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Town Plannig in the Jain Anga
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Jamapadas
The flourishing cities had their prosperous regions, studded with habitats and fertile land having good fields and cattle wealth, etc. They formed the infrastructure for the towns noted in the Angas.
Conclusions :
The analysis of the description of cities in the Angas, upangas and their comparision with other literature as well as archaeodogical relies help one to draw the following conclusions. (1) The descriptions in the Angas and Upāngas are generalised.
Specific details of cities are not available. The restricitve regulations of observation and use of language for the Jain monks seem to have played their role in developing these writings. If the cities noted in the Angas are to be studied, it would require special effort with the tools of
Urban Archaeology. (2) From this initial study, it is seen that four town-plans the
Dhanukudil, Ayata, Caturasra and Gopuccha are known to
this literature. Further work for detailed study is essential. (3) The narrations suggest that the towns that existed as well
as some imaginary ones are also noted. Exaggerated
dimensions is an essential feature of this narration. (4) The well protected towns with their Prakāra and Parikhā
are described. But their nature of construction, materials, etc. is not properly described, so it requires further work to understand them, often, there is exaggeration of the
materials used for construction. (5) The descriptions follow the pattern of Paura Janapada so
the region, the suburban areas and the towns are noted. The region is generally riverine, with occasional reference
to sea--ports and towns near hills. (6) The economic activities of the population of the towns
suggest that they were highly urbanised according to even modern definitions.
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