South Indian Inscriptions

SOCIETY

see the circular pavilion where queen Māyā is relating her dream to her husband.¹ The halls were decorated with awnings and tapestries of various colours.² Some buildings had dove-cots with gabled roofs³ such as described by Kālidāsa in the Mēghadūta, v. 40.⁴ The gateways leading from one part of a building to another had barrel-shaped roofs which were decorated with the designs of Chaitya-windows at both the ends.⁵ When necessary, shamianas (paṭa-maṇḍapas) and tents (upakāryās) were erected. They are mentioned by Kālidāsa in the description of the grand reception of prince Aja in Kuṇḍinapura, the capital of Vidarbha.⁶ Shops were generally square in shape and small in size, equipped with chhajjās of cloth or wickerwork in order to protect them from the sun and rain. The dwellings of the poor had thatched roofs as at present.⁷

... The furniture in the halls was of a simple type. Low square seats with round cushions for reclining against were used. A stool called pāda-piṭha was placed in front for resting the feet on . The custom of placing pots one over another in slings suspended from the roof of a kitchen, which is even now in vogue, is noticed in some paintings.⁸ While dining, people sat on low square seats, with the plate placed in front on a low stool.⁹

... Ajaṇṭā paintings give us a glimpse into the various strata of society in Vidarbha. Some people are shown black in complexion and short in stature, with a flat nose. These may be the aborigines residing in Vidarbha and may have belonged to the Nāga race. Those who excavated and painted the caves at Ajaṇṭā were probably of the same extraction.¹⁰ They have, therefore, sculptured and painted in several places Nāga-rājas with hoods of serpents over their heads.¹¹ On the other hand, kings, queens, Brāhmaṇas as well as male and female servants, noticed everywhere, are of the Āryan race. They are fair in complexion, tall in stature and graceful in features. Besides, there were several foreigners such as the Śakas, Pārthians and Kushāṇas, who had settled in Māhārāshṭra. Some of these are portrayed in the Ajaṇṭā caves. In the fresco in Cave XVII which represents the Buddha preaching to a congregation, we notice among the audience some persons with a conical head-dress, who are apparently of foreign origin.¹² Elsewhere there appear others with a flat face and small eyes, dressed in a long robe, who, according to Mr. Yazdani, may be Chinese.¹³ Pilgrims from China used to come to India to visit the sacred places of Buddhism.

... Ajaṇṭā paintings give us a clear idea of the costume and jewellery worn by men and women in Vidarbha in the age of the Vākāṭakas. Most of them are shown dressed in a short antarīyaka or lower garment. As it did not cover the knees, it was called ardhōruka. In the Harshacharita Bāṇa has described it as one which left uncovered a third part of the thighs.¹⁴ This cloth had stripes of different colours. The lower garments of Rāma, Lakshmaṇa and
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¹ Ajanta, Part III, PI. LXI.
² Ibid., Part IV, PI. XVII (a).
³ Ibid., Part III, PI. LXIII.
⁴ Cf. कस्पांचिद्भवनवलभौ सुप्तपारावतायां नीत्वा रावि etc.
⁵ Aj anta. Part III, PL. L; Part IV, PI. XXI.
⁶ Raghuvaṁśa, Canto V, vv. 63 and 83.
⁷ Ajanta, Part IV, PI. IV (c).
⁸ Ibid., Part IV, PI. V.
⁹ Ibid., Part IV, PI. XXXVI.
¹⁰ Ibid., Part IV, PI. XV.
¹¹ See below, pp. lxviii f.
¹² Ajanta, Part IV, PI, XXXIX.
¹³ Ibid., Part IV, Pl. XXIII.
¹⁴ Harshacharita (Nirṇayasāgar Press ed.), p. 22.