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142
LIFE IN ANCIENT INDIA
to the Brāhmanas 18 Vararuci, a Brāhmana, received one hundred and eight dīnāras every day for reciting the same number of verses in praise of the king 19 Not only kings but other people also gave away charity and paid reverence to the Brāhmanas, whose services they required on various occasions On special occasions such as birth, death-ceremony etc. they were invited to meals.20
Besides, the Brāhmanas enjoyed certain other privileges, such as immunity from taxes and capital punishment We have seen as to howa Brāhmana was received by a certain king on his discovery of a treasuretrove whereas a merchant was despised for the same and his property confiscated 21
STUDY The Brāhmanas were versed in the fourtcen subjects of study (cauddasa vijjalthāna), and were generally employed by the king We are told that Kāsava was a state Brāhmana of Kosambi and after his death his place was given to another Brāhmana 22 There were teachers inoying in the company of their pupils
SACRIFICE The practice of sacrifice was very common among the Brāhmanas During his tour Mahāvīra is stated to have spent the rainy season in a sacrificial house (aggihottavasahi) of a Brāhmana of Campā 24
Then we hear of Vijayaghosa who was cngaged in performing Brāhmanical sacrifice The monk Jayaghosa approached him for alms and converted him to his faith, 33 after preaching the truc sacrifice We have already referred to Ajja Sejjambhava who was engaged in his sacrificial duties when visited by the pupils of Pabhava Besides, the Brāhmanas were employed by the kings for the same purpose Reference has been made to the priest Mahesaradatta who was versed in the four Vedas and who used to perform sacrifice to avert evil against the king
OTHER PROFESSIONS Another profession in which the Brāhmanas were interested was that of dream-reading (suvinapädhaga) and fortune-telling On the birth of a king's child it seems to have been a standing custom to have the future predicted by the Brāhmanas. Signs (lakkhana) in the body were interpreted by the Brāhmanas versed in the signs of predicting the future Wc
18 Uttară Ti 3, p 57 10 ibid 2, 27 a 20 Uttara Ti 13, p 194 a 21 See Supra p. 62 22 Uttară Ti. 8, p 123 a 23 Uttarā Sú 12 19 24 Aa cu p 320 31 Uttara 25. 36 See Supra p 58,
