Book Title: Lord Mahavira and His Times
Author(s): Kailashchandra Jain
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas

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Page 312
________________ 294 Lord Mahavira and His Times parachutes." He also seems to have been making ropes, sheaths and traps:2 LIQUOR DISTILLING The profession of a rasavānijja or of a dealer in wine is also mentioned. The Jaina literature refers to the following varieties of wine : chandraprabhā, manisilākā, varasīdhu, varavāruni, āsava, madhu, meraka, rishtabhā or jambuphalakalika, dugdhajāti, prasannā, tallaka (variant nellaka or mellaga), sutāt, kharjūrasāra, mặidvikāsāra, kāpiśāyana, supakva and ikshurasa.” Most of these wines were named after their colour and prepared from various fruits, flowers, and grains. Drinking wine seems to have been common in those days, and there were also wine-shops in the inarket. TRADE AND COMMERCE Trade and commerce prospered greatly during this period owing mainly to plentiful production. Numerous crafts and industries sprang up for preparing manufactured goods. Facilities for transport and communication led to their proper distribution and utilisation. The beginning of coinage provided facilities for the exchange of goods.. In every village and town, there were markets with several shops (apaña). Arrows and carriages and other articles for sale were displayed in the āpaña4 or fixed shop or, it might be, stored within the antarāpa na.5 Textile fabrics, groceries and oil,? green groceries, 8 grain.' perfumes and flowers, 10 articles of gold and jewelleryll were among the items sold in the bazars. For the sale of liquors, there were taverns (pānāgāraapaña). Trade in strong drinks, poisons, flcsli,. 1, Jā, V.45, 2. Ibid, 1. 175, 11, 153, III. 116; IV. 172, V. 47, 106, 375; V. 1, bl. 3. JLAID JC, p. 125. 4. Jā, II. 267; IV, 458; VI, 29; Vin. IV. 248. 5. Ibid, 1, 55, 350; 111. 406. 6. Vin. IV. 250 f. 7. Ibid, IV. 148-9. 8. Jā. 1. 411. 9. Ibid, 11, 267. 10. Ibid, I. 290 f; IV, 82; VI; VI, 336; l'in. Texts. III, 343. 11. Jā, IV, 228. 12. Ibid, I, 251 8; 263 F; IV, 328.

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