Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c9.s14: Weights and Measures

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c9.s14

Language
English

Weights and Measures

c9.s14.1

Five kinds of weights and measurements are mentioned: *māna*, *ummāna*, *avamāna*, *gaṇima* and *paḍimāna*. *Māna* is of two kinds for weighing grains and liquids Asati, *prasṛti*, *setikā*, *kuḍava*,¹¹⁹ *prastha*, *ādhaka*, *droṇa* and *kumbha*¹²⁰ were used for weighing grains and *mānikā* for liquids. *Aguru*, *tagara*, *coya*, etc. were weighed by *karṣa*, *pala*, *tulā* and *bhāra* which is called *ummāna*.

c9.s14.2

¹¹⁹ For *droṇa*, *adhaka*, *prastha* and *kudumba* see *Arthasāstra*, p. 116.

c9.s14.3

¹²⁰ *Kumbha* is mentioned in the *Sammohavinodini*, p. 256.

c9.s14.4

In *avamāna* we have *hasta*, *daṇḍa*, *dhanuska*, *yuga*, *nālikā*, *akṣa*, and *musala*, which were used for measuring wells, brick house, wood, mat, cloth and moats, etc. In *gaṇima* or counting we have numbers from one to one crore. In *paḍimāna* there were *guñjā*, *kākaṇī*, *niṣpāva*, *karmamāṣaka*, *maṇḍalaka* and *suvarṇa*, which were used for weighing gold, silver, jewels, pearls, conch-shells and corals etc.¹²¹

c9.s14.5

¹²¹ *Anu sū* 132

c9.s14.6

Among measures of distance we have *aṅgula*, *vitasti*, *ratni*, *kukṣi*, *dhanus*, and *gavyūta*. Among measures of length we have *paramāṇu*, *trasareṇu*, *rathareṇu*, *bālāgra*, *likṣā*, *yūkā* and *yava*¹²²

c9.s14.7

¹²² *ibid* 133 ; cf also *Arthasāstra*, p. 117

c9.s14.8

Among measures of time we have *samaya*, *āvalikā*, *svāsa*, *ucchvāsa*, *stoka*, *lava*, *muhūrta*, *ahorātra*, *pakṣa*, *māsa*, *ṛtu*, *ayana*, *saṃvatsara*, *yuga*, *varṣaśata* (century) etc. reaching upto *śīrsaprahelikā*¹²³

c9.s14.9

¹²³ *ibid*, 114.

c9.s14.10

Time was measured by *nālikā* or the shadow of a gnomon (*saṅkucchāyā*).¹²⁴ *Tulā* (balance) is mentioned. Wrong weights and measures (*kūṭatulla*, *kūṭamāna*) were in use.¹²⁵

c9.s14.11

¹²⁴ Das cū. 1, p. 44; Brh. Bhā Pi. 261. According to the *Arthaśāstra* (p 119) *nālikā* is the time during which one *ādhaka* of water passes out of a pot though an aperture of the same diameter as that of a wire of four *aṅgulas* in length and made of four *māshas* of gold

c9.s14.12

¹²⁵ Uvā 1, p 10.

c9.s14.13

Consumption of wealth means the use of wealth for the satisfaction of various wants and desires. Production is the means while consumption is the end of all economic activity. Consumption is determined by the standard of life fixed by a particular person or society for himself or itself.

c9.s14.14

Articles of consumption may be divided into necessaries, comforts and luxuries.

Linked texts (5)