The musk deer and its musk in classical Indian literature

Abstract

The musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster Hodgson) is a small hornless animal, only 40–60 cm high. It lives in the Himalayas and Tibet between 2100 and 3300 m. The caudal musk gland of the adult male provides the famous aromatic black substance known as musk which is traditionally much used in perfumery.

After a short introduction about the animal and its habits, its role in Indian classical literature is discussed. It is missing in the Veda and epics (except one short mention in the Mahābhārata), but since the early first millennium it it rather often mentioned. It is variously called karāla, kastūrīmṛga, and mṛganābhi. Part of the accounts are rather fanciful.

The second part of the article concentrates on musk itself, Sankrit kastūrikā, also mṛgamada and kuraṅgamada. It was variously used perfuming the body, clothes, and even as a condiment added to drinks. Physicians mixed it in various medicines.

Finally, the role of musk in ancient international trade is discussed. In the Graeco-Roman world it became known in the fourth and fifth century and later on it was also much appreciated in the Islamic world. Its name, Greek μόσχος, Latin muscus, is probably borrowed from Persian (Middle and New Persian mušk ‘musk’) as muṣka in Sanskrit means ‘testicle.’ However, it seems that also in India the musk gland was occasionally confused with testicles.