Local Government in Ancient India c8.19

c8.19

The high social position of the *śreṣṭhin* as hinted at in the Vedic passages is very well brought out in some of the Pāli works. While Sanskrit literature mentions guilds of various characters, the Buddhist literature seems to bring into prominence one class of guilds in particular, viz. the merchant guilds. In the story of the Buddha’s life an important period of the life is intimately associated with the great Śeṭh families of Benares and some neighbouring towns whose recognized social position and influence, when enlisted on behalf of the new faith contributed materially to its popularity and propagation in the early and critical stage of its career. Thus the *Cullavagga* (V. 8 and VI. 1, 4) mentions the *seṭṭhi* of Rājagaha; the *Mahāvagga* (I. 7, 1) mentions Yasa, the son of a *seṭṭhi* of Benares and (VIII. 1, 16, &c.) the *seṭṭhi* of Rājagaha. The *Mahāvaṃsa* mentions an office called *seṭṭhitā* to which the king was to appoint. *Jātaka*, I. 120–122, mentions an office of *seṭṭhi* (*seṭṭhi-ṭṭhāna*) in a city, which was conferred only on such as possessed the requisite wealth and talent. Anāthapiṇḍika, the merchant prince famous for his gift to the Buddha of the Jetavana park, is mentioned as the *seṭṭhi* standing alone or as the *mahā-seṭṭhi* in *Jāt*. I. 95. 231–232.