Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c9.s8.6

c9.s8.6

The proper means of transport was the cart or waggon (sagaḍīsāgaḍa). The merchant Ānanda had five hundred carts for distant traffic (disāyatta) and the same number for local use (samvahanīya).⁶⁶ Coach-houses (jānasālā) are mentioned. The coachmen used to look after the carts and vehicles, they cleaned them and decorated with ornaments before plying. The carts were drawn by oxen in charge of drivers (paoadhara) and were furnished with goads (paodalatthi).⁶⁷ The oxen are described as having sharp horns furnished with bells, cords made of cotton (suttarajju) inlaid with gold, bridle (paggaha), and the crest of blue lotuses.⁶⁸ Branding or castrating of bulls (nillañchaṇakamma) was in vogue.⁶⁹ Goods were carried by waggons, horses, boats and ships.⁷⁰