Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 274

Sec. VII]
Bath and Art of Personal Decoration
The BhS shows that the observance of cleanliness of the body was a regular practice with the people. The art of personal cleaning and decoration was highly developed at that period, as it is known from the fact that the members of the royal and rich aristocratic families used to take regular bath in a special bathroom (majjanaghara)1 and to adorn their bodies with various kinds of decorations.
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA
For this purpose some specialists, like the female massagers and rubbers of limbs (angamaddiyão, ummadiyão), bath-makers (nhaviyão), decorators (pasähiyão), grinders of sandal wood (vannagapeszo) and fragrant powder (cunnagapesio), etc. were employed by them in the service of their families."
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So the bath was followed by the art of decoration and toileting in those days of the BhS.
There are also evidences to show that the men and women of all social grades used to take bath before beginning any kind of work, such as, going to attend the religious discourse,* marriage ceremony etc.
Even today, in Rajasthana the barber is made to take bath first before cutting hair of any member of distinguished families.
It appears that the original derivation of the word 'Napita' (barber) has been made from 'bath' (nhana or phaya), as he was associated with it. In course of the linguistic evolution the first form of the term (nhaviya) has undergone variations, such as, nhaviya, snapita, etc. in local dialects of India till it attained the modern form 'Napita' and 'Naz' respectively.
1 Bhs, 9, 33, 383. 2 Ib, 11, 11, 430.
Majjanadhayi (special female nurse) for causing the child-prince to bathe was also employed.
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Ib, 9, 33, 380; 9, 33, 383.
3 Ib, 11, 11, 430.
5 Ib, 11, 11, 430.
Ib, 9, 33, 383; 9, 33, 385 (Here it is nanhemti).
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