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 SOTRA
[Ch. IV
The history of drinking can be traced back from the RgVedic period', when the people used to take soma ( a kind of drink), surā (wine) and madhu (honey) as the most favourite drinks on different occasions, such as, war-festivals and sacrifices, etc.
It is learnt from the Brāhmanical sources that it was the prevailing custom among the common people of the society of ancient India to drink sura (wine) and other kinds of liquor "on the occasions of festivals, fairs and pilgrimage." Cooking
The Bhs throws a welcome light upon the development of the art of cooking during its period by refering to different varieties of food, drink, other dainties and eighteen kinds of sauce (atthārasaramjana)and cooks generally employed in the service of the royal family.
The terms 'uvalkhaďae't and pāriyāsie", (upaskyta and mārirăsita) used in this canonical work stand for cooking, while the cook was designated as 'mahānasinīø (female cook).
It appears that only the female cooks were appointed for preparing food, drink and other dainties, as it is evidenced in the case of the family of king Bala of Hastināpura?. Utensils
In this connection the text provides a list of different kinds of cooking vessels and serving plates, such as, thâli (cooking vessel,8, lohakadāha (iron pan)', kaduccha (spoon)', thāla (dish)"}, patti (plates)", etc.
It also mentions the dining hall (vhoyaṇamandava)13 and time (6 hoyanavela)14 where and when the rich aristocratic Peoples and
1 Rg-Veda, see the Vedic Age p. 393. · Arthaśāstra, p. 134; Cf. Dhammapada A. III. p 100. See
also Rāmāyana II, 91, 51; V. 36-41; Mahābhārata (1, 177, 13 ff; 1, 174; 13 ff; 1, 177, 10f ; II, 4, 8 f). Refer to
Indo-Aryan by R. L. Mitra Vol. 1, pp. 396 ff. 9 Bhs, 7, 10, 306; 12, 6, 436; 4 Ib. 3, 1, 134. 5 10, 15, 1, 557.
6.7 1b, 11, 11, 430. 8 16, 7, 10, 306; 12, 6, 456. 9.10 1b, 11, 9, 417. 11_12 10, 11, 11, 430.
13.14 1b, 3, 1, 134 ; 11, 9, 417.