________________
Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
017
historical information such as archaeological sinds, numisinatic materials, Jiterary works, etc. All the prabandhas, however, no matter whether they are historical, semi-historical or even fictitious - are important for cultural and historical information in a broad sense.
The present editor does not wish to go into detailed discussions on all such poiuts in the present chapter. His inain intention here is to place before the readers the facts which reveal the importance of LPS from the historical point of view.
X. Cultural Gleanings
The cultural data that can be gleaned out from the text of the Lugha prabandha-sängyala at a glance may be rendered as under:
The caste-system was quite rigid. A learned brahmana enjoyed supremacy over all the rest to such an extent as the suns of the royal priest of Pataņa, on return from their study-tour, are stated to have bestowed blessings upon the king limself (25.2 ). Varsyas were rich traders, who at times utilized their wealili in construction of such poblic places as lakes ( 27.12 ff.). The traders used to move to distant cities for trading. They moved in groups ard used to camp in the outskirts of the cities where licy wished to exchange conimodities (6.4, 10). For tents they used such waterproof textiles as wax-clothi or oil-cloib (6.4).
Such classes as those of Ghuricikas or Oil-men were really deemed low. A king. wlien gone to such a one's place, was not expected to accept food from him and, as such, was offered two miudri-ralnas-une as the usual gilt and the other for meals ( 22.20-21).
The Malungas or Candālas were naturally held in contempt. A minister is stated not to be seeing his king's face since the former canie to learn that the latter was destinel to fall in love with a Matarga girl (28.9). Likewise. the kipy, laving been observed in that condition, was so much ashanid of leaving loved her that he was prepared to kill himself by embracing a red-hot iron-statue ( 29.12-14).
Other occupations that have secured a mention in our text are those of astrologers ( 28.3 ff. ; 28.18), gardeners ( 22.1, 11, 17; 23.9; 28.16), washermen (23.2), cloth-printers (23.3), fisber-men ( 25.23 ff.), and bamboo-workers
For Private And Personal Use Only
