Lord Mahavira and His Times

SR No.: 011080
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kailashchandra Jain
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas
Publication Year: 1974
Total Pages: 427
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

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Lord Mahāvīra and His Times
colours were used by the laity. The Jātakas mention garments, rugs, and curtains as dyed scarlet, orange, yellow, and red, and umbrellas as red. They also mention various colours such as white (seta), dark-blue (Nila), brown (Pingala), yellow (Halidda), golden (suvanna), silvery (rajatamaya), red (Ratla Indagopa), black (kāli), madder-like (Mañjettha), etc. It can be presumed that these colours were utilised for dyeing clothes.
The practice of dyeing clothes presupposes the existence of the industry of dye-making. Dyes were prepared from roots, trunks and barks of trees, leaves, flowers, and fruits. Dyes were first boiled in order to give a fast colour to clothes. Apart from dyeing clothes, dyes were needed for ladies who often painted their hands and feet. GUMS, DRUGS AND CHEMICALS
There were small industries of gums, drugs, and chemicals, all in a flourishing condition. The Mahāvagga mentions seven kinds of gums-Hingu, Hingulaka, Sipātika, Taka, Takapatti, Takapanni, and Sajjulasa." Drugs and chemicals were made of various roots, 8 leaves, and fruits. 10 For the mineral industry, acids were also produced. HUNTERS, FISHERMEN AND FOWLERS
From Jaina and Buddhist literatures it is known that people earned their livelihood as sheep-butchers, pork-butchers, fowlers, hunters, and fishermen. This indicates that eating flesh was common in those days. This is further confirmed by the discovery of a large number of bones from different archaeological sites.
Hunting (miyavaha) is referred to in the Bhagavati;11 there were regular hunters (migaluddhaza) whose occupation was to 1. Jā, IV. 258; V. 211. 2. Ibid, VI. 218.
Ibid, VI. 279. 4. Alv, VIII. 10. 1.
Ibid. VIII. 10. 2. 6. Jā, III. 183; VI. 218. 7. Mv VI. 7. 8. Ibid. VI. 3. 1. 9. Ibid, VI. 5. I. 10. Ibtd, VI. 6.1. 11. Bhag, I. 8.