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Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c12.s6: Low Professional Castes

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c12.s6

Language
English

Contents

Low Professional Castes

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Besides these despised classes we meet with other groups of people who were despised and isolated from the "civilised" castes of people. Amongst them may be mentioned peacock-tamers (*posaga*), barbers (*samvara*), acrobats (*naṭa*), pole-dancers (*laṅkha*), hunters (*vāha*), fishermen (*macchandha*), washermen (*rajaya*), fowlers (*vāguriya*) and cobblers (*padakāra*).⁴⁸

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⁴⁸ Vya Bhō 3 94, Nisī c 345, 11, p 747

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THE FAMILY

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DOMESTIC LIFE

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According to Kautilya, members of the family for whose maintenance the head of the family is responsible include children, wife, mother, father, minor brothers, sisters or widowed girls.¹ The conditions of living in a family were that the members must live in the same abode, partake of the food cooked in the same kitchen, and enjoy the common property.² The patriarch was the head and the master of the family and he was obeyed by all the other members His wife was the mistress who looked after the household duties and was obedient to the master.

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¹ Artha. p. 47.

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² Cf. ibid p 190.

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The Nāyādhammakahā tells us the story of a rich merchant who had four sons and four daughters-in-law. The merchant was the master and the sole representative of the family. Once a thought arose in his mind as to who would be able to look after his family after his death So he invited his friends, relations, kinsmen and other family members and put his daughters-in-law to the test in their presence ³

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³ 7, p. 84 f.

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The father was held in great respect which was equal to that paid to the master and the religious teacher. It is stated that one should apply sayapāga and sahassapāga oils and other fragrant unguents to the body of the parents, should give them bath and decorate them. They should be served with eighteen kinds of seasoned food, and even if one carried them on one's shoulders one could not repay the debt which one owed to them ⁴

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⁴ Thā 3. 135.

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The father was viewed like a God in ancient India. We notice sons and daughters coming to the father to touch his feet (pāyacandava) every day.⁵ We are told of a merchant who was ready to sacrifice his life for the sake of his sons Upon this his eldest son rose and offered himself in his father's place saying that he was like a teacher and God to them and the protector and supporter of the family and hence his life was more precious⁶ than that of the rest.

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⁵ Cf Nāyā. 1, 13, 16, 176

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⁶ ibid 19, p. 213.

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Our stories are full of pathos and happiness which depict the sublime love of a mother towards the child. We are told that when prince Megha-kumāra decided to embrace the ascetic life, his mother became unconscious and fell on the ground like a log. She was sprinkled over with water, fanned with a palm-leaf and was consoled by friends Her eyes filled with tears and in most pathetic words she persuaded her son not to give up the wordly pleasures.⁷ Mothers were highly esteemed We hear of king Pūsanandi who had a great devotion towards his mother and used to bathe and eat after she finished her bath and meals

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⁷ *Nāyā* 1, p 25 f, *Uttarā Sū*, 19

Relations and Friends

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Various relations and friends are mentioned There were friends (*mitta*), kinsmen (*nāti*), members of one's own family (*niyaga*), one's blood relations (*sayana*), connected by marriage (*sambandhī*) and one's dependents (*parijana*).⁹

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⁹ *Nāyā* II, p 51

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As the father grew older, the care of the household fell on the shoulders of the eldest son We hear of people retiring from the world after giving the household management to their sons

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The relatives and friends etc. were invited at various occasions such as birth, marriage, death and various festivals We are told that when Mahāvīra was born, his parents invited their friends, relations, kinsmen and followers and enjoyed a grand feast in their company ¹⁰

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¹⁰ *Kalpa Sū* 5.104

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Then we are told of the Brāhmana brothers of Campā who lived with their wives They decided to have their meals together in one another's house by turn.¹¹

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¹¹ *Nāyā* 16, p 162.

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