Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 189

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
[Ch. IV Sudarśana, Karttikadatta and his eight thousand followers* undertook the state of houselessness by renouncing the world and attained Sramanahood, after having studied the prescribed Angas and practised severe austerities and meditation according to rules laid down by the Nirgrantha order. In this way they also devoted and dedicated their life to the mission of religion and philosophy for attaining the highest truth and spiritual realization.
Their importance in the society lay not only in their contributions to the cause of Indian culture and civilization by their joining the ascetic order and spiritual activities, but it lay more in their valuable services rendered to the state and the people at large in the economic field.
They were the backbones of the social structure, supporting its different parts and also the perennial sources of material prosperity which supplied the needs of economic life to the entire society for its existence and continuance by producing daily necessaries of all citizens.
Besides these three social orders, the BhS mentions a number of professional castes of lower grades, such as, barbar (Kasavaga), potter (Kumbhagara), weaver (Tamtuvaya)", blacksmith, Mankha (painter and picture-shower), hunter, litterbearer, trapper10, fisherman", Candala", etc., marked out by the pursuits of their respective occupations of low crafts. They probably formed the rank of the Sudras.
A list of the following tribes and peoples belonging to different races and nationalities, who were absorbed into the social system of its period, is also presented here. These wereCilatika, Barbarikā, Rṣiganikā, Vāsagaṇikā, Pallavikā, Lhāsikā,
1 BhS, 11, 11, 424. Ib, 9, 33, 385.
6 Ib, 16, 1, 562,
8 Ib, 1, 8, 65, 66, 67; 5, 6, 206.
10 Ib, 1, 8, 65.
12 16, 3, 1, 134. 13 Ib, 9, 33, 382.
4 Ib, 15, 1, 539.
2 Ib, 18, 2, 618.
Ib, 15, 1, 541. 7 Ib, 15, 1, 540. 9 Ib, 9, 33, 385. 11 Ib, 7, 6, 288.
(Pāna means Candala; See comm.)