Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c9.s16.1

c9.s16.1

Wine and meat were considered amongst luxurious foods. Drinking wine seems to have been very common in early society. According to Kauṭilya, on the occasions of festivals, fairs and pilgrimage, right of manufacturing of liquor for four days was allowed.²¹ There are references in the Rāmāyaṇa²² and Mahābhārata (I·77·13 ff, I·174·13 ff; I·177·10 f; II·4·8 f) which go to prove that wine was extensively used and was held in considerable estimation as a favourite drink²³. As we have seen, wine and meat are included among eighteen kinds of food mentioned in Jain texts.