Lord Mahavira and His Times

SR No.: 011080
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kailashchandra Jain
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas
Publication Year: 1974
Total Pages: 427
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

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Lord Mahavira and His Times
IVORY WORK
Ivory work ( dantavānijja ) was also a well-known industry, and ivory workers are mentioned among important artisans (šilpa-ārya). Some of the cities having separate quarters for the ivory-workers became the centres of this industry. These ivory-workers made bangles, trinkets, and articles of diverse forms. Costly carvings, ornaments, handles for mirrors, and inlaying of royal chariots were made by them.” An instrument resembling a saw (kakacha or kharakakacha) is known to have been used for shaping the ivory pieces.3 Ivory was obtained from the forests, either from dead elephants or from the living ones. This industry had probably given rise to a class of people whose occupation was to collect elephant tusks from the forests. GARLAND-MAKING AND PERFUMERY
Garland-making and perfumery were practised because flowers were grown in large quantities. The garland-makers made beautiful garlands and bouquets.5 Apart from being objects of daily consumption, these garlands were in special demand on the occasion of marriages and festivals. There was a garland-maker named Ajjuņaya who had a flower garden (pupphärāma) in Rāyagiha where flowers of different shades and colours were grown.
The perfumer (gandhaka) used to manufacture several kinds of perfumes from various materials. His shop, known as gandhiyaśālā, was also common in those times. The Mahavagga refers to sandalwood, Tagara, black Anusāri, Kaliya, and Bhadramuktaka which were used for perfuming ointments.8 The Nikājas refer to scents produced from roots (Mīlagandha), sära, flowers (Papphagandha), Phegu, Tacha, Papaļi, fruits (phalagandha), leaves (pattagandha), and juice (rasagandha). 1. Jā, II. 197 2. Ibid, V. 302; VI. 223. 3. Ibid, 1. 321, VI. 261. 4. Ibid, 1, 320-21; 11. 197. V. 45, 49. 5. Nāyā 8. p. 15. f. Anta, 3. p. 31 f. 7. Vya. Bhā, 9. 23. 3. Mr, VI. 11. 2. 9. Micijh, III. 6-7; Sam, III. 156, 251-2; GS I. 205-6.