________________
202
A CULTURAL STUDY OF THE NISITHA CURNI
Besides, hunting, rearing, poultry and fishing were carried on by the lowest section of society. The loddhaya, misaluddhaga, và guriya, simhamoraja, si nakäraga and hhattigal were the hunters and butchers who regularly supplied the king and the public with the meat of the animals. 2 The snares and traps (vagura, s kața* ) were regularly used for hunting the animals. The vadhas or sauņakas were adept in the art of birdcatching by casting the nets (paşa, jala ).5 Medas are also mentioned as a class of people who used to hunt with bow and arrow in their hands. 6
Fishing was another important occupation. Early in the morning the fishermen ( machhaga, macchaggahaga )' used to go for fishing with fishing hooks and nets ( macchagabandhagadi ).8 They also trawled the fish with fishing hooks having iron.nails at its end and a long rope ( diharajju ) attached to it. Fish were also dried, stored and sold in the market which shows that it must have been a popular industry of the time.
Labour
From the status point of view after the peasants and skilled artisans (sippi) there was a large population consisting of the
1. NC. 2. p. 9; NC. 3, pp. 198, 271. 2. NC. 4, p. 380. 3. NO. 3, p. 271. 4. NC. 2, p. 281. 5. RH ( TISUT ETTGT farfaecqz_Ibid.
Vāgurā, kūga and pāsa have been mentioned by Bāna also (Harsacarita, p. 228.; Kādambari, anuccheda 338). According to V. S. Agrawala there was difference between the vugurā and the kūa pasa. Vagurā was used for catching the deer, while kū a and pasa for other injurious animals,
Kadambari: Eka Sārskrtika Adhyayana, p. 280. 6. NC. 3, p. 198. 7. He TIET Hoshi, gà 6+HS feat_NG, 3, P. 271, 8. NO. 2, p. 9. 9. NC. 2, p. 281.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
