BC described the making of Pravargya rite potteries such as mahāvīra, the fire-altar (agnicayana) and the cauldron (ukhā). Bhāradvāja Śrautasūtra (c. 600 BC) described the polishing of potteries (11.3.9) using cotton cloth and abrasive such as gavidhuka, a very hard wild grain and klitakā or yaṣṭimadhu blackish paste. (Kashikar, 1969:21 and 26) However all these details pertained to the earlier and archaic varieties of potteries or ritual importance, and did not highlight the recently developed wares such as PGW or NBPW. (Thapar, 1987)