________________
CONCLUSION
625 weaving, gold-smithery, iron-smithery and capentry were prevalent. Trade and commerce engaged a sufficient portion of the populace. People engaged in other professions were preceptors, teachers, astrologers, interpretors of signs, omens and dreams, physicians, masons, sculptors, musicians, dancers, charcoal makers, wood gatherers, fishermen, hunters, fowlers and trappers. Some people derived their sustenance from state and private services. Valuable metals and minerals, jewels and precious stones enriched the economic conditions of the rich and the nobles. Trade and commerce flourished in big cities and capital.. Main routes of trade were by land and water. Carts, oxen. bisons and donkeys were the main conveyances for trade while passenger vehicles and palanquins for journeys.
Political conditions :--India was divided into several monarchical states with the king as the head administrator who was helped by various organs of Government. The Paumacariyam generally gives us a picture of feudalism. Kings followed the policy of aggrandisement and annexed the weaker kingdoms and principalities to their own states by conquering them. Powerful kings were dominated by the idea of becoming Cakravartin kings i.e. Paramount lords. Sometimes barbarian tribes are evidenced as invading north India and the Vindhya region, There was proper arrangement of judiciary for maintaining law and order. Kings maintained fourfold army for defence and invasion. Various kinds of weapons and missiles were used in battles, the bow holding a prominent place.
Religious conditions :- Jain monks and nuns travelled from place to place and instructed the lay devotees in religion and ethics. They performed various types of austerities and sojourned in caves, jungles, gardens and temples. Idol worship was very common among the Jainas. Salutation, eulogy and worship of the Jinas was the daily routine of them. Worship of the Saptarsis (other than those of Brahmanical following) had also become popular. Aştāhnika parva was celebrated thrice a year. Pilgrimage to holy places was popular.
Among the non-Jainas the Tapasas were commonly seen staying in aśramas and sometimes moving outside. Rudra, Siva, Caturmukha, Indra, Skanda and Soma were the chief deities which were worshipped by the followers of Brahmanism. The cult of animal sacrifice was also prevale among them. Besides, forest deities and Yakşas were the deities popular worship.
On the whole there was a religious tolerance as we find that the Jainas addressed their Tīrthankaras even with the names of Brahmanical deities.
40
