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A History of Agriculture in India v1.c35.s5: Gardens

A History of Agriculture in India v1.c35.s5

Language
English

Gardens

v1.c35.s5.1

In the Gupta age, Indians led a happy life. Vatsyayana in his *Kamasutra*, the great book of Hindu aesthetics, written about A.D. 300-400, describes how they enjoyed civic life. The book has a happy materialistic outlook with none of the other-worldly pessimism.

v1.c35.s5.2

Four kinds of gardens are described by Vatsyayana: *Pramododyan*, for the enjoyment of kings and queens; *Udyan*, where the kings passed their time playing chess with their courtiers, enjoying the dance of danseuses and the jokes of court jesters; *brikshvatika*, where the ministers and courtiers made merry with courtesans; and *nandanvan*, dedicated to Lord Indra.

v1.c35.s5.3

Vatsyayana recommends the building of a house close to a pond with an *udyan* (garden) outside. Lilies and lotuses were grown in the pond. Geese, ducks and swans were also kept in these ponds. In the garden attached to the house, a swing was invariably set up from the thick branches of a shady *neem* or a *pipal* and in the stifling monsoon weather when there was oppressive heat before the coming of the rains and there was not a breath of air, these swings were especially popular. The dry and hot May and June were spent in darkened rooms inside houses, and during the rains, from July to September, people mostly lived, worked and enjoyed life in the shade of trees.

Cites (1)