Costumes And Ornaments As Depicted In The Early Sculptures Of Gwalior Museum

The present work is an attempt at bringing out a clear picture of ancient Indian costumes and ornaments-a topic of absorbind interest with universal appeal. It is meant to give a glimpse of ancient Indian dress-patterns and ornaments not only to advanced scholars but also to the people in general who are not acquainted with the subject pertaining toancient Indian history and culture. Several works on ancient Indian social life are available But a comprehensive study of the costumes and ornaments (an integral part of social life) has not so far been attempted. The topic did not receive the attent no of scholars that it deserved. The author felt it necessary to fill the void by bringing out a book devoted wholly to the subject and hence this laudable attempt. The entire work deals, elaborately, with the patterns and styles of dress and personal decoratons. It also highlights the aesthetic sense of people, incidentally throwing occasional light on the economic life of ancient India. Selection of ancient sculptures as basis of this study, has got some special reason. The ancient literature contains references to textiles dress and art of jewellary. These references materials rather than to the pattern and styles, whereas the dresses and ornaments depicted on sculptures vividly portray the patterns and designs of ornament and modes and styles of apparels. The period chosen for the study is from second century B.C. to eighth century A.D. This period is of considerable significance in Indian History as it witnessed the rise and fall of mighty empires. In no other aspect of life is the impact of political and cultural vicissitudes more noticeable chan in costumes and ornaments. Opting for the area, namely, the former state of Gwalior is not without purpose. This state (the northern part of present Madhya Pradesh) is in the heart of India. The political social and economic life of this region is not much different from that of several other parts of India, such as the Gangetic Doab, Central India and the Deccan The reader can therefore, et a glimpse of the costume patterns of those regions also by going through this work.