Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India
by Remadevi. O. | 2009 | 54,177 words
This page relates ‘Waist Ornaments (b): Rashana� 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.
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2.7. Waist Ornaments (b): 鲹ś
鲹ś is a girdle especially for women, with more than one string, producing jingling sound from the small bells attached to it. Some were made of gold, while others were of pearl settings. 鲹ś resembling the raw of swan or fish were in vogue. It was meant not only for embellishment, but was used as a supporting thread of the garment.
In Vedas we get earliest reference to 鲹ś[1].
鲹śguṇa, mentioned in ī쾱-峾ⲹṇa is an indication of the girdle used for keeping the lower garment in position[2].
ṇḍܰṇa[3] refers to 鲹ś having small bells. ܱܰṇa reports a jingling sound producing one[4].
Perhaps Saraśanā may be another type of 鲹ś, for which further description is not given by ṭiⲹ.
鲹ś is a girdle of sixteen strings, in the view of Bharata. He talks about Haṃsaśroṇīracitaraśanā and Śapharīraśanākalāpa, where, the former is modelled after the design of a row of swan, while latter is one resembling a row of fish[5].
In most of the 屹ⲹ of , 鲹ś made of gold is a subject of reference. There it is known by Hemaraśanā[6]. This is referred to in ś also. It is defined there as a simple chain[7].
In ṛhٲṃh, there is a reference to a girdle studded with multi coloured precious stones, which was given as a gift by Ś to Indra’s flag staff[8].
In Śśܱ, ṛṣṇa is described as wearing 鲹ś made of pearls[9].
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
SLAI, pp.185.188
[2]:
V.17.3
[3]:
II.4.39.84
[4]:
3.31
[7]:
2.6.108
[8]:
XLII.42, 32,YYIV.14,VIII.13, LXIX.4, LV.6, XLVII.14
[9]:
III.10