Ancient Vedic Ship Building & Navigation

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Ancient India - Ship Building & Navigation

 

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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.

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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 Madhyamarnandira 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.

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