''Poshak'' () is the

Hindi Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...

term used for the complete

attire Clothing (also known as clothes, apparel, and attire) are items worn on the body. Typically, clothing is made of fabrics or textiles, but over time it has included garments made from animal skin and other thin sheets of materials and natural ...

used in the

vedic period The Vedic period, or the Vedic age (), is the period in the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age of the history of India when the Vedic literature, including the Vedas (ca. 1300–900 BCE), was composed in the northern Indian subcontinent, betw ...

. As mentioned in

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

literature and Buddhist

Pali literature Pali literature is concerned mainly with Theravada Buddhism, of which Pali is the traditional language. The earliest and most important Pali literature constitutes the Pāli Canon, the authoritative scriptures of Theravada school. Pali literat ...

during the 6th century BC, the costumes belonging to the Vedic and post-Vedic period 1500 BCE to 350 BCE consisted of the

antariya An antariya () is a lower body garment from ancient India. It is a long white or coloured strip of cotton passed through the legs, tucked at the back and covering the legs loosely, then flowing into long pleats at front of the legs. History Antr ...

, which is the lower garment, the

uttariya An uttariya () is a loose piece of upper body clothing. It is a single piece of cloth that falls from the back of the neck to curl around both arms and could also drape the top half of the body. An Uttariya is similar to a veil, a long scarf and ...

, which is a veil worn over the shoulder or the head, and the

stanapatta ''Stanapatta'' (Stanmasuka) was a loose wrap cloth for the upper body. It was a chest band used in ancient India. It was a simple upper garment of the females during the ancient time similar to the ''mamillare'' or ''strophium'' used by the Roman ...

, which is a chest band. The modernday

Sari A sari (sometimes also saree or shari)The name of the garment in various regional languages include: * as, শাৰী, xārī, translit-std=ISO * bn, শাড়ি, śāṛi, translit-std=ISO * gu, સાડી, sāḍī, translit-std= ...

is one of the evolved poshak earlier known as ''Sattika'' (which means women's attire) that was single garment to wrap around the waist and cover the head.

Meaning

Poshak means a specific type of costume in English. ''Vasna'' or ''Vastar'' (means dress) has two main categories vasa for lower, and Adhivasa for upper body parts, other related terms of garb used in Vedas are as following. * ''Suvasa'' was the term for a splendid garment * ''Suvasna'' for well clad * ''Surabhi'' for well fitting clothes.

Types and styles

''Poshak'', ''pridhaan ''was a set of clothes for men and women. These clothes were common and unsewn but varied with the size and style of wrapping and draping. They have various descriptions of associated ensembles in

Vedas upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the '' Atharvaveda''. The Vedas (, , ) are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the ...

, such as for the characters in the

Ramayana The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...

and the Mahabharata. Sari, is significantly stated in the Hindu epic

Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...

, the war took place in 3067 BCE.

Forms

Uttariya An uttariya () is a loose piece of upper body clothing. It is a single piece of cloth that falls from the back of the neck to curl around both arms and could also drape the top half of the body. An Uttariya is similar to a veil, a long scarf and ...

is an upper body garment. *

Adivasah Adivasah ('', , )'' is an upper garment of Vedic times clothing; It is a type of over garment similar to a mantle or cloak. Vedas refers (dress) as a set of clothes with these two main components where Vasa is for the lower body and Adivasa for ...

is a loose-fitting outer garment, it is a type of over garment similar to a mantle or

cloak A cloak is a type of loose garment worn over clothing, mostly but not always as outerwear for outdoor wear, serving the same purpose as an overcoat, protecting the wearer from the weather. It may form part of a uniform. Cloaks have been and a ...

Antariya An antariya () is a lower body garment from ancient India. It is a long white or coloured strip of cotton passed through the legs, tucked at the back and covering the legs loosely, then flowing into long pleats at front of the legs. History Antr ...

is a lower body garment. *

Stanapatta ''Stanapatta'' (Stanmasuka) was a loose wrap cloth for the upper body. It was a chest band used in ancient India. It was a simple upper garment of the females during the ancient time similar to the ''mamillare'' or ''strophium'' used by the Roman ...

is a chest band to cover the breasts. *

Bhesha

Suna Besha is an event at the

Jagannath Temple The Jagannath Temple is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Vishnu - one of the trinity of supreme divinity in Hinduism. Puri is in the state of Odisha, on the eastern coast of India. The present temple was rebuilt f ...

Puri Puri () is a coastal city and a Nagar Palika, municipality in the state of Odisha in eastern India. It is the district headquarters of Puri district and is situated on the Bay of Bengal, south of the state capital of Bhubaneswar. It is als ...

, where the Hindu deities Shri

Jagannath Jagannath ( or, ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ, lit=Lord of the Universe, Jagannātha; formerly en, Juggernaut) is a deity worshipped in regional Hindu traditions in India and Bangladesh as part of a triad along with his brother Balabhadra, and sister ...

ji,

Balabhadra In Jainism, Balabhadra or Baladeva are among the sixty-three illustrious beings called ''śalākāpuruṣas'' that are said to grace every half cycle of time. According to Jain cosmology, ''śalākāpuruṣa'' are born on this earth in every ' ...

, and

Subhadra Subhadra ( sa, सुभद्रा, Subhadrā) is a Hindu goddess mentioned in ancient Hindu scriptures like the ''Mahabharata'' and the ''Bhagavata Purana''. She is described as the favourite child of Vasudeva and the younger sister of de ...

are adorned with poshak variety of jewelry. The rituals are similar in many other

Hindu temples A Hindu temple, or ''mandir'' or ''koil'' in Indian languages, is a house, seat and body of divinity for Hindus. It is a structure designed to bring human beings and gods together through worship, sacrifice, and devotion.; Quote: "The Hind ...

where the devotees offer Poshak to the

deities A deity or god is a supernatural being who is considered divine or sacred. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines deity as a god or goddess, or anything revered as divine. C. Scott Littleton defines a deity as "a being with powers greate ...

as a part of their prayers.

Different costumes of Vedic culture

Following sculptures in the Indian subcontinent,

terracottas Terracotta, terra cotta, or terra-cotta (; ; ), in its material sense as an earthenware substrate, is a clay-based unglazed or glazed ceramic where the fired body is porous. In applied art, craft, construction, and architecture, terracotta i ...

cave paintings In archaeology, Cave paintings are a type of parietal art (which category also includes petroglyphs, or engravings), found on the wall or ceilings of caves. The term usually implies prehistoric art, prehistoric origin, and the oldest known are mor ...

, and

wood carvings Wood carving is a form of woodworking by means of a cutting tool (knife) in one hand or a chisel by two hands or with one hand on a chisel and one hand on a mallet, resulting in a wooden figure or figurine, or in the sculptural ornamentation ...

conferring men and women wore the same (unstitched) clothes with various wrapping and draping styles. File:Statues of Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani and Camunda, National Museum, New Delhi.jpg, Shaktism is a Goddess-centric tradition of Hinduism. Relief statues of Vaishnavi,

Varahi Varahi ( sa, वाराही, )) is also used as the name of the consort of Varaha, who is identified with Bhumi (the earth goddess). This consort is depicted in a human form., group=note is one of the Matrikas, a group of seven mother go ...

Indrani Indrani (Sanskrit: इन्द्राणी, IAST: ''Indrāṇī, lit.'' Indra's queen), also known as Shachi (Sanskrit: शची, IAST: ''Śacī''), is the queen of the devas in Hinduism. Described as tantalisingly beautiful, proud and ki ...

and

Chamunda Chamunda (Sanskrit: चामुण्डा, ISO-15919: Cāmuṇḍā), also known as Chamundeshwari, Chamundi or Charchika, is a fearsome form of Chandi, the Hindu Divine Mother Shakti and is one of the seven Matrikas (mother goddesses).W ...

File:Ardhanari.jpg, In Shakta theology, the female and male are interdependent realities, represented with

Ardhanarishvara The Ardhanarishvara ( sa, अर्धनारीश्वर, Ardhanārīśvara, the half-female Lord, translit-std=IAST), is a form of the Hindu deity Shiva combined with his consort Parvati. Ardhanarishvara is depicted as half-male and half ...

icon. Left: A 5th century art work representing this idea at the

Elephanta Caves The Elephanta Caves are a collection of cave temples predominantly dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. They are on Elephanta Island, or ''Gharapuri'' (literally "the city of caves"), in Mumbai Harbour, east of Mumbai in the Indian state of Mahār ...

; Right: a painting of Ardhanarishvara. File:Yakshini (cropped).jpg, Yakshini wearing

dhoti The dhoti, also known as veshti, vetti, dhuti, mardani, chaadra, dhotar, jaiñboh, panchey, is a type of sarong, tied in a manner that outwardly resembles "loose trousers". It is a lower garment forming part of the ethnic costume for men in the I ...

wrap and elaborate necklace, Mauryan period. File:Mehrauli Yakshi, 150 BCE, Mathura.jpg, The "Mehrauli Yakshi", dated to 150 BCE, Mathura. File:Mudgarpani_Yaksha,_Mathura,_100_BCE.jpg, Mudgarpani Yaksha, 100 BCE. File:Yaksha_Manibhadra_-_Parkham_Mathura_circa_150_BCE.jpg,

Parkham Yaksha The Parkham Yaksha is a colossal statue of a Yaksha, discovered in the area of Parkham, in the vicinity of Mathura, 22.5 kilometers south of the city. The statue, which is an important artefact of the Art of Mathura, is now visible in the Mathura ...

, 150 BCE. File:Door Desavatara Deogarh.jpg, Females statues wearing drapes are depicted at Dashavatara Temple. File:In Welcome of Buddha - ACCN 34-2542 - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-24 5941.JPG, Relief depicting men in

antriya An antariya () is a lower body garment from ancient India. It is a long white or coloured strip of cotton passed through the legs, tucked at the back and covering the legs loosely, then flowing into long pleats at front of the legs. History Antr ...

and

, 1st century CE. File:Xerxes Hidush warrior 480 BCE.jpg, ''

Hindush Hindush (Old Persian cuneiform: 𐏃𐎡𐎯𐎢𐏁, , transcribed as since the nasal "n" before consonants was omitted in the Old Persian script, and simplified as ) was a province of the Achaemenid Empire in lower Indus Valley established a ...

'' soldier, circa 480 BCE. He wears a

Dhoti The dhoti, also known as veshti, vetti, dhuti, mardani, chaadra, dhotar, jaiñboh, panchey, is a type of sarong, tied in a manner that outwardly resembles "loose trousers". It is a lower garment forming part of the ethnic costume for men in the I ...

and a turban. Tomb of

Xerxes I Xerxes I ( peo, 𐎧𐏁𐎹𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎠 ; grc-gre, Ξέρξης ; – August 465 BC), commonly known as Xerxes the Great, was the fourth King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, ruling from 486 to 465 BC. He was the son and successor of ...

. File:Mithuna, Nachna, Parvati-Tempel 2.jpg, Male and female statues wearing drapes at

Nachna Hindu temples Nachna Hindu temples, also referred to as Nachana temples or Hindu temples at Nachna-Kuthara, in Panna district, Madhya Pradesh, India are some of the earliest surviving stone temples in central India along with those at Bhumara and Deogarh. The ...

. File:The Buddha attended by Indra at Indrasala Cave, Mathura 50-100 CE.jpg, Uttariya and Antriya both are visible. File:Buddha in Abhaya Mudra - Circa 2nd Century CE - ACCN 00-A-4 - Government Museum - Mathura.jpg, A Mathura standing Buddha in "Samghati" monastic dress, circa 2nd century CE,

Mathura Museum __NOTOC__ Government Museum, Mathura, commonly referred to as Mathura museum, is an archaeological museum in Mathura city of Uttar Pradesh state in India. The museum was founded by then collector of the Mathura district, Sir F. S. Growse in ...

File:Indian Museum Sculpture - Subjugation of Nalagiri, 2c, Mathura (9220813720).jpg, The Buddha in checkered monastic dress in the "Subjugation of Nalagiri",

Bhutesvara Yakshis The Bhutesvara Yakshis, also spelled Bhutesar Yakshis, are a series of yakshi reliefs on a railing, dating to the 2nd century CE during the time of the Kushan Empire. The reliefs were found in the Bhuteshwar mound, around the remains of a Buddh ...

, 2nd century CE, Mathura. File:Buddha Refuses Anupama - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-24 5938.JPG, "Buddha Refuses Anupama", late Kushan File:Bodhisattva Holding Lotus Flowers - Kushan Period - Govind Nagar - ACCN 76-38 - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-23 5730.JPG, Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara holding lotus flower File:Gandhara Buddha (tnm).jpeg, The

Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist tradition, he was ...

wearing kāṣāya robes, c. 200 BCE. File:Goat-headed God Naigamesha Presiding Deity of Childbirth among Ancient Jainas - ACCN 15-1115 - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-24 6067.JPG,

Naigamesha ''Naigamesha'' ( sa, नैगमेष, ), also known as ''Harinegameshi'', is a goat-headed or deer-headed deity, associated with children. He also appears in Jain as well as Hindu traditions, associated with the war-god Kartikeya and childbir ...

Jain god of Childbirth, 1st-3rd century CE.

Poetic references

''Silapadikkaram'' indicate that during the

Sangam period The Sangam period or age (, ), particularly referring to the third Sangam period, is the period of the history of ancient Tamil Nadu, Kerala and parts of Sri Lanka (then known as Tamilakam) spanning from c. 6th century BCE to c. 3rd century CE. ...

(third-century BCE to fourth-century CE in ancient South India), a single piece of clothing served as both lower and upper.

Evolution

With changing times, social norms and the introduction of

sewing Sewing is the craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a sewing needle and thread. Sewing is one of the oldest of the textile arts, arising in the Paleolithic era. Before the invention of spinning yarn or weaving fabr ...

developed the wraps into many attractive costumes. Uttariya became dupatta, Antriya changed into the skirt (

ghagra The ''lehenga'', ''lehnga'' or ''langa'' (also known as a ''ghagra'' or ''gagra'', ''chaniya'', ''pavadai'', or ''lacha'') is a form of ankle-length skirt from the Indian subcontinent. Different patterns and styles of traditional embroidery are used ...

), and stanapatta became

choli A choli (Hindi: चोली, Urdu: چولی, gu, ચોળી, mr, चोळी, Nepali: चोलो ''cholo'') (known in South India as ''ravike'' (Kannada: ರವಿಕೆ, Telugu: రవికె, Tamil: ரவிக்கை)) is a blou ...

.Prachya Pratibha, 1978 "Prachya Pratibha, Volume 6", p.121Agam Kala Prakashan, 1991 "Costume, coiffure, and ornaments in the temple sculpture of northern Andhra", p.118 Sari, of course, is evolved from these articles.Mohapatra, R. P. (1992) "Fashion styles of ancient India", B. R. Publishing corporation, Sachidanand, Sahay (1975) Indian costume, coiffure, and ornament. Chapter 2 'Female Dress', Munshiram Manoharlal publishers Pvt Ltd. pp 31–55 File:Mathura Votive Figurine - Walters 25249.jpg, Evidence of stitching,

Mathura Mathura () is a city and the administrative headquarters of Mathura district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located approximately north of Agra, and south-east of Delhi; about from the town of Vrindavan, and from Govardhan. ...

, 3rd century BCE. A

terracotta Terracotta, terra cotta, or terra-cotta (; ; ), in its material sense as an earthenware substrate, is a clay-based ceramic glaze, unglazed or glazed ceramic where the pottery firing, fired body is porous. In applied art, craft, construction, a ...

votive figurine from Mathura. The wide hips and fantastic floral headdress suggest a devotion towards fertility and abundance. She has lotus stalks in her head, and children clinging to her. Height: 25.7 cm (10.1 ″). Mathura, 3rd-2nd century BCE. File:टेराकोटा यक्षिणी.jpg, Terracotta figurine in sari drape, 200-100 BCE. File:Chastana with costume details.jpg, Statue of the Saka Prince

Chastana Chashtana (Greek: (epigraphic), ; Brahmi: ; Kharosthi: , ) was a ruler of the Saka Western Satraps in northwestern India during 78-130 CE, when he was the satrap of Ujjain. Name Chashtana's name is attested in the Greek forms () and (), ...

, with costume details. 2nd century CE. Mathura Museum File:Krishnacart.jpg, Plaque depicting ancient form of long choli and gagra worn during

Gupta Empire The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire which existed from the early 4th century CE to late 6th century CE. At its zenith, from approximately 319 to 467 CE, it covered much of the Indian subcontinent. This period is considered as the Gol ...

File:Kanishka enhanced.jpg, Statue of Kushan emperor

Kanishka I Kanishka I (Sanskrit: कनिष्क, '; Greco-Bactrian script, Greco-Bactrian: Κανηϸκε ''Kanēške''; Kharosthi: 𐨐𐨞𐨁𐨮𐨿𐨐 '; Brahmi script, Brahmi: '), or Kanishka, was an emperor of the Kushan dynasty, under whose ...

(c. 127–150 CE) in long coat and boots, holding a mace and a

sword A sword is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed ti ...

, from the Māt sanctuary in Mathura. An inscription runs along the bottom of the coat: ''Mahārāja Rājadhirāja Devaputra Kāṇiṣka'' "The Great King, King of Kings, Son of God, Kanishka" File:Ajanta Paintings.jpg, Women in ''choli'' (blouse) and antariya ,

File:Green Tara. Sumtsek hall at Alci monastery, Ladakh, ca. 11th century.jpg, Painting of a Shyama Tara with a three-piece sari from Alchi Monastery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:History Of Hinduism Hindu religious clothing Indian clothing