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

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LIFE IN ANCIENT INDIA
juice),' sīhakesara (a sweet), morandaka (a sweet made of oil seed)' mandaka, a cake stuffed with molasses and ghee. Then ähadiyā was a special sweet coming from one house to another as present.11 Pulāka was a special dish.12 Then we had guliyā or tablets made from the powder of the tubara tree which were used by the sādhus. The kholas were dried pieces of cloths moistened with milk; these were washed and this water was used for drinking purposes.13
Cooking is mentioned.14 Cooks (mahānasiya) were employed by the rich and the kings. They prepared various kinds of dishes.15 Cooks are included among nine nārus." Vegetables were cooked in oil (neha). 17 To make arrangements for vegetable and ghee in the kitchen was known as āvāpa and the discussion whether food is cooked or uncooked as nirvāpa.18 The place of dining was besmeared with grass and lotuses and flowers were strewn ; then pots were arranged and people had their meals.18 Mahānasasālā is mentioned as a free food distributing kitchen in which food was distributed free to ascetics, monks and the poor.20
WINE
Wine and meat were considered amongst luxurious foods. Drinking wine seems to have been very common in early society. According to Kautilya, on the occasions of festivals, fairs and pilgrimage, right of manufacturing of liquor for four days was allowed. There are references in the Rāmāyanga and Mahābhārata (I.77.13 ff, I.174.13 ff; I.177.10 f; II.4.8 f) which go to prove that wine was extensively used and was held in considerable estimation as a favourite drink". As we have seen, wine and meat are included among eighteen kinds of food mentioned in Jain texts.
Liquor was manufactured or consumed on a large scale. Taverns (pānāgära: kappasālā) are known where various kinds of wine was sold. + The profession of a rasavānijja is mentioned which dealt in wine.a5 Flags on
My Uvā l. p 8.
8 Anta. p. 10 9 Brh. Bhå 1. 3281. 10 Niss. cū II, p 695.
1 Brh. S'2 17; Bhā. 2 3616. 13 sbid 5 6048 ff * 13 Brh. Bhi 1.2882. 2892. x 14 Nāya 7, p. 88.
16 Viva 8, P. 46. 18 Jambu Ti 3, p. 193. 11 Näya 16, 162. 18 Tha 4 282. 19 Nisi ci. P1 p 46.
20 ibid. 9, p 511 , Naya 13. p 143. 131 Arthasāsta, p 134, also cf Dhammapada A. III, p. 100.
19 II 91, 51, V. 36. 41 ; VII 42 21 f. 38 R. L. Mitra, Indo-Aryan, Vol I, pp 396 ff. 34 Nisi cũ I 9, p. 511, Vya. Bhà. 10.485. 35 Supra, p. 106.