VEDIC REFERENCES ABOUT AGRICULTURE.
Shripad Chitaley

    The subject of the seminar includes a vast period, right from what is called the prehistoric period to the 10th century A.D. But my research is confined only to the Vedic and to some extent post-Vedic period. Human being was created on the earth (not only in India) and therefore, agricultural ideas spread all over the world. This does not mean that agricultural progress and regress are relative terms. One thing, however, is certain that as a literary record of ancient humanity, the Vedas stand foremost. About Indus Civilization nothing definite can be said. Some relegate it to the pre-Vedic. On a terracotta tablet ascribed to Indus civilization we see the print of knitted cloth (may be of cotton or any other material). That proves the existence of cloth in that period. In Vedic literature we come across Yava=Java, Godhum=wheat, Odan=(Tandul) Rice , Ixudanda =Sugarcane, Plough=Nangar (Langal), Plough blade (Phal) fruits, seeds, woollen garments (Tantu = Woollen thread) oil-seeds, Soma (herb) Vap = To sow, Kshwouma tarpya vastra (Garment from triparna herb) etc., Sita means furrowed land (Yoni indicating furrow line for sowing seeds - 'krute yonau vapeth bijam'. It proves that agricultural knowledge included instruments for it, fertilizers, texture of the land, crops, and their protection. All this was well-known in Vedic times. Some information about animals (bulls, etc.) which were utilised for the purpose is also given in this paper. I intend to deal with all this information giving references from the Vedic and allied literature.

About the Author :-

SHRIPAD K. CHITALEY.
B.Sc. (Bio), M.A. (Archaeology.) Serving in P.G.T.D. of Botany, Nagpur University as Herbarium Keeper and Botanical Garden Superintendent.
Published about 30 research papers on Archaeology, Iconography, Epigraphy etc. Worked with late Dr. V.S. Wakankar on pre-historical site at Sindhi near Nagpur. At present exploring Vidharbha systematically.
A Member of Indo-British Expedition (1982) of International Mountaineering as Botany expert. A Member of National Expedition (1989) also.Secretary, Babsaheb Apte Smarak Samiti, Nagpur Centre (Itihasa Sankalana Yojana).
Visited a number sites where excavations are going on : Patan, Lothal, Nagara, Mandhal Arni, Megalithic sites (Vidharbha), Malhar (M.P.) etc.
Explored three new epigraphs in Vidarbha . Ramatek, Varud, Barshi-Takali.
Explored 20 rock-cut caves (some with mutiliated epigraphs) in Vidarbha. Programmes of slide-show of Shivaji's forts in Vidarbha are also being arranged.

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