Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India
by Remadevi. O. | 2009 | 54,177 words
This page relates 鈥楧ress Making: Washing鈥� 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.
3.6. Dress Making: Washing
Different techniques were known to the society of washer man for washing different types of clothes. It is in Vedas that we meet with the earliest reference to washing. 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 and 厂尘峁泃颈蝉 also provide us with the knowledge of different modes adopted in washing different clothes.
In 峁欢惫别诲补[1] we come across the description of god 笔耻峁Ｄ� washing wool. 骋峁沨测补蝉奴迟谤补蝉[2] also furnish us with the knowledge of washing.
In 惭补苍耻蝉尘峁泃颈[3], we read of the society of washer man. 惭补苍耻蝉尘峁泃颈[4] gives an account of the different modes by which different clothes were purified. Thus for cleaning silk and wool fabrics, alkaline earth was generally used, while for cleaning A峁兣泆pa峁弓as, bel fruit was employed. Blankets were washed with 础谤颈峁ａ弓补 fruit (Neem). For linen clothes, paste of white mustard was the cleansing agent. Tibetan shawls were purified by means of 厂补辫颈峁囜笉补 fruit.
笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 also allude to the different modes of washing, of which, some are same as that mentioned by Manu. For cleaning wool clothes, 础驳苍颈辫耻谤腻峁嘺[5] doesn鈥檛 suggest alkaline earth. There it is stated that wool clothes can be purified by sprinkling water, which is perfumed with flowers and fruits. Regarding the washing of cotton 痴腻尘补苍补辫耻谤腻峁嘺[6] states that it can be cleaned by 鈥榳ater from outside鈥�. By the term 鈥榳ater from outside鈥� what is meant is not clear. In 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺[7], cotton clothes are suggested to wash by means of water and ash.
There it is mentioned that water should be sprinkled on them to cleanse the antelope skins. For cleaning wool, 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺[8] recommends sediment of the white mustard or of sesamum seed. But 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 do not permit the use of alkaline earth in washing. For, as per one belief recorded in 叠谤补丑尘补惫补颈惫补谤迟补辫耻谤腻峁嘺[9] one who washes clothes using soda will be punished by throwing into the well of salt water after death. However in the later period, we come across the use of caustic soda. In Saundarananda[10], we read of clothes washing with 碍峁Ｄ乺补 (Soda). Water and clay were used for washing bark garments. It is mentioned in 惭腻谤办补峁囜笉别测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺 as well as in 痴腻尘补苍补辫耻谤腻峁嘺[11]. Damaged clothes were washed only in water.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
RHAI, p.31
[2]:
IVK
[3]:
IV.216
[4]:
5.120,11.169
[5]:
Indian Culture (IC), p.201
[6]:
14.63
[7]:
32.12
[8]:
32.11
[9]:
30.6
[10]:
X.42
[11]:
14.61