Proceedings and papers of National Seminar on Jainology

Author(s): Yugalkishor Mishra
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

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Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin No. 8
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frequently refers to the hattas," which were local centres of exchange. These places were decorated on special occasions, possibly during religious and community festivities. This may underline the periodical increase in their importance and may suggest their nature as fairs. That the itinerant traders visited these haṭṭas is apparent from the Pratihāra and the Paramāra records. 20 These were the centres of utilitarian commodity exchange and cotton, wheat, rice, butter, etc., could be procured from here. These places were under the supervision of local chiefs and this may explain the proper arrangements made at such centres."
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The localisation of trade adversely affected the external trade mechanism. The Samaraichchakahā informs us that the big merchants of the region used to trade with foreign countries23 in the hope of earning greater profits.24 They frequented the islands of Mahākaṭāha, Simhala, Suvarṇa and Ratna besides China." The basic modus operandi was to purchase the local goods and return to the mother country. At times, they also offerred presents to the local kings to seek their permission and get a tax remission." The story of Dhan informs us that one Nanda taking the presents went ashore to see the king when the ship reached Mahākaṭāha. The king was pleased and provided him the necessary hospitality to carry on trade in the area. The same story also points out the importance of Mahākaṭāha, i. e. Kedah, in western Malaya, in contemporary trade mechanism of India. Other stories relate to the frequent visits of merchants to Suvarnabhūmi.29 A host of contemporary texts confirm the mercantile connections with Suvarnabhumi and Mahākaṭāha.30 The contact with China does not seem to be uni-centred as the text refers to a sailor, Suvadana, coming from China and proceeding to Devapura via suvarṇadvīpa."
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The stories of the Samaraichchakahā, besides outlining the difficulties involved in trade with China and South-East Asia, focus on the locational centrality of Sri Lanka in this trade mechanism. This place had a basic advantage in terms of the position of monsoon which made direct communication between Śri Lanka and the Malaya straits possible since the beginnings of the Christian era. The itineries of both Fa-hien and I-tsing testify to this position. Cosmos underlines its central position in the transit trade between the east and the west. The samaraichchakahā records the daily sail of ships from Suvarṇabhūmi for Simhaladvīpa. It was from Tamralipti and Baijayanti, the two big ports on the eastern coast of India, that the ships sailed to and from Sri Lankā, Mahākaṭāha and China.35 These references, however, need a reappraisal in the light of known historical facts. The text refers to trade with China but it is fairly certain that this trade was becoming marginal during the period. India is not included in the list
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