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Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c9.s6: Inland Trade

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c9.s6

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Inland Trade

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Trade was carried on briskly by land routes (*thala*) as well as by water routes (*jala*) in ancient India. Ānandapura,¹ Mahurā² and Dasannapura³ are quoted as examples of *thalapattana* where trade was carried by land; Dīva,⁴ Kānanadīva⁵ and Purima⁶ that of *jalapattana* where trade was carried by water; and Bharuyakaccha and Tāmalittī⁷ that of *donamuha* where trade was carried by land as well as by water. The town where it was not possible to carry goods by land or water was known as *kabbaḍa* (a petty-town).⁸

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¹ Bṛh. Bhā. Vr. 1, 1090. 2 Ācā. cū. 7, p 281. 3 Nisi. cū 5 34 (MSS). 4 Bṛh. Bhā op. cit. 5 Ācā. cū. op. cit. 6 Nisi cū op. cit 7 Bṛh. Bhā. op. cit. 8 Das. cū p 360. 9 Nāyā 8, p. 97 ff. 10 ibid, 9, p. 121 f. 11 Uttarā. sū. 21. 2. 12 Nāyā, 15, p. 159. 13 Ava. Nir., 1276 f. 14 Uttarā. Ṭi. 3, p. 64.

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Campā was an important industrial centre in those days; it was joined by Mithilā. The *Nāyādhammakahā* describes the sea-faring merchants (*sañiattāṇāvāṇiyagā*) of Campā, who loaded their waggons (*sagaḍisāgaḍa*) with various goods and proceeded to deep harbour (*gambhīra poyapattana*) In course of time, they arrived at the port of Mihilā and entered the city for trade.⁹ Jiṇapāliya and Jiṇarakkhiya were other merchants of the town who made the thirteenth voyage of the Lavana Ocean.¹⁰ Pālita was another businessman of Campā who went by boat (*poya*) to the town of Pihuṇḍa on business.¹¹

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Then Dhana is described as leader of a caravan who proceeded to Ahicchattā on trade with a caravan consisting of bullock-carts laden with merchandise.¹²

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Ujjeṇī was another great centre of trade. We hear of Dhanavasu, a merchant of this place who left for Campā with a caravan and was attacked by robbers.¹³ Ujjeṇī was also connected with Pārasakūla. Ayala loaded the boats (*vāhana*) with goods and journeyed to Pārasaula; he earned plenty of wealth there and anchored at Beṇṇāyaḍa.¹⁴

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During the reign of king Pajjoya nine great stores or emporiums (kuttyāvaṇa) are mentioned in Ujjeni, where all sorts of goods, including demons (vāṇamantara), were available.¹⁶

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Mathurā was another business centre. People lived here only on trade and there was no cultivation of land in this town¹⁶. The merchants from Mathurā used to go to Dakkhiṇa Mahurā on business.¹⁷ The tankana mlecchas of Uttarāvaha are mentioned as travelling to Dakṣiṇāpatha for trade with valuable merchandise such as gold and ivory.¹⁸ Sopāraya is described as another emporium of trade, which was inhabited by five hundred tradesmen (negama).¹⁹ Then we had Suraṭṭha,²⁰ which was joined with Pāṇḍu Mahurā by sea.²¹ We hear of the horse merchants arriving in Bāravai for trade²². Vasantapura was another emporium whence traders used to journey to Campā.²³ We hear of a merchant going from Khiipatthiya to Vasantapura.²⁴ Then we had Hatthisisa as a commercial centre where a number of merchants resided. From here the merchants journeyed to Kāliyadīva where there were rich mines of gold, jewels and diamonds and which was noted for horses.²⁵ Then we read of Pārasadīva which was visited by the merchants frequently,²⁶ and Sihaladīva which was a halting place for the sea-faring tradesmen.²⁷ From Sihala, Pārasa, Babbara Joniya, Damila, Araba, Pulinda, Bahali and other non-Aryan countries India used to get female slaves as noted already.

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¹⁶ Brh. Bhā. 3·4220 f.

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¹⁶ ibid. Vr 1.1239.

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¹⁷ Āva. cū 472

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¹⁸ Āva Ṭī., p 140 a.

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¹⁹ Brh. Bhā 1. 2506.

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²⁰ Das. cū. p. 40.

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²¹ Āva. cū II, 197.

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²² ibid p 553.

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²³ ibid. p 531.

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²⁴ Āva. Ṭī (Hari.), p. 114a.

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²⁵ Nāyā 17, p 201 f.

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²⁶ Āva. cū. p. 448.

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²⁷ Ācā. Ṭī., 6·3, p. 223a.

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