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Lord Mahavira and His Times
in the Pāli Nikayas1 and the Jatakas2 which probably denote its different varieties. In the Jaina canonical literature, Kalamaśāli, raktaśāli, mahāśāli and gandhaśālia have been mentioned as different varieties of rice. Godhuma (wheat), barley (Yava), and millet (Kangu) were also produced. Among pulses cultivated were grams (Kalaya)5, beans (Mugga), pear (Māsa)", and Kolatthis. Among oil seeds, castor oil seed (Eranda), sesame (Tila), and mustard oil seeds were well known. The discovery of the cereals, namely, rice, wheat, and pulses in the excavations at Ter and Nevasa in the N.B.P. level, testifies that they were cultivated.
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Among fibre-yielding plants, cotton (Kappāsa) was the most important. Among other kinds of fabrics, silk (Kosseya), wool (unniya), linen (khoma), and hemp (sana) may be mentioned. Probably indigo (guliya)1o and other chemical dyes were produced, for the mention of a variety of colours leads us to believe in their existence.
Among the spices mention is made of fresh ginger (singavera),11 dry ginger (suntha), cloves (lavanga), turmeric (haridrā), cumin (vesana), pepper (mariya), pippala (long pepper), and mustard (sarisavatthoga)12.
Sugarcane (uchchhu) seems to have been a common crop. A sugarcane store-house (uchchhughara) is mentioned in Dasapura.13 The sugarcane press (Mahajanta: Kolluka)14 is also mentioned, There were sheds for pressing sugarcane (janta
1. Majjh, I. 57; III, 90.
2. Ja, I. 429. 484; II. 110. 135, 378; IV. 276; VI. 367.
3. Uva, I, p. 8,
4. Brih, 2. 3301, 3397.
5. Su. Ni, III. 10; Ja, II. 74.
6. Majjh, I. 57, 80; III 90; Angu, IV. 108; Su. Ni. III. 10; Jā, I. 429.
7. Majjh, I. 57; III. 90; Angu, IV. 108.
8. KS, I. 189.
9. Uttara, Ti, 4. p. 78a.
10. Nāyā I, p. 47.
11. Bhag, 8. 3; Panna, 1. 23. 31, 43-4.
12. Acha, II, 1.8. 268.
13.
Uttara. Ti, 2. p. 23.
14. Ibid, 19. 53; Brih. Bha. Ti, P. 575.
