Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

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studies IN THE BHAGAWATI SÜTRA
[Ch. IV
cāsaya (a kind of bird), deer, tiger, frog, animal having claws and some acquatic animals on the occassion of particular constellations and those taken by the people and served to guests on the days of special festivities.
There is also a reference in the Uttarādhyayana Sutra' to the entertaining of marriage party with meat, while the Uvāsagadasão mentions the regular meat-eating by Revač (Revati), a housewife.
Drink
It appears from the frequent references to pāņa" (drink) together with 'asana' (food) that drink was an essential part of the meal served to one's friends, kinsmen, relatives and others on special occasions.
This popular enjoyment of drink is also evidenced by the fact that a class of private merchants used to carry on a regular trade in wine (raravānijja), although it was disapproved by the Nirgrantha religion as revealed in this canonical work,
It mentions the following kinds of drink, viz. honey (Mahu), milk ( klära),' liquor (sură® or majja).
Besides these, Gośāla Mankhaliputra, the Ājēvika leader refers to four kinds of drink on the eve of his death in a state of mental disequilibrium as described in it, viz. Goputthae, hatthamaddie, āyavatattae and silāpabbhatthae (water excreted by the cow, i.e. urine, water soiled or rubbed with the hand, water heated by the sunshine, and water fallen from the stone).10
It is said that he himself drank liquor (majjapāņam piyamāņe) before his death in the workshop of the potteress, Hālāhalā in Srāvastz.11
1 Sūriyapanntle 51, p. 115. : Uttarădhyayana 22, 14 ff. 3 Uvāsagadasão 8, p. 63; See also Vedic Index-11, p. 145.
For details refer to 'Life in Ancient India' by Dr. J. C. Jain. 4 Bhs, 3, 1, 134 ; 5, 6, 204 etc. 61b, 8, 5, 330. • I6, 11, 9, 417; 15, 1, 541. 7 16, 9, 33, 385 ; 11, 11, 430. 8 16, 5, 2, 181.
9.11 Ib, 15, 1, 554.