From: "vrnparker" <vrnparker@yahoo.com>
Mailing-List: list vediculture@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thu, 02 Dec 2004 14:23:45 -0000
Subject: [world-vedic] Ancient Vedic Ship Building & Navigation

Ancient India - Ship Building & Navigation

http://www.crystalinks.com/indiaship.gif

In Ancient India there existed a strange belief that if any Hindu 
crossed the seas, he would lose his religion. When and why this 
belief came into being is not known. But taking a close look at out 
nation's maritime history we find evidence of a very large number of 
Indians who should have had lost their religion as they had crossed 
the seas to trade and build empires in distant lands. 

Not only did these enterprising Indians, not lose their religion but 
they made India into one of the foremost maritime nations of those 
days and spread Indian culture overseas. 

http://www.crystalinks.com/indiaship2.gif

In those days India had colonies, in Cambodia (Kambuja in Sanskrit) 
in Java, (Chavakam or Yava dwipa) in Sumatra, in Borneo, Socotra 
(Sukhadhara) and even in Japan. Indian traders had established 
settlements in Southern China, in the Malayan Peninsula, in Arabia, 
in Egypt, in Persia, etc., Through the Persians and Arabs, India had 
cultivated trade relations with the Roman Empire. 

Sanskrit and Pali literature has innumerable references to the 
maritime activity of Indians in ancient times. There is also one 
treatise in Sanskrit, named Yukti Kalpa Taru which has been compiled 
by a person called Bhoja Narapati. (The Yukti Kalpa Taru (YKT) had 
been translated and published by Prof. Aufrecht in his 'Catalogue of 
Sanskrit Manu scripts. An excellent study of the YKT had been 
undertaken by Dr. Radha Kumud Mookerji entitled 'Indian Shipping'. 
Published by Orient Longman, Bombay in 1912.) 


A panel found at Mohenjodaro, depicting a sailing craft. Vessels 
were of many types. Their construction is vividly described in the 
Yukti Kalpa Taru an ancient Indian text on ship-building. 

This treatise gives a technocratic exposition on the technique of 
shipbuilding. It sets forth minute details about the various types 
of ships, their sizes, the materials from which they were built. The 
Yukti Kalpa Taru sums up in a condensed form all the available 
information.

The Yukti Kalpa Taru gives sufficient information and date to prove 
that in ancient times, Indian shipbuilders had a good knowledge of 
the materials which were used in building ships. Apart from 
describing the qualities of the different types of wood and their 
suitability in shipbuilding, the Yukti Kalpa Taru also gives an 
elaborate classification of ships based on their size. 

The primary division is into 2 classes viz. Samanya (ordinary) and 
Vishesha (special). The ordinary type for sea voyages. Ships that 
undertook sea voyages were classified into Dirgha type of ships 
which had a long and narrow hull and the Unnata type of ships which 
had a higher hull. 

The treatise also gives elaborate directions for decorating and 
furnishing the ships with a view to making them comfortable for 
passengers. Also mentioned are details about the internal seating 
and accommodation to be provided on the ships. Three classes of 
ships are distinguished according to their length and the position 
of cabins. The ships having cabins extending from one end of the 
deck to the other are called Sarvamandira vessels. 

These ships are recommended for the transport of royal treasure and 
horses. The next are the Madhyamandira vessels which have cabins only 
in the middle part of their deck. These vessels are recommended for 
pleasure trips. And finally there is a category of Agramandira 
vessels, these ships were used mainly in warfare. 

http://www.crystalinks.com/indiaships.html