This sculpture of a yakṣha from Pitalkhora carries an inscription on its hand, kanhadāsena hiramakarena kāṭa meaning 'made by Kanahadasa, a goldsmith'. Is it not interesting to see that a goldsmith could also craft a sculpture made of stone? What do you think this tells us about people's professions at the time?
The inscription revealing that a goldsmith (Kanahadasa) crafted a stone sculpture indicates that artisans in ancient India possessed versatile skills across multiple materials and crafts.
Rather than being restricted to a single specialisation, craftspeople could work with both precious metals and stone.
This suggests that the guild system or artisan communities encouraged skill diversification, and the techniques of carving, engraving, and detailed work were transferable across different materials.
It also reflects the high level of craftsmanship where the precision required for goldsmithing could be applied to stone sculpture.
The presence of such inscriptions shows that artisans took pride in their work and identified themselves by their primary profession even when working in other mediums.
Explanation
The chapter on page 11 presents a sculpture of a yakṣha from Pitalkhora caves with an inscription identifying the maker as Kanahadasa, a goldsmith. This 'Think About It' question encourages students to consider what this reveals about professional flexibility and skill transfer in ancient India. The inscription demonstrates that artisans were not limited to working with a single material.
Solution Steps
Artisans in ancient India possessed versatile skills across multiple materials and crafts
Craftspeople were not restricted to a single specialisation and could work with both precious metals and stone
The guild system or artisan communities encouraged skill diversification
Techniques of carving, engraving, and detailed work were transferable across different materials
The precision required for goldsmithing could be applied to stone sculpture, reflecting high craftsmanship
Artisans took pride in their work and identified themselves by their primary profession even when working in other mediums