Lota (vessel) explained

A lota (Hindi: लोटा; Oriya: ଲୋଟା/ନୋଟା; Urdu: لوٹا) is a small, spouted, and rounded vessel that has been used in the Indian subcontinent[1] since the 2nd millennium BCE or earlier. The design itself serves multiple purposes; a copper lota is commonly used in Indian religious ceremonies, such as yajna during puja, for wedding rituals, and other sacred traditions. It is also used for serving water and liquor.[2] According to the ancient Indian/Hindu-origin traditional medicine system of ayurveda, drinking water stored in the copper lota has health and nutritional benefits.[3]

The vessel's regional variations include the bodna (Bengali: বদনা) in Bengal, the kindi in Kerala, and the Karuwa in Nepal.

History

The earliest known examples of lota and kindi in ancient India are from the Chalcolithic period, notably in the Savalda Culture and two well-preserved examples from the pottery of the Jorwe Culture, dating back to the 2nd millennium BCE.[4] [5] Highly decorative spouted vases with floral motifs are also known from Chandraketugarh, dating back to around the 2nd century BC or the 1st century CE.

Design

Regional variations

In West Bengal and parts of Bangladesh, the term bôdnā (Bengali: বদনা) describes spouted (teapot-like) vessels, and the vessels used for puja are called ghôt or ghôti, while lotā is used for cleansing mugs.[6] In Odisha, vessels without the spout is also known as lota, while spout vessel is known as Jeri, used for prayer rituals and serving liquor.[7] [8] They are also known as Karwa, Jharis and Achaman Jharis (utensils with spouts) in Hindi Belt and Gujarat in northern and western India, used for prayer rituals.[9] It is also known as Mooku sombu and Pal Kindi used as milk feeder for babies in southern parts of India. In Nepal, it is known as Karuwa which is used for religious rituals, serving water and liquor.[10]

Reception

American designers Charles and Ray Eames in their The India Report expressed a great admiration for the lota, saying about its design, "Of all the objects we have seen and admired during our visit to India, the Lota, that simple vessel of everyday use, stands out as perhaps the greatest, the most beautiful."[11] [12] [13]

Usage

Idioms and literature

In some parts of the Indian subcontinent, the use of the phrase "bependi ka lota" (a "lota without a base") is colloquially used to refer to a person who may switch their loyalties. This comes from the observation that a spherical lota without a base tends to roll over in unpredictable directions when kept on uneven ground. The neologism "lotacracy" was coined in Pakistan to describe politicians who switch parties for their convenience.[14]

Ayurveda

See also: Neti (Hatha Yoga).

According to the ancient Indian/Hindu-origin traditional medicine system of ayurveda, drinking water stored in the copper lota has health and nutritional benefits. It is used for jala neti, a traditional ayurvedic and yogic practice that is used for cleansing the nose and sinus passages through nasal irrigation.

Sacred ceremonies

See also: List of Hindu festivals and List of materials used in Hinduism.

In the Indian-origin religions, the lota is a multi-purpose utensil. It is also used in the sacred rituals,[8] such as yajna, puja, for wedding rituals, and other sacred ceremonies.

Cleansing

See also: Anal cleansing and Istinja. Throughout the Indian subcontinent, the lota is commonly used to assist with hygiene, such as during baths or anal cleansing.[15]

In Bengali, the term lotā is used for bath mugs.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Definition of Lota . Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary . 22 March 2007.
  2. Web site: Seven reasons why Tansen is one of the must-see places in Nepal. OnlineKhabar English News. 2021-02-27.
  3. https://food.ndtv.com/health/12-amazing-healing-benefits-of-drinking-water-in-a-copper-vessel-1658134 11 Amazing Healing Benefits of Drinking Water in a Copper Vessel
  4. Book: Singh, Upinder . A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century . 2008 . . . 978-81-317-1120-0 . 229–233.
  5. Web site: Excavations - Important - Maharashtra . . 1 September 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111011165314/http://asi.nic.in/asi_exca_imp_maharashtra.asp . 11 October 2011 . dead.
  6. Akbar . Javaria . 11 December 2014 . A Muslim's Guide to Anal Hygiene . . 9 September 2019.
  7. Web site: Odisha State Tribal Museum Jeri .
  8. Daniel Miller, 1985, Artefacts as Categories: A Study of Ceramic Variability in Central India, pages 126–130.
  9. Jhariji, Achaman Jhariji And Karwa https://inbrindavan.com/jhariji-achaman-jhariji-karwa/
  10. Web site: Seven reasons why Tansen is one of the must-see places in Nepal. OnlineKhabar English News. 2021-02-27.
  11. Web site: Demetrios . Eames . 9 February 2002 . An Eames Primer . 22 March 2007 . Universe Publishing.
  12. Web site: Eames' India Report . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070309151633/http://www.nid.edu/aboutus_eamesreport.htm . 9 March 2007 . 22 March 2007 . National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, India . dmy-all.
  13. https://web.archive.org/web/20100409093444/http://observatory.designobserver.com/entry.html?entry=12692 "Charles & Ray Eames India Report, April 1958"
  14. News: Humayun . Gauhar . Blasphemy…or a convenience? . . Okaz Organization for Press and Publication . 24 January 2011 . 24 January 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120330191038/http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2011012492056 . 30 March 2012 . dmy-all.
  15. Book: The Work of Charles and Ray Eames: a Legacy of Invention . Donald Albrecht . . India and Pakistan have a water culture, so that it is preferable to use a lota to cleanse with after using the washroom. . 2009 . 9780810927520 . 5 September 2011.