The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c16.19

c16.19

If, according to the details given, trade exhibits in the Jâtakas, if not that stage of development which it shows in Manu, at least a high stage of growth, we should not be surprised at the mention of guilds (seṇi) in our text. It seems doubtful to me, however, whether from the few passages in which it is expressly mentioned, we can infer an organised guild life. Apart from the already-quoted passage from the Nigrodha Jâtaka, where it is said of the Royal storekeeper that he is worthy of the esteem of all guilds (sabbaseṇīnaṃ vicāraṇārahaṃ bhaṇḍāgārikaṭṭhānaṃ IV. 43), we find these also mentioned elsewhere (sabbaseṇiyo I. 267, 314) but without any statement which allows any inference concerning their constitution or organisation. The paccuppanavatthu of the Uraga Jâtaka gives some indication of a more developed guildhood; mention is here made of a "guild quarrel" between two ministers in the service of the king and at the head of the guilds (seṇipamukha). For the older period, the period depicted in the Jâtakas themselves, we can only speak with certainty of the presence of professional unions among the trading classes.