A dairy and a mart of ancient times

We may refer to the description of dress of Deccan soldiers. It was the area ruled by the Rashtrakutas. The men tied their hair tightly by cloth bands around their foreheads. They wore colourful bead necklaces and iron bracelets up to their elbows. (to protect them from shootings of errows). They tucked their daggers in the waist belt. They wore thick loincloth tucked in between their thigh joints. A number of hero stones depict soldiers of Karnataka in this attire.

Another pen-picture in Yasastilaka is that of a big dairy-farm. In that farm of herdsmen, kids were harassed by the unchained small dogs (they perhaps turned mischievous when let loose!). An old ewe was tormented by pranks of a cowboy, and milk was oozing from the udders of a cow at the sight of her calf.

In one corner, guests tired after a long journey were entertained with pitchers of butter-milk. At some distance, cows were worshipped. Somewhere the young camels trampled over tender mango plants with their awkward steps. Buffaloes were fighting in distance and a cowherd was beating mercilessly those straying from the herd. Domestic peacocks were made to dance to the rhythmic sound of churning curds sounds picturesque and musical.

Description of a huge mart owned by a rich merchant sounds modern, due to the organized way a mart or penthasthana was run. Innumerable goods were brought and sold and all the facilities provided to buyers and sellars.

The mart place (pentasthana) was furnished with huge pendals, with compartments furnished with stalls. For customers coming from a distance, there was a big parking space for horses, bullocks, carts and carriages. There was constant supply of fodder and water. There were eating houses with variety of dishes. There were assembly hall theatres and warehouses for different commodities.

The mart was closely guarded by troops and well protected by walls, ramparts and gates. These marts were both state and private owned. Somadevasuri the author of Yasastilaka, tells that these pentasthanas are important source of revenue to the state and they should be well protected. Right from hingu (asafoetida), kumkum, cosmetics to garments and grocery of varied kinds, pentasthanas provided all sorts of consumer goods of those times.