Essay name: Archaeology and the Mahabharata (Study)
Author:
Gouri Lad
Affiliation: Deccan College Post Graduate And Research Institute / Department of AIHC and Archaeology
This study examines the Mahabharata from an archaeological perspective. The Maha-Bbharata is an ancient Indian epic written in Sanskrit—it represents a vast literary work with immense cultural and historical significance. This essay aims to use archaeology to verify and contextualize the Mahabharata's material aspects.
Chapter 10 - Utensils in the Mahabharata
8 (of 20)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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the Asvamedha sacrifice of Yudhisthira the sphyas were
specially made of gold (XIV.71.10).
23 Sthali was an earthen dish or pan used as a
cooking vessel (XIII.94.10). An offering of boiled rice,
cooked in a sthali was well-known as 'sthali-paka' (III.
222.32). Sthalis of gold were used for serving food in
the palace of Rantideva (XII.29.118).
laddles.
24 Struk and Struva were both sacrificial
Struk was a large wooden laddle for pouring out
ghá¹›ta on the sacrificial fire. It was as long as an arm
with a receptacle at one end.
Struva was a small wooden laddle, made of
Udumbara (Ficus glomerata) wood (XII.40.11) and with
receptacles at both the ends. Both these laddles were
strictly sacrificial implements not used in daily cooking.
In the Mbh too both laddles are restricted to
sacrificial use (1.33.22; III.209.6, 253.18) and are always
mentioned in association with forest hermitages and
ascetics living there (1.202.18; III.100.10, 111.21,
111.21,
145.
27%; XV.34.12).
The smaller laddle struva is somehow, closely
associated with lord Siva who is at least thrice referred
to as "Struvahasta" i.e. carrying a struva laddle in his
hand (VII.173.27, 35: XIV.8.20).
