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 177

CHAPTER V
ARTS AND SCIENCES
(1) WRITING
The art of writing was known in ancient India. We have seen that lekha occurs in the list of seventy two arts. The Rāyapaseri refers to various kinds of writing materials and accessories such as pattaga (leaves), kambiya (wooden board), dora (thread), ganthi (knots), lippāsaņa (ink-pot), chandana (lid), sankala (chain), masi (ink), lehaņi (pen), akkhara (letters) and potthaya (book).* Lehāyariya (lekhācārya, teacher) is mentioned in the Avasyaka Bhasya, and in the Cürni
The commentary on the Samavāyānga refers to writing, engraving, sewing and weaving of letters on materials such as leaves, bark, wood, ivory, iron, copper and silver and forming them by cutting the material, burning it, breaking it, and joining one with another (sankramana)."
We hear of Cakravartins writing their names on the mountain with Kakınī jewel. We also meet the caravans which during the course of their journey used to make signs and marks on stones etc.
We have referred to sending of letters (leha) to the enemy before entering into actual warfare Love-letters, 1sealed letters, and forged letters (kūtalekha) were also known.
THE EIGHTEEN LIVIS
The following livs or scripts are mentioned :
(1) Bambhī, (2) Javanālıyā or Javanāniyā, (3) Dosauria, (4) Kharotthiä, (5) Pukkharasārā, (6) Paharārā, (7) Uccattaria, 1 (8) Akkharaputt
1 According to Dr. Gauri Shankar Ojha, wiiting in India goes back to the 5th cen
tury B C. (Bharatiya Prachina Lipimālā, p 2 ff). Su 131, Ave Ti (Har.), p. 384 a. Gandi, kacchaut, mufthi, samputaphalaka and
chedapāls are mentioned as five types of potthaya (Bth Bha 3.3822) "For a detailed description of these see Muni Punyavijayajı's scholarly monograph, Jain Citrakalpadruma, also Prof H. R. Kapadia's Outlines of Palacography in UB, Vol. VI, pt. VI, p 87 ff, also Ojha, op cit., pp 4-6, 142-158. 76 (Niryukti Diptka, I, p. 90a). p. 248. Writing on bhujapatta is referred to in the Ala cu. p 530. The material on which
the signs have been traced in Babylon was clay. They were traced in India on Icaves or on pieces of bark These were mere scratchings, and ink was not used, Rhys Davids, Buddhist India, p 117
The Vasudevahindi (P 189) mentions of writing a book on the copper leaf. 7 p. 78. 8 Jambu 3 54; for references in the Buddhist literature sce Rhys Davida, Buddhist India,
P. 108
Ava. Ti (Hari.), p. 384a. 10 Ultarā. Ti. 13, p. 191 a.
Brh. Bha 'Pr. 105; Nisi cu., 6, p 87 (MSS) Uva. 1, p. 10. According to the Parna (1 55a), we have Antakkhariya, Uyantarikthyd or tyntavatarlyd in place of Uccattaria, and Ayasa in place of Adamse, Punyavijaya, Jain linealth, P. O.