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Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c12.s2.t8: The Gahāvais

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c12.s2.t8

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The Gahāvais

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The Gahāvais³⁰ or the householders correspond to the traditional Vaisya order of the Hindus of ancient India They were rich, owned land and cattle and belonged to the mercantile class Jain texts mention a number of Gahāvais, who were adherents of Jain faith (samaṇo-vāsaga), and after taking to the homeless life attained salvation Reference has been made to the householder Ānanda, a rich land-owner of Vāṇiyagāma, who possessed a large number of cattle, ploughs and carts Pārāsara was another Gahāvai who was prosperous in agriculture (kisi) and hence he was known as Kisipārāsara, he had six hundred ploughs ³¹ Kuiyanna is described as another Gahāvai who is said to have possessed a number of herds of kine ³² Then Gosankhī, a kutumbī, is mentioned as the lord of the Abhuas, his son used to journey to Campā for trade with the carts loaded with ghee³³. Nanda is mentioned as another influential setthi of Rāyagiha.³⁴

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³⁰ The Gahāvais were also known by the terms Ibjha, Setthi and koḍumbiya, who were included in the retinue of the king, Oṇā Sū. 27, cf. Iich, op cit, p 250 ff.

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³¹ Uttarā Ṭī. 2, p. 45.

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³² Āa cū p 44.

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³³ ibid, p 297.

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³⁴ Nāya Iu, p. 141.

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