Panchayathana .Arts and crafts of Vedic India

Panchaayathana ,allied arts and crats in vedia India

We have Panchayaths even now in India.In Vedic India it was called Panchajana.In
Brihadaranayka ,sareerakaBrahmana 17th manthra we find the term pancha panchajana .
Aayathana is a house or place of dwelling.The dwelling place of the panchajana is the
Panchaayathana.This term is the name of a kulasangha of agriculturists and artisans (who
discarded their agriculture and took to industries and trade and commerce of their
industrial as well as the agricultural products of the village.The assembly of the entire
panchayathana or people of the village/urban center asa guild or kulasangha is called
Panchayathana and Panchaayathi.

The civilization of forts,fortresses,walled towns,cities with many gates,are refered to in
veda.This cannot exist without different occupations ,trade and commerce ,skilled
crafts,planning etc.The settlements in riverbanks,and when they overflow in the interior
parts was the rule.The residence shifted according to seasons so that there was not much
loss of life or biodiversity.Securing fresh fields and pastures and expeditions to get new
settlements was known.Majority lived in villages.A few walled cities were present.These
were for defence,,for storage etc.The existence of wellplanned cities as described in the
veda has been proved by Mohenjodaro and Harappa and other IVC sites.

“We offer praises to Rudra in order that all beings in the village be wellnourished and
excempt from disease(R 1.16.9.1).Resplendent Agni,Thou art the protector of people in
villages.(R 1.9.1.10) are seen showing the existence of villages and concern for the
nourishment ,health and protection and well being of its inhabitants.

“Indra overturned 1000 stone-built cities”(R 4.3.9.20).Indra ,you are the blaster of
fortresses(R 386.38).Indra demolished the ancient cities of Ashna(R 2
.2.9.5).Invincible,destroying the phallus worshippers he won by his prowess whatever
wealth was amassed in the city with 100 gates(R 10.8.9.3).Thou hast destroyed the
impregnable cities of the Dasyu Shambara(R 6.3.8.4). These passages show existence of
cities.

The king was chosen by people.Because Rgveda mentions “Like people choosing their
king”(R 10.10.12.18)Proceed like a king attended by his followers on his elephant(R
4.1.4.1).In a good Government of whose realms ,the opulent and the victorious
Ikshwakus prospers,so that the five orders of people are happy as if they were in heaven
(R 10.4.18.4).This shows a good governing system under which the panchajana were
happy.May he bestow upon us a three-storeyed dwelling and fertility(R 7.6.12.2) shows
the buildings were big and could contain big families.

Ships and voyages:-The sea was used for ordinary travel,transport,for trade and for
warfare and the Vedic people were good navigators who knew the course and time of
monsoon winds and the sea routes.Wealthy traders who traveled far and wide and
exchanged goods earning wealth for the nation were existing.Boats for rivers and sea
were different.Many-oared ships,cargo ships,and for sea fights were described.For a

people to develop maritime trade and expertise in sea travel and sea battles considerable
knowledge of several technical sciences is essential.The ship wrecks and losses in
business and the risk taken even in face of it shows their courage ,expertise and spirit of
entrepreneurship.

Men pass to several quarters of earth in a ship(R 10.4.14.7).Carry us like ship in a sea(R
1.15.4.8)
As merchants covetous of gain crowd the oceans in vessels on a voyage((R 1.10.6.2).May
we destroy enemy as waves wreck a ship in the sea(Y 135.9).We will get into a hundred
oared ship which is beautiful to behold and which has no leaks(Y 387.7).Varuna,knows
the course of the ships(R 1.6.2.4).This exploit you achieved ,Aswins,in the ocean,where
there is nothing to give support,nothing to rest upon,nothing to cling to,that you
brought Bhujyu ,sailing in a 100 oared ship,to his father’s house.(R 1.17.1.5).
Thugra was a friend of Aswins.Enemies residing in a different island had a trouble.So
Thugra’s son Bhujyu was sent with an army on board ship.The vessel floundered in a
gail.Bhujyu called out Aswins.They brought him and his troop back home.
Carry us like a boat in the river(R 1.15.6.1).Like a boat that take passengers across a
stream.(R 1.19.5.2).As a crowded boat goes quivering through the water(R 5.3.2).There
are many more passages in the rgveda about sea travel and the way of the searoutes
known to the winds,whales and migratory birds etc.

The weaver:-

Weaving carpets,fabrics for garments were of excellent quality.Wool from sheep was
used.Pure herds were reared for maintaining good supply of good quality wool.Since
stitched garments are mentioned use of needle was known.The best carpets were
soft.Embroidering was done for beauty.Coarse fabrics were used for blankets,for
garments of daily use and for the poor.Both cotton and woolen clothes were used
depending on region and and the climate /seasons.The pure breeding habits for getting
good wool is very important in animal husbandry.The occupation had reached a very
high excellance from this evidence.

I seat you on a seat as soft as a woolen carpet(Y 11.8).Kusha grass set soft as a woolen
carpet(Y 387.83).Lord of pure he-goat and she-goat ,weaver of clothes of wool of
sheep(R 10.2.10.6).Interweaving in concert like two famous female weavers,the extended
threads to complete the web.(R 2.1.3.6).
A contest(competition)arraged the weavers for excellance.
Bring us handsome garments,bring us cows,easily milked(R 9.6.1.50).I understand
not,the threads of the warp,the threads of the woof,nor that cloth which they weave.(R
7.1.9.2) being a response to the mystery of life ,as it unfolds like a pattern in a loom .The
riks are its warp threads,the yajus its woof(Ath 487.6).Cares consume me as a rat gnaws a
weaver threads (R 1.15.12.8).

Entire creation is compared to weaving.”These,our progenitors,who have preceded us
,weave it,weaving forwards,weaving backwards,they worship Parajapathy when the

world is woven.(R 10.11.2.1).You,Indra,have cut the angles of the sacrificial post with a
needle.He has slain a lion by a goat.(R 7.2.1.17).
Purified with a woolen filter(R 8.1.2.2).This refers to sieving.In sacrifices the sieve is a
skin of ox .


The carpenter and the wheel:-

Fashioning and construction of wagons,carts,chariots,and toys with wheels,etc are
known.The gifts include carts and chariots.Road transport was for war and trade as well
as for pleasure trips and for festivals in temples.Fashioning of wheels ,fitting of
tyres,construction of different sizes and shapes ,ornamental wheels and pillars with
wheels and stony frame for axles were known.

Shipbuilding had achieved great standards .Deftness and skill of carpenter is praised in
many hymns.(Ref.R 6.4.4.23-24; 8.9.5.23; 1.11.4.4; 3.1.2.1; 3.3.9.1;1.21.2.2.9;5.2.55.6.7;
1.7.4.9;1.7.5.6;1.22.8.13; 3.5.1.19.20;1.17.3.2;3.2.3.5 from Rgveda alone refers the
carpenter.Y 135.5;117.8;175.3 are from Yajurveda)

The war chariots were very strong and fast moving on rough terrains and bearing heavy
loads of weapons,armour,attendants,etc.The skillful charioteer drove horses,wherever he
willed,horses raising dust with hoofs,with loud neighs,retreating not from the charge,but
trampling with forefoot upon enemies and trained specially for warfare.The quiver
,parent of the many arrows as parent of many sons,clang at the back of warrior,prolific of
shafts (R6.14.5.6.7).The plough and other wooden articles of domestic use and
housebuilding and temple building etc were also the carpenters pursuits.

Tanner and leather worker:-

Was an important craftsman.Scavenging of dead animals and killed animals was done by
them.Hides and skins were used for various
purposes.(apparel,cuirasses,aprons,waterskins as floats,leather bottles,holders for
fluids,,for transport of water in caravens,shoes ,arm protectors,wards for archers
,thongs,reins,straps,harness,saddles,floor spreads,drums,etc.)Tanning was of high
order.Leather was as soft as silk.Special treatment against damage by water spirits and
fluids was done.Bellows used by blacksmiths,goldsmiths and musicians were made by
tanner/leather worker.Rgveda 8.1.5.38(cuirasses)and R 8.1.1.17(cowhide)and R 7.5.19.2
mentions such uses.Bellows(R 10.6.4.2)leather bottle in house of spirit vendor(R
1.24.12.10)sandals(Y 238.5)use in chariot(R 6.4.4.26)cattle trough and strap(R
10.9.2.5)wardrum(R 6.4.4.29-30)rein ,saddle,bridle(R 5.5.5.2)armguard for protection
from bowstring(R 6.14.14)soma in cowhide(R 1.6.59) are some examples.If this was a
very important activity ,why were the tanner/leather worker placed outside the city and
considered untouchable and polluted?

1.The sense of cleanliness and aesthetics of the townplanners

2.The city should be free of bad odour and aesthetically nice to see and with remains of

animal carcasses strewn in the middle of the city/village is not a good sight .

3.The dead ,whether animal or man is belonging to ancestral or pithru world and the

remains have to be segregated from the living world immeaditely and disposed of away

from the dwelling place and away from women and children

4.The eating of flesh and killing of animals was not considered a good practice and those

who did such activities were segregated.

Metal workers:-

Gold was precious(R1.14.4.2)Decoration with ornaments was done(R1.11.7.4)Jewels and
stones marked wealth(Y230.1).Golden earrings and necklaces
mentioned(R1.18.2.14)Warriors wore lances and golden necklaces(R 8.3.8.11)and golden
armour(R 4.5.8.2)Bridegroom adorned with jeweled gold(Y383.11)and soma in golden
ladle(Y392.25)steeds with golden trappings(R 1.18.6.4) gift of 100 gold pieces and 100
gold necklaces(Ath.79.1.7.8)gold coins,fabricated gold,silver and leaden articles(Y
257.4)iron,silver,gold(Y 25.4)Lead curing the diseases caused by wind or vaayu
(Ath.16.3)sharpening intellect like the edge of an iron sword(R 6.4.4.10)sharp razor in
the hands of a barber(R 8.1.4.16)The bright edged hatchet ready foe work(R 1.18.1.7)Pointed iron shares cleaving soil and pushing ploughed soil on both sides of
furrow(Ath 88.1.7) shows the craftsmanship of metal workers as well as the lifestyle of
people .

Traders:-

There were small scale and large scale traders.Take not advantage of us like a dealer
,says Rgveda(R 1.7.3.3).May both buying and selling be advantageous to us(Ath
8.6.4).We seek money by investing money.May the wealth so made by trade grow ever
more(Ath 86.5).As merchants covetous of gain crowd the ocean in vessels in a voyage (R
1.10.6.2). This shows the trade ,commerce and even the reason why trade was looked
down upon than the agricultural pursuits .

The physician :-

Atharvan,Dhadhyach,Aswins were noted physicians and surgeons of
fame.Blindness,leprosy ,jaundice,disfigurements,fractures,illness of old age,baldness
,infertility ,surgical art,transplant,etc are mentioned(R1.17.2.24;1.17.2.7;1.17.2.18;)The
Haridroga(jaundice)and Hridroga(heart disease)are said to be cured by sun (R
1.9.7.11)and this is done even now by modern medicine.The story of Chyavana getting
back his youth and virility(R1.17.1.10)is famous and the medicine in his name is vit C

from myrabylon.Different organs of body are described (Y 304-312)including viscera
and the cuttingof organs showing awareness of human anatomy and treatment of diseases
of these organs.Cough,lung probl;ems,chest affections and fever that recur in three
days,once in two days,continuous on all days,(different types of malaria)fever of hot
days,of rainy seasons,dewy season are described.(Ath 164)Premature birth,miscarriage
,foetus with no malformation(Ath 439)libertine impotent preparations(Ath 311)againt
goiter(Ath 198)jaundice(22)leprosy and skin disease(Ath 124)Tuberculosis of many
kinds(Ath 168)baldness(Ath 309-310) are mentioned.Physician is considered the father
of the patient since he gives a second life.(Ath 44.1).A host of herbal remedies were
known and grown.

Potter:-

Potter’s wheel,potters ware with a club(R 1.8.1.16)a mallet smashing earthen pots(R
7.6.15.21)crooked pitchers(R 9.7.3.13)show the potter as an important artisan.
Barber:- As a barber cuts off the hair (R 1.14.8.4)and as he sharpens his instrument(R
8.1.4.16) are mentioned.A long list ofclasses according to profession is given in
Anuvaaka 396 of yajurveda .It is the official list of professionals and not caste
distinction.Brahmana,Raaajanya,Vaisya,Soodra,Kallar(which is still existent in Tamil
country and their gene is studied and found as 60000-70000 years
old),napumsaka,narthaka,nattuva,adulterer,people to beat
drums,vainika,gambler,jaara,kanyaka,lover,nasthika,courtesan,clown,bald ,hairy or
Romasa(This name is given to one of the astronomical sidhantha of Varahamihira’s
panchasidhanthika and from the name modern historians think it is astronomy of
Rome.But the name in Yajurveda suggests an Indian origin.The fact that there is a old cave in the name of sage Romasa /Lomasa in central India shows the antiquity of the name while Rome is only a very recent city .)the graamamukhya,the
kanakka or mathematician,the musician,one who plays the
conch,goldsmith,engravers,potter,chariotmaker,carpenter,bowstring
maker,hunter,fishermen,dog
keeper,tanner,trader,ironsmelter,watchmen,ploughmen,elephant
keeper,shepherd,butchers,ropemakers,authors,investigators,physician,stargazer,war
mongers,women making scented oils,barren females ,twins (supposed to have healing
powers),rogues with no job,and a host of others are mentioned.

Rgveda mentions a puppet show arranged on a slender stage(R 4.3.11.33)and sharpers
and gamesters who cheated in play of dice(R 4.6.13.8)a harlot going to accustomed place
(R 10.3.5.5)a libertine who caress a woman(R 4.3.11.16).These show a very complex and
a very sophisticated society ,a mixture of different types of professional skills,and good
and bad habits among people but always respecting the good and slighting the bad
habits,and it resembles our modern society .both sinner and saint are listed here.Noble
and mean,wealthy and poor,rogue and simpleton,expert artisans and producers and
consumers who needed their produce –a well balanced economy.