The Rashtrakutas and their Times c22.239

c22.239

Let us now ascertain the cost of living in our period. We have seen already that a capital outlay of 16 or 17 Kaḷanjus was sufficient to supply a rich meal throughout the year. Unfortunately the rate of interest is not stated, so no very accurate conclusions are possible from this inscription. An inscription of the time of Uttamachola gives the exact expenses of a rich meal of the period.(140) ‘For feeding 25 Brahmanas in the feeding house...is required, for 1 year, 937½ Kalam of paddy for vegetables, firewood, ghee, curds, different spices, betel leaves and nuts, including the pay of the cooks, at the rate of 1 Kuruṇi and 2 Nāri of paddy per day for each person.’ Another record,(141) about 25 years later, makes provision for the purchase of 25 Kalams of paddy in order to supply one meal to 240 S'iva-yogins. Both these records lead to the same conclusion, viz., 37½ Kalams of paddy were required to supply a good meal to one individual throughout the year. 37½ Kalams of paddy are equal to 15 Kalams or about 540 seers of rice; 1½ seer are thus seen provided for each individual per diem. The cost in cash per individual per annum would be 3¾ Kaḷanjus (since paddy was sold at about 10 Kalams per Kaḷanju ), i. e. about Rs. 19, since one golden Kaḷanju weighed about a quarter of a tola.