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Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c9.s9: The System of Transaction

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c9.s9

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The System of Transaction

c9.s9.1

Every village had its own resident traders and buying and selling was done directly, i.e. between the producer and the consumer, probably in individual shops or open market place and the surplus, if any, was dispatched to trade-centres in other parts of the country.

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We are told that Campā contained markets (vivaṇi) thronged with craftsmen.⁸⁸ A number of shops are mentioned where various articles were sold. In kammantasālā razors and other instruments were sharpened.⁸⁹ Taverns and oil shops were common. In goḷiyasālā jaggery was sold.⁹⁰ Then there were goṇiyasālās, dosiyasālās and sotthiyasālās, where cows, garments and cotton were sold;⁹¹ puṭabhedana was known as the emporium where the packages of saffron and other articles were opened.⁹² The Bṛhatkalpa sūtra refers to a house (āvaṇagṛha) which was surrounded by shops; another house (antarāvaṇa) is mentioned which was situated with marketing lanes on one side or both sides.⁹³

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⁸⁸ Ovā. Sū. 1.

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⁸⁹ Nisī cū. 8, p. 494.

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⁹⁰ ibid.

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⁹¹ ibid.

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⁹² Brh. Bhā 1. 1093, also mentioned in Paramatthadīpikā, the Com. on the Udāna, p 422; also Mahābhārata (I. 107.12).

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⁹³ 1.12, see also Brh. Bhā. 1.2301-2308.

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Betting (paṇiyaya) was also known.⁹⁴

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⁹⁴ Āva. cū. p. 523.

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