"Do Thou Whose countenance is turned to all sides, send off our
adversaries, as if in a ship to the opposite shore ; & convey us in a ship across the sea for our welfare."
-- RV, I, 97,7,8
There are several representations of ships & boats in old Indian art.
The earliest of them are found at Sanchi.
One of the Eastern gateway of number 1 stupa at Sanchi represents a canoe made up of rough planks, rudely strewn together by hemp or string.
The portrayal shows three men in ascetic costume, two propelling the boat, while the central figure is facing towards the ascetics.
Dr. Cunningham believes that this represents Buddha with two of his followers.
Next to Sanchi, are the Kanheri caves, near Mumbai, belonging to probably the times of Satvahana kings; Vasasthiputra Satkarni ( 133-160 AD), and Gautamiputra-II ( 177-195 AD).
Among the sculptures at Kanheri, there is an image representing the scene of a shipwreck, and two persons praying to the Gods for help.
This is perhaps the oldest representation of a sea voyage.
At the Jagannath temple Puri, there is portrayal of a royal barge.
The sculpture shows a splendid barge, propelled by oarsmen. The beauty of the cabin and simplicity of the design is particularly notable.
There are some very fine portrayals of old Indian ships & boats at the famous Ajantā caves.
These paintings shows the skill, perseverance and endurance that went in making them.
The worth of achievement will further be evident from the fact that much of the work has been carried on with the help of artificial light, and all this involves working in a cave where ventilation is hard to come by.
These caves have been constructed between 2nd century BCE to 7th or 8th century AD.
Cave numbers 13,12,10,9,8 were constructed first during the time of Satvahana kings, and the latest caves between numbers 1-5 were constructed between 525-650 AD.
Xuanzang, who visited India between 633-645 AD mentions these caves.
He was at the time was at the court of Pulakesin-II and records that:
"In the eastern frontiers of the country, there is a great mountain, where scenes have been cut of Tathagatha's life. These scenes have been cut with greatest accuracy and precision."
The images of ships and boats furnished by Ajanta are mostly in cave number 2, and were constructed between 520-650 AD.
These were perhaps the closing years of the 'Golden Age of India'.
The vitality & reach of Indian civilization had reached East in places like Java, Cambodia, China & even Japan.
India, after the fall of Imperial Guptas had been divided between Harsha & Pulakesin-II, & by 620 AD both carried on their relations with foreign countries.
The fame of Pulakesin-II had reached as far as Persia, who in 626-627 AD received an embassy from Pulakesin.
This courtesy was reciprocated by a return embassy from Persia, and this event has been immortalized by a large fresco in cave number 1 at Ajanta.
As might be expected, this was also the 'Golden Age of Indian Shipping'.
The images of boats and ships at Ajanta are interpreted by Griffith as "a vivid testimony to the ancient foreign trade of India."
The ships images range from one with high masts and stern, oars and small platforms. Also the image of 'Pleasure Boats' with pillared canopy.
Another representation from Ajanta paintings are reproduced showing the landing of Prince Vijaya in Lanka.
The fleet of Vijaya carried 1500 passengers.
The representations of ships are not limited only to India.
The temple at Borobudur in Java has many images of Indian ships.
Most of the sculptures show splendid relief ships in full sails, recalling the colonization of Java by the Indians.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
Pliny ( 1st century AD) calculates that the Roman Empire paid 'hundred million sesterces' every year to buy perfume, ornaments, spices, etc from India.
That equates to 2 billion dollars in today's currency !
Thanks to @Shipreeta who has calculated that Indians received an amount of 729.6 trillion dollars in modern currency, between 20 BCE to 450 AD, roughly 400 years of trade value between Indians and Romans.
The above value is equal to 1.84 trillion dollars per year in modern currency.
Plz be reminded that this is just the value of trade per year from the Romans only!
The above value = 70% of Indian GDP, which is around 3 trillion dollars.
The ancient shipbuilders had a good knowledge of the material and the varities which went into the making of ships.
'Vriksha Ayurveda' or the science of plant life lists four different kinds of wood:
1) Brahmin class of wood, which is light & soft & can be easily joined to any other kind of wood;
2) Kshatriya class is light & hard, & can be joined to other classes of wood;
3) Vaisya kind is soft and heavy; and
4) Sudra class, which is hard and heavy
According to Bhojā - an earliest authority on shipbuilding, a ship built of Kshatriya class of wood brings wealth & happiness. It is these ships, that were used as means of voyage.
The first thread of the year will be on Ancient Indian Maritime trade.
The thread would be of several chapters and would detail ancient India's maritime trade and development from Indus valley till the 7th century AD.
Prologue
The features of India, indeed is full of contrasts in physical features and climates, but the features that divides and isolates the country are too clear to overlook.
Mountain-guarded in the North, sea in the south, deserts in the west, India looks as if she had been meant by nature to remain isolated from the rest of the world and to develop her culture in isolation.
'Prithvivallabh' is a Gujarati historical novel by K.M.Munshi, published in 1921.
The novel describes the rivalry between King Munja and Tailap & the love-affair between Munja and princess Mrinalvati.
Historically, the main character of the novel is King Munja ( 972-994 AD), who was the king of Paramara dynasty ruling parts of Central and Western India.
Munja was from a long line of kings, which was made famous by his illustrious nephew, King Bhoja ( 1010-1055 AD).
Munja, during his kingship made many wars and tried to conquer the Western Chalukyas ruled by Tailap-II (973-997 AD).
Indian Ascetics as observed by the Greeks in 4th century BCE
India, in the fourth century BC, and indeed , since the rise of Jainism and Buddhism in the fifth century BCE had been noted for the multiplicity of its schools and sects of ascetics.
Their forerunners were the wandering ascetics of the Vedic days , the ' Charakas', and, later, the 'Parivrajakas', followed by pre-Buddhistic sects like 'Ajvikās' ( who went about naked), the 'Nirgranthas' ( of scanty clothing) , the 'Jatilakas', and the like.
The Greeks who invaded India, under Alexander between 327-325 BCE, have left an account of their impressions on these ascetics.
The works of Arrian, Plutarch, et al provide an important information on the meetings between the Greeks and the Indian ascetics.