Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c15.s3.11

c15.s3.11

Jain texts mention various festivities and pastimes. The feast of *puṇṇamāsinī* was celebrated on the full moon day of the month of *kārttika*.¹⁵⁵ On the day of *kaumudīmahotsava* men and women left their residence after sunset and spent whole night in enjoyment.¹⁵⁶ *Madanatrayodaśī* was another festival which was celebrated in honour of *Kāma*, the Indian cupid.¹⁵⁷ Then *ujjāṇiyā* feast is mentioned which was celebrated in Sindhunandana when the women of the town enjoyed in various ways.¹⁵⁸ The festival in honour of *Nagaradevatā* was celebrated in which the circumambulation of the temple was held ¹⁵⁹ In the festival known as bahumilakkhamaha many non-Aryan people (mleccha) assembled ¹⁶⁰ dāsī-maha was celebrated by the maid-servants, ¹⁶¹ then thānuppāyamaha had no fixed day and it was held at any time whenever the guests were received.¹⁶² Then the feast of ¹⁶³ noodles (ittaga, com sevokikā) is mentioned Then the birthday feast was celebrated with great pomp and ceremony as we have seen already ¹⁶⁴ Cāummāsiyamajjanaya was another ceremony which was held after four months of rainy season We are told that during this ceremony a flower-house was made on the high road which was decorated with beautiful huge garlands and the designs in five coloured rice grains were prepared over the city Then the princess was seated on the throne facing the east and was given a bath with white and yellow pitchers and afterwards was decorated with all kinds of ornaments ¹⁶⁵ Then we had samaccharapadilehana or the annual birthday feast.¹⁶⁶ The Vivāgasuya refers to ten days feast celebrated after the completion of a kūdāgārasālā We are told that during this period the king made his subjects free from taxes ¹⁶⁷