Life in Ancient India as Depicted in Jain Canons

Author(s): Jagdishchandra Jain
Publisher: New Book Company

Page 99

PRODUCTION
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was employed. They went to the river Jaunā, filled their boats with fish, dried them, cooked them and sold them in the market.115 Tortoises were also caught for purposes of food."10
MANUFACTURES
TEXTILES-SPINNING AND WEAVING Now we come to the various manufacturing industries prevalent in those days. Next to agriculture, spinning and weaving was the most important industry. The cloth makers (nantıkka : kolia) are described as one of the five important craftsmcn, others being, the potters, the carpenters, the black-smiths and the barbers.117 Mention is made of dealers in dussa (dosya), yarn (sottiya) and cotton (kappasiya). Then there were tailors (tunnāga), weavers (tantuvāya) and makcrs of silken cloth (pattaküla).118 The sīvaga (tailors) and chimpcīya (calico printers, chimpi in Hindi) were included among inportant craftsmen.119
Carding is mentioned. Thc seduga cotton after the sceds were removed were carded (pinjiya) and from this slivers (pelu) were prepared.120 Spinning of cotton 191 and that of the bark of dugulla tice 22 and grass123 (vaccaka, muñjam) was also known.
Weaving sheds (tantuvāyasālī) are mentioned; onc such shed was situated outside the suburb of Nalandā, 124 Various kinds of cloths werc known and regular trade was carried on in cloths.
Then there was the washing and dyeing industry. Washermen were included among eighteen corporations. Soda (sajjzyâkhāra) 18 mentioned as washing material The clothes wcrc moistened with it and heated on fire and then washed with clcan water 125 Thrashing against stone, 120 brushing (ghattha), rubbing (mattha), and perfuming (sampadhūmiya) of clothes was known 137 Mention is also made of laundices rayagasālā).198
Clothes such as towels etc. weic dyed in saflron.120 Clothes dved in red colour (kasal) were worn in hot weather.130 The parırājakas uscd
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118
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116 Vizā. 8, P 46f; Vy4. Bha 3 p 20a 118 Naya. 4. 117 Ava, cl., p. 156, Aua. Ti, (Hari.), 947, p. 426a
Panna. 1. 37. 110 Jambu. Ti, 3, p 193a.
Brh. Bha., 1. 2996. 111
Süya Ti II., 6. p 112
Nisi cú, 7, p. 467 193 Brh Bhã., 2 3675.
Âua. cal., P 282. 125 Nayā, 5, p. 74; also Ava,. cū II. P 61. 126
Pinda Nir 34.
Acà II 5.1, 367; Brh. Sü, 1. 45. 138 Vya. Bhi., 10.484. 119 Naya 1, p. 7. 180 Bph. Bhu. Pi., 013.
197 TL