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Sources
27
gives a list of the sixteen States existing during the time of Buddha.
The Theragātha and Therigātha are very important on account of the pictures of life they portray, pictures that give us a valuable insight into the social conditions of those days, especially into the position of women.
The Jatakas, which from a part of the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Sutta-Pitaka, are generally concerned with the day-today life of the people. Some of the Jatakas supply valuable material for the reconstruction of the political, social and economic history of India during the sixth century B.C. They give us valuable information regarding the constitution of the republics, especially of the Lichchhavis, and king's officers. They throw light on social organization, position of women, festivals and recreations. They mention educational institutions, especially Taxila, the various subjects taught there, the teachers and students. Some of them refer to various professions and industries, trade and commerce, and the guilds in which they were organized. There is also a reference to coins known as Kärshāpaņas. The Maha Ummaga Jātakal gives a vivid account of the palace of the Mahā Ummaga and also a list of motifs illustrating scenes from heavenly life and mythical beliefs depicted on the walls of the great hall of the Maha-Ummaga palace.
(ii) Brahmanical Literature
Since the Dharma Sitras and the Grihra Sitras are supposed to have belonged to the sixth century B.C., they have been utilised to corroborate certain important pieces of evidence. Besides throwing a flood of light on the social and cconomic conditions of the period in question, they sometimes enlighten us about its political and other aspects as well. Baudhayana in his Dharma Sutra mentions such states as Saurashtra, Avanti Magadha, Anga, Pundra and Variga. The Dharma Sülras also describe the four Varnas and different castes along with their duties and privileges. They discuss the four Asramas (Srages or lifc) and emphasize the duties of the individual at every siage.
1. Molā Ummaga Jā, VI, 432.
