śrḗṣṭha ʻ most splendid, best ʼ RV. [śrīˊ -- ]Pa. seṭṭha -- ʻ best ʼ, Aś.shah. man. sreṭha -- , gir. sesṭa -- , kāl. seṭha -- , Dhp. śeṭha -- , Pk. seṭṭha -- , siṭṭha -- ; N. seṭh ʻ great, noble, superior ʼ; Or. seṭha ʻ chief, principal ʼ; Si. seṭa, °ṭu ʻ noble, excellent ʼ. śrēṣṭhin m. ʻ distinguished man ʼ AitBr., ʻ foreman of a guild ʼ, °nī -- f. ʻ his wife ʼ Hariv. [śrḗṣṭha -- ]Pa. seṭṭhin -- m. ʻ guild -- master ʼ, Dhp. śeṭhi, Pk. seṭṭhi -- , siṭṭhi -- m., °iṇī -- f.; S. seṭhi m. ʻ wholesale merchant ʼ; P. seṭh m. ʻ head of a guild, banker ʼ, seṭhaṇ, °ṇī f.; Ku.gng. śēṭh ʻ rich man ʼ; N. seṭh ʻ banker ʼ; B. seṭh ʻ head of a guild, merchant ʼ; Or. seṭhi ʻ caste of washermen ʼ; Bhoj. Aw.lakh. sēṭhi ʻ merchant, banker ʼ, H. seṭh m., °ṭhan f.; G. śeṭh, śeṭhiyɔ m. ʻ wholesale merchant, employer, master ʼ; M. śeṭh, °ṭhī, śeṭ, °ṭī m. ʻ respectful term for banker or merchant ʼ; Si. siṭu, hi° ʻ banker, nobleman ʼ H. Smith JA 1950, 208 (or < śiṣṭá -- 2?)(CDIAL 12725, 12726)



h260A,B 4345Text


చీమ [ cīma ] chīma. [Tel.] n. An ant. కొండచీమ. the forest ant. రెక్కలచీమ a winged ant. పారేచీమను వింటాడు he can hear an ant crawl, i.e., he is all alive.చీమదూరని అడవి a forest impervious even to an ant. చలిచీమ a black ant; పై పారేపక్షి కిందపారే చీమ (proverb) The bird above, the ant below, i.e., I had no chance with him. చీమంత of the size of an ant. చీమపులి chīma-puli. n. The ant lion, an ant-eater.

చీముంత [ cīmunta ] chīmunta.. [Tel.] n. A metal vessel. చెంబు.





†cīmara -- ʻ copper ʼ in cīmara -- kāra -- ʻ coppersmith ʼ in Saṁghāṭa -- sūtra Gilgit MS. 37 folio 85 verso, 3 (= zaṅs -- mkhan in Tibetan Pekin text Vol. 28 Japanese facsimile 285 a 3 which in Mahāvyutpatti 3790 renders śaulbika -- BHS ii 533. But the Chinese version (Taishō issaikyō ed. text no. 423 p. 971 col. 3, line 2) has t'ie ʻ iron ʼ: H. W. Bailey 21.2.65). [The Kaf. and Dard. word for ʻ iron ʼ appears also in Bur. čhomār, čhumər. Turk. timur (NTS ii 250) may come from the same unknown source. Semant. cf. lōhá -- ]Ash. ċímä, ċimə ʻ iron ʼ (ċiməkára ʻ blacksmith ʼ), Kt. čimé;, Wg. čümāˊr, Pr. zíme, Dm. čimár(r), Paš.lauṛ. čimāˊr, Shum. čímar, Woṭ. Gaw. ċimár,Kal. čīmbar, Kho. čúmur, Bshk. čimer, Tor. čimu, Mai. sē̃war, Phal. čímar, Sh.gil. čimĕr (adj. čĭmārí), gur. čimăr m., jij. čimer, K. ċamuru m. (adj.ċamaruwu).(CDIAL 14496)

 

Kalibangan 080 Seal impression 8120 Text

m0143 Mohenjo-Daro seal 2002 Text

h701Ath701Bt 5329





Sign 186 Variants of Sign 186 


Hieroglyph: śrēṣṭrī 'ladder' Rebus: seṭh ʻ head of a guild, Members of the guild (working with a furnace) . 






śrēṇikā -- f. ʻ tent ʼ lex. and mngs. ʻ house ~ ladder ʼ in *śriṣṭa -- 2, *śrīḍhi -- . -- Words for ʻ ladder ʼ see śrití -- . -- √śri]H. sainī, senī f. ʻ ladder ʼ; Si. hiṇi, hiṇa, iṇi ʻ ladder, stairs ʼ (GS 84 < śrēṇi -- ).(CDIAL 12685). Woṭ. Šen ʻ roof ʼ, Bshk. Šan, Phal. Šān(AO xviii 251) Rebus: seṇi (f.) [Class. Sk. Śreṇi in meaning “guild”; Vedic= row] 1. A guild Vin iv.226; J i.267, 314; iv.43; Dāvs ii.124; their number was eighteen J vi.22, 427; VbhA 466. ˚ -- pamukha the head of a guild J ii.12 (text seni -- ). — 2. A division of an army J vi.583; ratha -- ˚ J vi.81, 49; seṇimokkha the chief of an army J vi.371 (cp. Senā and seniya). (Pali)







    Seniya [fr. senā] belonging to an army, soldier J i.314.



Senā [Vedic senā2 perhaps fr. si to bind] an army Vin i.241; iv.104 sq. (where described as consisting of hatthī, assā, rathā, pattī), 160; S i.112; A iii.397; v.82; J ii.94; Miln 4; Nd1 95 (Māra˚), 174 (id.).



   -- gutta [sena˚] a high official, a minister of war, only in cpd. mahā -- ˚ J vi.2, 54; mahāsenaguttaṭṭhāna the position of a generalissimo J v.115. -- nāyaka a general Vin i.73. -- pacca the position as general Mhvs 38, 81. -- pati a general Vin i.233 sq.; Sn 556; A iii.38; iv.79; J i.133; iv.43; dhamma -- ˚ a general of the Dhamma Miln 343; DhA iii.305. -- patika a general A iii.76, 78, 300. -- byūha massing of troops, grouping & fitting up an army Vin iv.107; D i.6; Ps ii.213; DA i.85 ( -- vyūha).

*śrētrī ʻ ladder ʼ. [Cf. śrētr̥ -- ʻ one who has recourse to ʼ MBh. -- See śrití -- . -- √śri]Ash. ċeitr ʻ ladder ʼ (< *ċaitr -- dissim. from ċraitr -- ?).(CDIAL 12720)*śrēṣṭrī2 ʻ line, ladder ʼ. [For mng. ʻ line ʼ conn. with √śriṣ2 cf. śrḗṇi -- ~ √śri. -- See śrití -- . -- √śriṣ2]Pk. sēḍhĭ̄ -- f. ʻ line, row ʼ (cf. pasēḍhi -- f. ʻ id. ʼ. -- < EMIA. *sēṭhī -- sanskritized as śrēḍhī -- , śrēṭī -- , śrēḍī<-> (Col.), śrēdhī -- (W.) f. ʻ a partic. progression of arithmetical figures ʼ); K. hēr, dat. °ri f. ʻ ladder ʼ.(CDIAL 12724)

*śrēṣṭrī1 ʻ clinger ʼ. [√śriṣ1]Phal. šē̃ṣṭrĭ̄ ʻ flying squirrel ʼ?(CDIAL 12723) 
खार [ khāra ] A squirrel, Sciurus palmarum. खारी (p. 205) [ khārī ] f (Usually खार) A squirrel. 
खडी [ khaḍī ] f खटी S) A squirrel खडू (p. 193) [ khaḍū ] f खडूळ f A squirrel.
खडी [ khaḍī ] f खटी S) A species of steatites used to rub over the writing-board, or to whitewash walls: also an unctuous and whitish stone, a sort of pipeclay. 2 A composition (of talc, gum &c.) for raising figures on cloth: also the figures raised.

This monograph establishes that the occurrence of this Sign 51 (and variants) is a signature tune of a guild-master of blacksmith artisans and merchants. Some variants may signify a bica, 'scorpion.' rebus: bicha 'haematite, stone ore'. The unique ligatures of Sign 51 are repeated only on a ficus glomerata leaf, yielding Sign 327.

 Sign 52 is Sign51 with the ligature of koDa 'one' rebus: koD 'workshop'. Sign 51 is śrēṣṭhin khār guild-master of blacksmith artisans and merchants. Thus, the ligatured Sign 52 reads: workshop of guild-master of blacksmith artisans and merchants.

m973 text 2585

Text 2585

Field Symbol 100

Field Symbol 55

   Sign 327 is Sign 320 ligatured with kāra 'ears'; thus, reads,  lōhakāra 'ironsmith, blacksmith'.Sign 232 is Sign 320 ligatured to a mountain-range: dang 'mountain range' rebus: dhangar 'blacksmith' (Semantic determinative) since loa 'ficus glomerata' rebus; loh 'copper, metal'.I submit that the ligatures unique to Sign 51 and Sign 327 signify  *kāra6 ʻ ear ʼ. [Connexion with kárṇa -- is not clear]Wg. kār ʻ ear ʼ (← Kho. kār), Kt. kōr, Dm. kâar Morgenstierne FestskrBroch 150, NTS xii 173; -- Ash. karmuṭäˊ ʻ ear ʼ, Kt. karmútə ʻ lobe of ear ʼ, Gaw. kumtak ʻ ear ʼ NTS ii 261 (or poss. all three < karṇapattraka -- ).kāra -- 7 m. ʻ tax ʼ see kara -- 2.Addenda: *kāra -- 6: Kho. kār ʻ ear ʼ certainly not ← Wg. BKhoT 69.(CDIAL 3056) Rebus: khār 'blacksmith' 

When 'ears' are ligatured to ficus glomerata, the expression is: loa 'ficus glomerata' rebus: loh 'copper,metal' PLUS kāra 'ear' rebus: khār 'blacksmith'. Thus, loh khār 'coppersmith'. lōhakāra m. ʻ iron -- worker ʼ, ˚rī -- f., ˚raka -- m. lex., lauhakāra -- m. Hit. [lōhá -- , kāra -- 1]Pa. lōhakāra -- m. ʻ coppersmith, ironsmith ʼ; Pk. lōhāra -- m. ʻ blacksmith ʼ, S. luhā̆ru m., L. lohār m., ˚rī f., awāṇ. luhār, P. WPah.khaś. bhal. luhār m., Ku. lwār, N. B. lohār, Or. lohaḷa, Bi.Bhoj. Aw.lakh. lohār, H. lohār, luh˚ m., G. lavār m., M. lohār m.; Si. lōvaru ʻ coppersmith ʼ.Addenda: lōhakāra -- : WPah.kṭg. (kc.) lhwāˋr m. ʻ blacksmith ʼ, lhwàri f. ʻ his wife ʼ, Garh. lwār m.(CDIAL 11159)
When 'ears' are ligatured to squirrel, the expression is:khāra šē̃ṣṭrĭ̄  'squirrel’ rebus: 
śrēṣṭhin khār 'guild-master of blacksmith artisans' (Aitareya Brāhmaṇa).

Thus, Signs 51 and 51 are deciphered as: lōhakāra 'ironsmith, blacksmith' and śrēṣṭhin khār 'guild-master of blacksmith artisans'.

Squirrel

[√śriṣ1]Phal. šē̃ṣṭrĭ̄ ʻ flying squirrel ʼ?(CDIAL 12723) Rebus: guild master khāra, 'squirrel', rebus: khār खार् 'blacksmith' (Kashmiri).

kole.l 'temple' rebus: kole.l'smithy, forge'  Or, warehouse  kuṭhī granary, factory (M.)(CDIAL 3546). koṭho = a warehouse.

Meaning artha Trade of kōnda sangara  'metalwork engraver' (in) supercargo (of) smithy,forge implements workshop, bellows (forge) of blacksmith, furnace metal implements of smithy, forge.

m1634 ceramic stoneware bangle (badge)

 Read from r. to l.: 

Vikalpa: The prefixSign 403: Hieroglyph: bārī , 'small ear-ring': H. bālā m. ʻbraceletʼ (→ S. ḇālo m. ʻbracelet worn by Hindusʼ), bālī, bārī f. ʻsmall ear -- ringʼ, OMārw. bālī f.; G. vāḷɔ m. ʻ wire ʼ, pl. ʻ ear ornament made of gold wire ʼ; M. vāḷā m. ʻ ring ʼ, vāḷī f. ʻ nose -- ring ʼ.(CDIAL 11573) Rebus: bārī 'merchant' vāḍhī, bari, barea 'merchant' bārakaśa 'seafaring vessel'. If the duplication of the 'bangle' on Sign 403 signifies a plural, the reading could be: karã̄ n. pl. wristlets, bangles Rebus: khār 'blacksmith, iron worker'.

The pair of signs on 1634 ceramic stoneware bangle confirms the reading of Sign 51 as khār'blacksmith' śrēṣṭhin 'guild-master'. Sign 403 on this bangle is thus a semantic

 determinative of the professional competence of the 'squirrel' hieroglyph which signifies a 'guild-master', specifying him as a 

guild-master of blacksmiths, artisans.

Herring bone (or, ladder?) Indus Script kuttu rebus kōḍa 'workshop' of khara 'equus hemionus' rebus: khār 'blacksmith' 

https://tinyurl.com/y4bmewg6





This is an addendum to:





1. Conclusive proof from Kharaputta-Jātaka and Kanmer seal for khara as equus hemionus which draws a royal chariot; rebus khār 'blacksmith' https://tinyurl.com/y3xa9vmu

2. Design principles of pictographic Indus Script, gleaned from 'unicorn', 'rim-of-jar' https://tinyurl.com/yya6g9gf

Herringbone pattern.





This could be seen as an extension of fish-fins which are read rebus: khambhaṛā 'fish-fin' rebus: kammaṭa 'mint, coiner, coinage' .


Sign 177


On Kanmer seal impressions and on Khirsara tablet, this Sign 177 has been read as 'ladder'. Maybe, this has an alternative reading: குத்தா kuttā, குத்துவா 


kuttuvā, n. A herring, golden, glossed with purple, Pellona brachysoma; கடல்மீன்வகை Rebus: kōḍa 'workshop'. 

Reverse side of a clay "token" from Kanmer, Kutch, with incised signs depicting (from right to left) 'wild ass' and 'ladder' (photo by Indus Project of RIHN).

khara 'equus hemionus' rebus:khār 'blacksmith

śrēṣṭrī 'ladder' Rebus: seṭh ʻ head of a guild, Members of the guild (working with a furnace). Thus, guild-master of the guild of blacksmiths. 

Kanmer seal impression as a token has two signs on the obverse which are repeated as a two-sign sequence on Khirsara tablet. 

Khirsara tablet two-sign sequence. The sequence is read rebus: 

khara 'equus hemionus' rebus:khār 'blacksmith' PLUS kuttuvā 'herring bone' rebus: kōḍa 'workshop'. Thus, together, blacksmith workshop. The same reading may relate to the obverse of Kanmer seal impression 'token'. (Many dialectical variant phonetic forms of kuttuvā 'herring bone' include: kuṭṭa, kuṭṭai 'knotty log, handcuffs', khoḍ ʻ trunk or stump of a tree ʼ, ˚ḍā m. ʻ stocks for criminals ʼ. Hence, the rebus reading kōḍa 'workshop, place of work of artisans' is realised.

Three identical seal impressions of Kanmer are used on a string to constitute a set. The seal impressions are composed of the inscription:

 PLUS  These two hieroglyphs read from r. to l.: koḍa 'one' rebus: koḍ 'workshop' PLUS khareḍo 'a currycomb' rebus kharada खरडें daybook PLUS karṇaka कर्णक 'spread legs' rebus kanahār 'helmsman'. Thus, the message is: khareḍo koḍ karṇaka rebus: khareḍo 'daybook' (of) koḍ 'workshop' (of) kanahār 'helmsman'. Together, the inscription message is: daybook of workshop of helmsman. Three such seal impressions on three tokens of Kanmer constitute the consolidated cargo to be compiled on a seal message.



khareḍo 'a currycomb' (G.) Rebus: kharādī ' turner' (Gujarati) Rebus: kharada 
खरडें daybook 

 Sign 38 is a hypertext composed of kharada 

खरडें daybook PLUS  kanahār 'helmsman'. Thus, helmsman's daybook.







Variants of Sign 176


Sign 176 khareḍo 'a currycomb (Gujarati) Rebus: karaḍā खरडें 'daybook, wealth-accounting ledger'. Rebus: kharādī ' turner' (Gujarati). 


कर्णक m. du. the two legs spread out AV. xx , 133 'spread legs'; (semantic determinant) Rebus: kanahār'helmsman', karNI 'scribe, account''supercargo'. कर्णक 'spread legs' rebus: 'helmsman', karNi 'supercargo'; meṛed 'iron' rebus: meḍh 'merchant' ayo 'fish' rebus: aya 'iron' ayas 'metal'; 2. कर्णक 'spread legs' rebus: 'helmsman', karṇi 'supercargo'  Indicative that the merchant is seafaring metalsmith. karṇadhāra m. ʻ helmsman ʼ Suśr. [kárṇa -- , dhāra -- 1]Pa. kaṇṇadhāra -- m. ʻ helmsman ʼ; Pk. kaṇṇahāra -- m. ʻ helmsman, sailor ʼ; H. kanahār m. ʻ helmsman, fisherman ʼ.(CDIAL 2836) Decipherment: कर्णक 'helmsman' PLUS mē̃d, mēd 'body' rebus: mē̃d, mēd 'iron', med 'copper' (Slavic). Thus the body hieroglyph signifies mē̃d कर्णक karṇi 'an iron helmsman seafaring, supercargo merchant.'khoṇḍ, kõda 'young bull-calf' खोंड [ khōṇḍa ] m A young bull, a bullcalf. (Marathi) ‘Pannier’  glyph: खोंडी [ khōṇḍī ] f An outspread shovelform sack (as formed temporarily out of a कांबळा, to hold or fend off grain, chaff &c.) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali) kũdār ‘turner, brass-worker’. कोंद kōnda ‘engraver, lapidary setting or infixing gems’ (Marathi) 






Khirsara1a tablet





Decipherment:Hypertext of Sign 336 has hieroglyph components: muka 'ladle' (Tamil)(DEDR 4887) Rebus: mū̃h'ingot' (Santali).PLUSSign 328  baṭa 'rimless pot' rebus: baṭa 'iron' bhaṭa 'furnace'. The hypertext reads: mū̃h bhaṭa 'ingot furnace'





khara 'equus hemionus' rebus:khār 'blacksmith [Alternative: ranku ‘antelope’; rebus: ranku ‘tin’ (Santali)]










Sign 177 (Mahadevan ASI 1977 COncordance Signlist)





śrēṣṭrī 'ladder' Rebus: seṭh ʻ head of a guild, Members of the guild (working with a furnace). [Alternative: panǰā́r ‘ladder, stairs’ (Bshk.)(CDIAL 7760) Rebus: pasra ‘smithy’ (Santali)]





Thus, guild-master of the guild of blacksmiths. 






badhi ‘to ligature, to bandage, to splice, to join by successive rolls of a ligature’ (Santali) batā bamboo slips (Kur.); bate = thin slips of bamboo (Malt.)(DEDR 3917). Rebus: baḍhi = worker in wood and metal (Santali) baṛae = blacksmith (Ash.)





kolmo ‘three’ (Mu.); rebus: kolimi ‘smithy’ (Te.)





khaṇḍ ‘division’; rebus: kaṇḍ ‘furnace’ (Santali) khaḍā ‘circumscribe’ (M.); Rebs: khaḍā ‘nodule (ore), stone’ (M.)





bharna = the name given to the woof by weavers; otor bharna = warp and weft (Santali.lex.) bharna = the woof, cross-thread in weaving (Santali); bharni_ (H.) (Santali.Boding.lex.) Rebus: bhoron = a mixture of brass and bell metal (Santali.lex.) bharan = to spread or bring out from a kiln (P.lex.) bha_ran. = to bring out from a kiln (G.)  ba_ran.iyo = one whose profession it is to sift ashes or dust in a goldsmith’s workshop (G.lex.) bharant (lit. bearing) is used in the plural in Pan~cavim.s’a Bra_hman.a (18.10.8). Sa_yan.a interprets this as ‘the warrior caste’ (bharata_m – bharan.am kurvata_m ks.atriya_n.a_m). *Weber notes this as a reference to the Bharata-s. (Indische Studien, 10.28.n.2)





kuṭi = a slice, a bit, a small piece (Santali.lex.Bodding) Rebus: kuṭhi ‘iron smelter furnace’ (Santali)





Hieroglyph ḍhaṁkaṇa 'lid' rebus dhakka 'excellent, bright, blazing metal article' 







meḍhi 'plait' meḍ 'iron'; daürā 'rope' Rebus dhāvḍā 'smelter'






kṣōḍa m. ʻ post to which an elephant is fastened ʼ lex. [Poss. conn. with *khuṭṭa -- 1 with kh -- sanskritized as kṣ -- ]Pk. khōḍa -- m. ʻ boundary post ʼ, ˚ḍī -- f. ʻ big piece of wood, wooden bolt ʼ, taṁtukkhōḍī -- f. ʻ peg in a loom ʼ; N. khoriyo ʻ land on which trees have been cut and burnt and crops sown ʼ (< ʻ *having stumps ʼ?); H. khoṛ m. ʻ piece of wood ʼ, ˚ṛā m. ʻ stocks, handcuffs ʼ, khoṛkā m. ʻ stump of a tree ʼ; G. khoṛ n. ʻ large block of wood ʼ; M. khoḍ n. ʻ trunk or stump of a tree ʼ, ˚ḍā m. ʻ stocks for criminals ʼ.(CDIAL 3748) *khuṭṭa1 ʻ peg, post ʼ. 2. *khuṇṭa -- 1. [Same as *khuṭṭa -- 2? -- See also kṣōḍa -- .]1. Ku. khuṭī ʻ peg ʼ; N. khuṭnu ʻ to stitch ʼ (der. *khuṭ ʻ pin ʼ as khilnu from khil s.v. khīˊla -- ); Mth. khuṭā ʻ peg, post ʼ; H. khūṭā m. ʻ peg, stump ʼ; Marw. khuṭī f. ʻ peg ʼ; M. khuṭā m. ʻ post ʼ.2. Pk. khuṁṭa -- , khoṁṭaya -- m. ʻ peg, post ʼ; Dm. kuṇḍa ʻ peg for fastening yoke to plough -- pole ʼ; L. khū̃ḍī f. ʻ drum -- stick ʼ; P. khuṇḍ, ˚ḍā m. ʻ peg, stump ʼ; WPah. rudh. khuṇḍ ʻ tethering peg or post ʼ; A. khũṭā ʻ post ʼ, ˚ṭi ʻ peg ʼ; B. khũṭā, ˚ṭi ʻ wooden post, stake, pin, wedge ʼ; Or. khuṇṭa, ˚ṭā ʻ pillar, post ʼ; Bi. (with -- ḍa -- ) khũṭrā, ˚rī ʻ posts about one foot high rising from body of cart ʼ; H. khū̃ṭā m. ʻ stump, log ʼ, ˚ṭī f. ʻ small peg ʼ (→ P. khū̃ṭā m., ˚ṭī f. ʻ stake, peg ʼ); G. khū̃ṭ f. ʻ landmark ʼ, khũṭɔ m., ˚ṭī f. ʻ peg ʼ, ˚ṭũ n. ʻ stump ʼ, ˚ṭiyũ n. ʻ upright support in frame of wagon ʼ, khū̃ṭṛũ n. ʻ half -- burnt piece of fuel ʼ; M. khũṭ m. ʻ stump of tree, pile in river, grume on teat ʼ (semant. cf. kīla -- 1 s.v. *khila -- 2), khũṭā m. ʻ stake ʼ, ˚ṭī f. ʻ wooden pin ʼ, khũṭaḷṇẽ ʻ to dibble ʼ.Addenda: *khuṭṭa -- 1. 2. *khuṇṭa -- 1: WPah.kṭg. khv́ndɔ ʻ pole for fencing or piling grass round ʼ (Him.I 35 nd poss. wrong for ṇḍ); J. khuṇḍā m. ʻ peg to fasten cattle to ʼ.(CDIAL 3893)

Ta. kuṭṭai, kuṭṭai-maram stocks; kaikkuṭṭai handcuffs. To. kuṭy, koy-kuṭy id.(DEDRF 1674) Ma. kuṭṭa a knotty log. Ko. guṭḷ stake to which animal is tied, any large wooden peg. To. kuṭy a stump. Ka. (Coorg) kuṭṭustem of a tree which remains after cutting it. Koḍ. kuṭṭe log. Tu. kuṭṭi stake, peg, stump. Go. (Mu.) kuṭṭa, guṭṭa, (G. Ma.) guṭṭa, (Ko.) guṭa stump of tree; (S.) kuṭṭa id., stubble; (FH.) kuta jowari stubble (Voc. 731). Pe. kuṭa stump of tree. Kui gūṭa, (K.) guṭa id. Kuwi (Su.) guṭṭu (pl. guṭka) id., stubble of paddy; (Isr.) kuḍuli log. / The items here, those in DBIA 104 (add: Go. [SR.] guṭṭam, [M.] guṭṭa, [L.] guṭā peg [Voc. 1112]), and those in Turner, CDIAL, no. 3893 *khuṭṭa-, *khuṇṭa- and no. 3748 kṣōḍa-, exhibit considerable convergence and present many problems of immediate relationship. (DEDR 1676)  Ka. (Hav.) kutta straight up. Tu. (B-K.) kutta vertical, steep, straight.(DEDR 1716) குத்தா kuttā, n. A herring. See குத்துவா.குத்தாங்கல் kuttāṅ-kal, n. < குத்து- + ஆம் +. Stone or brick laid upright on edge; செங்குத்தாக வைக்குங் கல் அல்லது செங்கல்.குத்துக்கல் kuttu-k-kal, n. < id. +. 1. Stone standing on edge; செங்குத்தான கல். 2. Bricks placed on edge, as in arching, terracing; செங்குத்தாகவைத்துக்கட்டுஞ் செங்கல். 3. Stone marking the depth of water in a tank; ஏரிநீரின் ஆழத்தைக்காட்டும் அளவுகல்.குத்துவா kuttuvā, n. A herring, golden, glossed with purple, Pellona brachysoma; கடல்மீன்வகை. குத்துவாமீன் kuttuvā-mīṉ, n. < குத்துவா +. See குத்துவா.

Rajanpur Indus Script tablet deciphered. Catalogue of alloy implements with zinc, hematite, iron ore, portable furnace supercargo 

Mirror: http://tinyurl.com/pnekpcq

Indus Script Corpora is catalogus catalogorum of metalwork. A tablet surface find from Rajanpura 70 km. northeast of Harappa is a revelation of the alloying and metalcasting by Meluhha artisans using zinc and iron ores (hematite and bichi 'stone ore') and a large portable furnace: kanga.
Rajanpur surface find tablet. Rajanpur is 70 km. northeast of Harappa.

See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/09/two-bulls-buffaloes-and-ring.html

Hieroglyphs and decipherment: 

Four Linear strokes gaNDa 'four' Rebus: khaNDa 'implements'
Rimless pot baTa 'rimless pot' Rebus: baTa 'iron' bhaTa 'furnace'
svastika sattva 'svastika glyph' Rebus: sattva, jasta 'zinc'

Scorpion bicha 'scorpion' Rebus: bica 'stone ore' bichi 'hematite (iron ore)'
Crook  मेंढा [ mēṇḍhā ] A crook or curved end (of a stick) Rebus: meḍ 'iron'
Crossing dATu 'cross' Rebus: dhatu 'mineral'
Rim of jar  karNIka 'rim of jar' Rebus: karNI 'supercargo' karNIka 'scribe'
Comb कंकवा (p. 123) [ kaṅkavā ] m A sort of comb. See कंगवा. कोंगें (p. 180) [ 
kōṅgēṃ ] n A long sort of honeycomb.Rebus: kanga 'portable furnace' Rebus: 
kangar 'large brazier': *kāṅgārikā ʻpoor or small brazierʼ.

The tablet is thus a metalwork catalog: alloy implements with zinc, hematite, 
iron ore,portable furnace supercargo. A documentation of the metallurgical competence of the artisan (guild)




-- Six protomes arranged in a whorl m417 Mohenjo-daro seal are artisan specialists who worki in a guild with śrēṣṭhin 'guild-master' in smelting, alloying, casting, smithy/forge, turner/lapidary metalwork

I submit that six protomes on Mohenjo-daro seal m417 signify six metalwork specialists associated with a śrēṣṭhin 'guild-master', signified by Sign 17, hieroglyph of baṭa 'warrior' rebus: bhaṭa 'furnace'. 





Circular seal of Bahrain found at Lothal. miṇḍāl 'markhor' (Tōrwālī) meḍho a ram, a sheep (Gujarati)(CDIAL 10120) Rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ 'iron' (Munda.Ho.) gaNDa 'four' rebus: khaNDa 'implements' dhAtu 'strand' rebus: dhAtu 'mineral' tri-dhAtu 'three strands' rebus: tri-dhAtu 'three minerals' ALSO, dhAvaD 'strands' rebus: dhAvad 'smelter'. Thus, the seal signifies implements out of smelter for iron minerals.

Thus, all the six protomes on m417, together with only one sign, Sign 17 signifying a warrior, may convey the message of  lōhakāra 'coppersmith, ironsmith' with distinct categories of artisans with distinct professional specialisations in working with: 1. lathe; 2. smithy/forge; 3. alloymmetal equipment workshop; 4. smelter or metalcasting workshop; 5. iron smithy; 6. magnetite metalwork.

Many variants of this 'warrior' hieroglyph have been identified in Indus Script Corpora. The rebus reading is: baṭa 'warrior' rebus: bhaṭa 'furnace'. his single sign hieroglyph signifies that 'furnacework' is common to all the six artisan specialists signified by the six protomes.

Sign variants of Sign 17 of ASI 1977 Mahadevan Sign List

Source: Character mapping of Indus Font at http://mohenjodaroonline.net/index.php/indus-script

Thus, all the six protomes on m417, together with only one sign, Sign 17 signifying a warrior, may convey the message of  lōhakāra 'coppersmith, ironsmith' with distinct categories of artisans with distinct professional specialisations in working with: 1. lathe; 2. smithy/forge; 3. alloymmetal equipment workshop; 4. smelter or metalcasting workshop; 5. iron smithy; 6. magnetite metalwork.

Hieroglyph components of eight copper anthropomorphs on Sanauli burial coffins. 

श्रेटी or श्रेडी or श्रेढी f. (in the vernaculars शेडि ; cf. श्रेणि) a partic. numerical notation or progression of figures (in arithm.) (Colebrook).

श्रेणि according to Un2. iv , 51 , fr. √ श्रि ; connected with श्रेटी above ) a line , row , range , series , succession , troop , flock , multitude , number RV. &c; a company of artisans following the same business , a guild or association of traders dealing in the same articles Mn. MBh.; the fore or upper part of anything 

श्रेणिः   śrēṇiḥ श्रेणिः m., f., -श्रेणी f. [श्रि-णि वा ङीप् Uṇ.4.51] 1 A line, series, row; तरङ्गभ्रूभङ्गा क्षुभितविहगश्रेणिरसना V.4.28; न षट्पदश्रेणिभिरेव पङ्कजं सशैवलासंगमपि प्रकाशते Ku.5.9; Me.28,37. -2 A flock, multitude, group; U.4. -3 A guild or company of traders, artisans &c., corporate body; न त्वां प्रकृतयः सर्वाः श्रेणीमुख्याश्च भूषिताः Rām.2.26.14; Ms.8.41; Bhāg.2.8.18. -4 A bucket. -5 The fore or upper part of anything. -Comp. -धर्माः (m. pl.) the customs of trades or guilds; Ms.8.41. -बद्ध, -बन्ध a. forming a row, being in a line; श्रेणीबन्धाद्वितन्बद्भि- रस्तम्भां तोरणस्रजम् R.1.41.

 श्रेष्ठिन्   śrēṣṭhin श्रेष्ठिन् m. [श्रेष्ठं धनादिकस्त्यस्य इनि] The head or president of a mercantile or other guild; निक्षेपे पतिते हर्म्ये श्रेष्ठी स्तौति स्वदेवताम् Pt.1.14. -Comp. -चत्वरम् the part of a city where merchants live; स खलु श्रेष्ठिचत्वरे निवसति Mk.2.

श्रेष्ठिन् mfn. having the best , best , chief;m. a distinguished man , a person of rank or authority AitBr. S3a1n3khBr. KaushUp.;m. a warrior of high rank Ja1takam;m. an eminent artisan , the head or chief of an association following the same trade or industry , the president or foreman of a guild (also f(इनी). a female artisan &c ) Hariv. Ka1v. VarBr2S. &c

The bull-heads are shown with protruding ears which are also Indus Script Hypertexts: karṇika कर्णिक 'mfn. having ears , having large or long ears rebus: karṇika कर्णिक 'having a helm, a steersman' (Monier-Williams) 'The eight anthropomorphs may constitute a guild of metalworkers and seafaring merchants. 

The 'ficus glomerata' leaf shown between the horns of the Sanauli anthromorphs is one of two signs which get unique ligatures in Indus Script Corpora. The signs are Sign 51 and Sign 327 (Sign numbers are from 1977 Archaeological Survey of India Memoir).

Sign 51 of Indus Script 

   

Sign 327 The ligatures of 'ears' are on the Sign 326 which signifies loa 'Ficus Glomerata' rebus: loh 'copper, metal'.

Thus signs 51 and 327 are read as: Sign 51 bicha 'scorpion' rebus: bica 'haematite, ferrite ore' PLUS karṇika 'steersman' Sign 327 loa'ficus glomerata' rebus: loh'copper,metal' PLUS karṇika 'steersman'. Thus, the two signs are hypertexts which signify steersman or helmsman responsible for the cargo of 1. haematite, ferrite ore and 2. copper, metal.

The thesis is that the hieroglyph components signify Indus Script Hypertexts of metalworker and seafaring merchant guilds. 

A close-up may be seen in the photograph of the anthropomorphic figure on the coffin lid depicting headgear made of horn and a pipal leaf in the centre. However, another expert view is that the carving is of a bull head.  Photo: Archaeological Survey of India. The 'ficus glomerata' leaf between the horns cannot be wished away as related to a bull head. It clearly is a metaphor, a rebus signifier in Meluhha language an Indus Script Hypertext.

This is an addendum to: Indus script seals (5) with 5 hypertext narratives signify metal Guild-master, helmsman, supercargo's in charge of products out of smelter/furnace//smithy/forge http://tinyurl.com/hrud9v4Hypertext narrative of a seal with six protomes: Seal of a Metal guild-master. Hieroglyph: śrēṣṭrī 'ladder' Rebus:  śrēṣṭhin, seṭh ʻ head of a guild, Members of the guild (working with a furnace) are: blacksmith, turner, smelter, coppersmith, ironsmith (magnetite ore), Supercargo who is a representative of the ship's owner on board a merchant ship, responsible for overseeing the cargo and its sale.