Cultural Study of Nisitha Curni

SR No.: 001743
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Madhu Sen
Publisher: Sohanlal Jain Dharm Pracharak Samiti Amrutsar
Publication Year: 1975
Total Pages: 432
Language: English, Prakrit
Classification: Book_English, Agam, Canon, & Literature
File Size: 23 MB

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A CULTURAL STUDY OF THE NISITHA CURNI
termed as anga-rakşakal in the various Jaina texts. Rajavallabha2 is another officer frequently mentioned in the text. According to Gulab Chandra Choudhary, his status was equivalent to our modern private secretary. Among the minor attendants, parimadda ( who rubbed and massaged the body of the king ), majjavaga ( who gave bath to the king ), mandavaga ( who adorned the person of the king ), pariyattaga (the carrier of clothes and ornaments), the bow-carriers (ca pa), the sword-carriers ( asi ), the jewellery-box-carriers or betelbox-carriers (hadappa) etc. are mentioned in the text.* There were various employees to entertain the royal house-hold. The king along with the members of his family attended various performances performed by the acrobats ( nada ), dancers ( nattaga ), wrestlers ( malla ), boxers ( mutthiya ), jestors (velambiya ), reciters ( kahaga ), story-tellers ( akkhahaga ), jumpers ( pavaga ), pole-dancers (laṁkha ) etc. The jalla, lasaga and bhanda were the bards and minstrels who proclaimed victory to the king (jayasadda-payotta )e and recited songs in his praise ( stotra-pathaka ).' The department of the royal house-hold thus was an administration by itself and must have exercised immense influence over the internal and external affairs of the State. Military Organisation
Wars and border-conflicts being a regular feature, the kings maintained large standing armies to protect the State. The political atmosphere depicted in the NC. often displays very unsafe and insecure circumstances—the subjects revolting
1. Choudhary, Gulab Chandra, Political History of Northern India from
Jaina Sources, p. 346. 2. NC. 1, p. 86; NC. 2, pp. 121, 181; see also-U Þamitibhava-prapanca
kathā, p. 344. 3. Choudhary, op. cit., p. 346. 4. NO. 2, p. 469. 5. C. 2, p. 468. 6. FerTTATI ATT HET—Ibid. 7. Fa TIST: FETTTIFT:- Ibid.