The word kāṭhā (with first syllable nasalized, I think) is used in Bengal (Bangla Desh; also West Bengal?) to refer to cloths with embroidered narrative scenes. The work is presumably derived from Skt. kanthaa "rag, patched garment" (MW; cf. CDIAL #2721, not citing the Bangla; also KEWA I.151-2, comparing Lat. centoo "Flickwerk").

Rich Salomon

On Tue, Feb 5, 2019 at 3:40 AM Jacob Schmidt-Madsen via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info> wrote:
Dear colleagues,

I am encountering the expression "mārvāṛ kāṭhā" (sometimes rendered as
"mārvāṛ (kāṭhā)") in the colophons of a group of Rajasthani cloth
paintings (dated 17-19th century, but probably modern forgeries). I
suppose that the meaning is something along the lines of "the region of
Marwar," but the only definitions of kāṭhā I have been able to find are
"a measure of length" and "a measure of land of 320 square cubits."

The situation is slightly complicated by a colophon which reads "maṭh
hāraṇ mulk mārvāṛ kāṭhā," indicating Saran Math in the region (mulk) of
Marwar. Should kāṭhā be understood as synonymous with mulk, or do they
express separate definitions of territory?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Best regards,
Jacob

Jacob Schmidt-Madsen
PhD Fellow
University of Copenhagen
Denmark

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