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A CRÍTICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM
gems, flowers, elephants and horses (rayanavisesam kusumavisesam, gayaturayalakkhanam). There is a reference to the Garuḍaśāstra (15.45-48). It dealt with charms against snake bites.
Arts-Dressing and ornamentation (Aharanavihi), Music, Dance and Drama (Gandhavvam, Naṭṭam and Nadaya); Drawing, Painting. Plastering (Alekkham, leppamayam) and Sculpture; Architecture; Perfumery and Modelling of leaves (Gandhajjutti and Pattacchejjam).
Further general statements are made about other Kalās (annasu kalāsu 24.8). The Kalpasutra refers to 72 and 64 subjects of learning or arts for men and women respectively.1
SECTION 2. SCIENCES
A. Writing.
The PCV clearly mentions that writing (livi sattha 24.6) was taught to the students. A princess is referred to be learning alphabets with a pen in her hand (sā paḍhai akhharāiṁ lehanihattha payatteņam 26.5). Kings are said to be sending written messages (leha 26.94; 98.13-14). King Ativīrya sent a long letter to king Mahidhara calling him for his assistance with his forces. The letter is spread over 12 (gāthās) lines of the PCV (37. 3-14). Private and confidential letters (lehe sähinnāņe 77.45) are said to have been sent by Rama and Lakṣmaṇa to call for the girls offered to them (77.53) in marriage.
B. Astronomy.
A fair glimpse, in the PCV, of the division of time and the components of the solar system speaks of the developed stage of the science of astronomy. The time in general is denoted by the words 'kāla' (3.33, 8.10; 15.99; 20.66) and 'samaya' (16.50) and in particular as 'vela' (14.128) and its division is called 'kālavibhāga' (3.17). The time is divided into ratri (rattimdivam 75.85. rayani 8.154, nisă 12.19 rai 14.116) 'dina' (aha 22.74, diyaha 14.30, dina 7.138, divasa 14.55); fortnight (pakkha 42.4), the dark (bahula 10.107) and the bright (suddhapakkha 6.27 or sukka 20.68); month (māsa 15.96) which was based on lunar cycle as it is stated that the moon wanes and waxes in the dark and the bright fortnight respectively (bahulasukkapakkhe osarai pavadḍhai cando 20 68); and year (varisa 14.24, vasa 20.71, samvacchara 107.8; 114.27).
1. For their details see Sukhabodhika Tiku, p. 146-147 and LAI, p. 172-173. See Samavayanga for 72 Kalas.
