MAKE MOST OF THE KNOWLEDGE NETWORK, JOIN ACADEMIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Human race is a member of Mammalian class and Primate Order. So, human is also an animal. But what differs with other animal species is human wisdom. It is only human who can domesticate other animals and use them to fulfill different needs. In hunting/gathering hominid society animals were rich sources of meat, skin, and bone. But artistic and curious human mind kept records of his relationship with animal world through rock paintings from upper Paleolithic era. From different centers of human habitats through Indian Sub-Continent huge amount of animal remains have been discovered by Archeologists. Apart from kitchen waste which highlights on-veg food habit of nomadic people, terracotta animal figurines, day to day bone tools, ivory and shell ornaments, artifacts etc. pointed out importance and use of domesticated animals in human life. Animal domestication and husbandry became synonymous with Indian Proto-Historic and Historic civilizations not only economically / militarily but also religious and cultural traditions. Sheep and goats were first domesticated by South Indian Neolithic men around 2 thousand and five hundred B.C. as sources of milk, wool, meat, leather and other commodities. Today’s Indian domestic fowl was originated from red jungle fowl. Seals of Indus civilization were decorated with humped and hump -less bulls, goat, sheep, elephant, fowl. Vedic Aryans husbanded horse, dog, sheep, goat, fowl, elephant, cow-bull etc. During Mauryan era, buffalo was included in the category of dairy cattle.

Domestication of animals is not a new thing in human history. Novelty lies in Indian people’s attention and urge for wellbeing of the domesticated animals. Ancient Indian literatures like Vedas, CharakSamhita, SushrutSamhita, HaritaSamhita, Agni Purana, Mastya purana, Artha-Shastra etc. Provide proper guidance on orientation, construction, purification of animal houses, besides veterinary Ayurvedic and surgical treatment of numerous diseases. In Vedic literature Cow was considered as the measuring unit of wealth. Cow received the status of “Aghnya” [Not to be killed]. Priests were the first veterinarians of ancient India. Prominent among them were Shalihotra [Earliest expert in Horse medicine and author of “Haya Ayurveda”], Palakapya [Author of “Hasty- Ayurveda”] etc. 6th Century B.C. Indian rulers of Sravasti, Kousambi, Lichabi kingdoms issued humped bull/cow inscribed coins.

During the Indian invasion of Alexander, the Great [326 B.C] a Prince from Punjab presented Cock engraved silver coins as a form of tribute. Arthashastra mentioned King’s duty of ensuring enough pasture land near every village. Gopa was accountable for keeping record of this land. Horse and Elephant were two main war animals of the Mauryan army. Proper care was given to them. Hurting/ killing of any of these species resulted death penalty. The third Mauryan Monarch Asoka, after his conversion to Buddhism established vetenary hospitals throughout his domain. Ancient Indians were aware of the technique of animal husbandry as well. In short ancient Indian Veterinary Ayurvedic and surgical treatments are effective in curing dysentery, cough, wound, infertility, different infections besides psychological stress still in the Twenty First Century. Besides terrestrial animals’ ancient Indian people were aware of the existence of fish, shell, and turtle.

It is my aim in this essay to analyze customs, technologies and history of domestication of animals by ancient Indian people and its socio-economic-scientific applicability in the scenario of Twenty First Century. I will utilize both primary and secondary sources to endure this goal.

Keywords: Atharva Veda, Shalihotra, Aghnya, Gopa, Artha-Shastra.