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 123

EXCHANCE
121
partridge could be bought for one kāhāvana123 and a cow for fifty coins;114 the price of a blanket varied from eighteen rūpakas to a hundred thousand rūpakas. 118
CREDIT
There were no banks in those days and a great deal of wealth was hoarded in the form of gold etc. and hidden underground (nihānapautti). 110 People also deposited money with their friends, but it was not very safe. Appropriation of deposits (nāsãvahāra) was known.117
Loans and debts could be taken. Money-lending was looked upon as an honest calling. We have referred to the money-lender Ananda of Vāņiyagāma. Of substitutes of money, letters of credit were known. False documents (kūdaleha) are mentioned. 118
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Five kinds of weights and measurements are mentioned: māna, ummina, avamāna, ganima and padımana. Mána is of two kinds for weighing grains and liquids Asati, prasyti, setika, kudava, 110 prastha, adhaka, drona and kumbha120 were used for weighing grains and mănika for liquids. Aguru, tagara, coya, etc. were weighed by karsa, pala, tula and bhāra which is called ummāna.
In avamäna we have hasta, danda, dhanuska, yuga, nālıkā, aksa, and musala, which were used for measuring wells, brick house, wood, mat, cloth and moats, etc. In ganima or counting we have numbers from one to one crore. In padımāna there were guijā, kākani, nuspáva, karmamå saka, mandalaka and suvarna, which were used for weighing gold, silver, jewels, pearls, conch-shells and corals etc. 121
Among measures of distance we have angula, vitasti, ratni, kuksi, dhanus, and gavyūta. Among measures of length we have paramānu, trasarenu, ratharenu, bålägra, liksă, yūka and yava"
Among measures of time we have samaya, ävalikā, svāsa, ucchvása, stoka, lava, muhūrta, ahoratra, paksa, māsa, rtu, ayana, samvatsara, yuga, varsasata (century) etc. reaching upto sirsaprahelikä 193
113 Das.cū p. 58. 114 Ava cup 117 118 BTh Bhà 3 3890 116 Upā ,p 6 117 Avā (Hari) p 820 118 1bid , Uvā p 10 119 For drona, adhaha, prastha and Kudumba see Arthasăstra, p. 116. 120 Kumbha is mentioned in the Sammohavrnodini, p. 256. 121 Anu su 132 121 abid 133 ; cf also Arthasāstra, p. 117 123 bid, 114.