Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India
by Remadevi. O. | 2009 | 54,177 words
This page relates ‘Thin and Soft Clothes� of the study on cosmetics, costumes and ornaments of ancient India based on Sanskrit sources. Chapter one deals with cosmetics and methods of enhancing beauty; Chapter two deals with costumes, garments and dresses; Chapter three deals with ornaments for humans and animals. Each chapter deals with their respective materials, types, preparation and trade, as prevalent in ancient Indian society.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
2.5. Thin and Soft Clothes
Even though many varieties of garments were in fashion, people had a special fondness towards thin as well as soft texture. Reference to such varieties is evidence to the highly developed craftsmanship of the period. We have ample references to light and soft garments. The ladies of 屹ṇa’s palace in ī쾱-峾ⲹṇa[1] are described as wearing thin clothes, which are as thin as to be blown away even by the breath of the ladies during sleep. In another context, 屹ṇa’s dress is also referred to as a light and extremely white. Its colour is there compared to that of foam of churned nectar. [2] mentions such clothes very often. The expression Niśvāsahārya frequently occurs in his works.
ṇa[3] has alluded to thin and soft silk clothes in many contexts. In one place, he has depicted Ჹṣa as wearing a good variety of silk, which is described as too thin as a snake’s slough. In another context, he has mentioned a cloth which is Sparśānumeya. From its literal meaning it is clear that its presence is inferable only through touch.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
V.5.57,76
[2]:
鲹ܱṃśa, XVI.43