Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c16.47

c16.47

It seems that in earlier times artisans sold their products in the market and were paid in cash. But in the beginning of the sixth century in addition to a share in the produce land grants became an important mode of paying them. We have indirect indication of service grants in a sale deed recorded on a copper plate of A.D. 507 from Rajshahi district in Bangladesh. In defining the plots of land granted to brāhmaṇas, the plots of land belonging to the neighbouring cultivators are mentioned in detail. This list also includes many artisans. We hear of the field belonging to kālāka,¹ which may be identical with kaulika or weaver. There is clear mention of the ground belonging to a carpenter called Viṣṇuvardhaki,² and to a vaidya or physician.³ We come across three plots of land each belonging to three persons whose names end in vilāla,⁴ who are thought to have been a mechanic caste like carpenter.⁵ In addition to this we also come across ja(jo)lāri-kṣetra,⁶ which may possibly belong to a weaver. Similarly the term vi(du)ggurika-kṣetra⁷ might mean a field belonging to a vāgurika or a hunter. Although in some of these cases identification of artisans is doubtful, there is no doubt that service grants were given to artisans and others. This coupled with the practice of remunerating their services in kind would naturally make them attached to their plots of land and make their movements difficult. It would hasten the process of the conversion of crafts into castes and contribute to the growth of the jajmāni system.