Life in Ancient India as Depicted in Jain Canons

SR No.: 011077
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jagdishchandra Jain
Publisher: New Book Company
Publication Year: 1947
Total Pages: 429
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 16 MB

Page 121

EXCHANGE
119
merchants proceeded on their journey after having their breakfast (payarăsehim) halting at various places.88 They visited the king with presents who made them free from taxes giving a suitable place for their residence.87
THE SYSTEM OF TRANSACTION Every village had its own resident traders and buying and selling was done directly, i.e. between the producer and the consumer, probably in individual shops or open market place and the surplus, if any, was dispatched to trade-centres in other parts of the country.
We are told that Campă contained markets (vivani) thronged with craftsmen.88 A number of shops are mentioned where various articles were sold. In kammantasālā razors and other instruments were sharpened. 89 Taverns and oil shops were common. In goliyasalā jaggery was sold. Then there were gonzyasālās, doszyasālās and sotthayasalās, where cows, garments and cotton were sold;82 putabhedana was known as the emporium where the packages of saffron and other articles were opened." The BỊhatkalpa sūtra refers to a house (āvanagiha) which was surrounded by shops; another house (antarāvana) is mentioned which was situated with marketing lanes on one side or both sides.03
Betting (paniyaya) was also known.04
PRICE
There were no fixed prices. Supply was hampered by slow transport, individual production, and primitive machinery. Adulteration (padırūva. gavavahära)" and knavery were known."
CURRENCY Prices were fixed in terms of money which was the chief medium of exchange in India from very early times.07
Various coins are mentioned in our texts; the goldsmiths (heranniya) could detect false coins (rūvaya) in the darkness."
88 zbrd, 15, p. 160. $1 bid, 8, p. 102, 88 Ovå. Sū. 1. 89 Nisi cū. 8, p. 494. LO sbid, 01 abrd.
03 Brh. Bhā 1.1093, also mentioned 10 Parmatthadıpıha, the Com. on the Udāna, p 422 ; also Mahābhārata (1. 107.12).
03 1.12, see also Brh. Bhā. 1.2301-2308. 84 Ava, cū. p. 523. 06 Uva. 1, p. 10. 08 Uttară Ti 4, p 81 a; also cf. Avd. cu ,p 117. 07 See R D. Bhandarkar's Ancient Indian Numismatics, pp 167 ff. 8 Ava. 77. (Hari.), 947, p. 126a , also see Sammoha Vinodıni (p. 91 f).