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The similarity of the names seen in Kautilyan and Jaina deities is really stunning. [E] The custom of arcā :
At present, the term “arcā' is used as a twin term used with the term “pūjā”. The separate meaning of arcā is forgotten and is dominated by the word pājā. When going through the studied introduction of the Arthaśāstra written by Mr. Hivargaonkar, I stumbled at the reference which occured on p.22. He remarks, “The custom of arcā for obtaining the wealth is mentioned by Kautilya, in which a beast is sacrificed by the worshipper. Asoka was a staunch follower of non-violence. Therefore the custom might have prevalent during the period of Candragupta and Bindusāra because how can Asoka allow this violent act ? Thus it is certain that the Arthaśāstra is written before Aśoka.”
We can accept Mr. Hivargaonkar's conjecture if it is supplied by some other parallel reference. It is very much revealing that we find the word accā (Skt. arcā) in the Ardhamāgadhī texts like Sūtrakstānga (1.13.17; 1.15.18 ; 2.2.6) and Sthānānga (comm.p.19) in the sense of 'body'. The Ācārānga 1.1.6 (sūtra 140 - Ladnūn edn.) quotes in hissā-viveka-pada that afh-370117 34tely defa, 37147 34ffung geld - which means, “Some people kill animals to get the body, some others kill to get the skin' etc. Here, the term “acca' means the 'body'.
In the light of the Jaina references, it is quite clear that the custom or ritual called “arcā”, noted in the Arthaśāstra which is performed to get wealth is a lower type of ‘animal sacrifice'. [F] The meaning of kulaidaka :
If we extend this point a little, one similarity between the Arthaśāstra and the Ardhamāgadhi text Uttarādhyayana is notewor
