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They wore ornaments. They wore silver bells around their necks. They adorned themselves beautifully. This is revealed in the seventh study, where the religious vehicle of Amitra is described.
After meals, people also had a tendency to consume betel nut, betel leaf, and betel leaf spices.
Of the ten Shravakas described in this text, nine had one wife each. The Mahashataka had thirteen wives. This reveals that polygyny was also prevalent in some places at that time. On the occasion of marriage, daughters from their paternal homes were given movable and immovable property as gifts in prosperous families, over which they [daughters] had rights. All the wives of the Mahashataka received such property. Where there were many wives, there was also jealousy among co-wives, which is evident from the character of Revati, the main wife of the Mahashataka. She had all her co-wives murdered and seized their share of the property.
Almost every city had a garden outside where saints and sages stayed. Such gardens were for public use by the people.
The sixth and seventh studies mention the Sahasramravan garden. It appears that such gardens also existed in those days, where there were thousands of mango trees. This is also possible because the regions in question have a plentiful yield of mangoes, even today.
A peaceful place is needed for meditation, contemplation, reflection, and worship. Therefore, Shraman Upasakas used Poshadshalas for special worship. In addition, they also kept their own peaceful and quiet places in the form of gardens for meditation and worship. The sixth and seventh studies mention Kundakaul and Sakdalputra going to their Ashoka gardens to perform religious practices.
In the context of the vow of joy, there is a description of 15 karmadans under the transgressions of consumption-consumption-quantity vows, which are unrighteous for a Shravak. There, the fifth karmadan is called "explosion-karma". This includes digging mines, breaking stones, etc. This reveals that the mineral business was prevalent in those days. Rich merchants may have taken contracts for such work, and they may have arranged to have it done.
The trade of ivory, bone, leather, etc. was also prevalent then, which is expressed in the sixth karmadan called "dental-commerce".
The practice of slavery was prevalent in India then. The tenth karmadan, "hair-commerce", is indicative of this. - Commerce included the buying and selling of living creatures such as cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep, camels, horses, etc., as well as the buying and selling of slaves. Property included four-legged creatures as well as two-legged creatures. Two-legged creatures mainly included slaves. The intention of accepting this work as a karmadan is that a Shravak should not engage in the evil practice of slavery.
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