Jain Journal 1979 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 19

Folk Culture as depicted in Sramana
Literature
BHAGCHANDRA JAIN
Folk culture reflects the socio-psychology based on the environment of religion, history and philosophy of a particular nation, group or sect. It reveals the sentiment and character of the society. Therefore it has its own place in understanding the history and culture of a particular group.
Folk culture includes folk-lyrics, folk-ballads, folk-tales, folkdramas and folk-festivals, phrases and idioms, riddles, cradle songs, etc. The Sramana (Jaina and Buddhist) literature consists of all these elements of folk culture. In this context, the Samannaphalasutta of the Dighanikaya gives a general impression about the folk culture prevailed at the time of Buddha. The following elements can be mentioned from the Sutta:
naccam, gitam, vāditam, pekkham, akkhaṇam, panissaram, vetālam, kumbhathuṇam, sobhaṇakam, candalam, vansam, dhovanam, hatthiyuddham, assayuddham, mahisayuddham, usabhayuddham, ajayuddham, mendayuddham, kukkuṭayuddham, vattakayuddham, dandayuddham, muṭṭhiyuddham, nibbuddham, uyyodhikam balaggam, senabyuham... aṭṭhapadam, daŝapadam, akasam, pariharapatham, santikam, khalikam, ghatikam, salakahattham, akkham, pangaciram, vaṇkakam, mokkhacikam, cingulikam, paṭṭalhakam, rathakam, dhanukam, akkharikam, manesikam.
This refers to the festivals, games, dances and other folk elements. Under the culasila, majjhamasila and mahāsila some more folk elements can be traced out. Buddhaghosa explained these words in the Sumangalavilasini.1
Communal gatherings is a basic element in folk culture. During such occasions the worship of folk deities was very common. Dance, music, feasting, offering of flowers, lighting of lamps, etc., were commonly done with full devotion to their deities. These gatherings were called Maha
Sumangalavilasini, Part 1, p. 70-85.