Jain Journal 2004 10

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

Page 17

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JAIN JOURNAL : VOL-XXXIX. NO. 2 OCT. 2004
enjoy some special honours and privileges. As a result, we can imagine there was a difference in the standard of living between the common people and the privileged officials. The rich people, because of their abundant wealth, indulged in luxury. The food and dress of the wealthy people were rich and gaudy. The rich people lived in highly decorated palatial buildings and probabaly amused themselves with outdoor and indoor games. Besides the rich people, there was a "middle class" also who used to live on a standard suited to their professions.
From a perusal of the Kumārapālacarita, it appears that there were four castes (caturvarna) in his time. The names of the castes were, as usual Brāhmaṇa, Kșatriya, Vaisya and Sudra (1. 183. II.2). But Hemacandra used different terms to signify these four castes. His names were dvija for brāhmin, ksatra for ksatriya, viț for vaisya and śūdra for śudra (V. 116).
It seems that the main duty of the brahmins was to study the Vedas and to perform sacrifices (1.75) as the term śrotriva (V.91) indicated. In his time, the brahmins used to get immense power and prestige. From his reference to XVIII. 19, it seems that a brahmin should not be killed by a ksatriva. From H.D. Sankalia (Archaeology of Gujarat, p 209), we come to know that the brāhmins were given grants for performing the five great sacrifices (pañca mahāyajñas) which are -
adhyāpanaṁ brahmavajñah pitryajñastu tarpanam/ homo daivo balir bhāuto nryajño'tithipujanan//
(Manu. III. 70) “The five Mahāyajñas are (i) brahmavajña or the study of the Vedas, (ii) pitryajña, or libations given unto the Father, (iii) devayajña or sacrificial ceremonies, (iv) bhūtavajña or offerings into the creatures, and (v) nryajña or hospitality.”
Sankalia further adds that for the sacrifices of Darsa, Purnamāsa, Agnihotra, Vājapeya and Rājasūya, grants were usually made. From the pages of history, it is seen that in the time of Chaulukyas Brāhmins used to enjoy lots of privileges.
The Ksatriyas were the ruling class and the king must belong to the Kșatriya family. In the Kumārapālacarita two types of Ksatriyas are mentioned. These are suddha-ksatriya and the brāhmaṇakas. The suddha-kșatriyas are pure ksatriyas, born of kșatriya parents (cf - XIX. 115), whereas, the brāhmaṇakas are those whose livelihood was thrown out of the society and as a result, adopted warfare as their livelihood.