Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 308

Sec. I] STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA 283 lotus); Nanda; Kalambaga (kadamba); Indivara (the blossom of a blue lotus, the Nymphaea Stellata and Cyanea); Sayapuppha (Anethum Sowa)'; Maņojja (a kind of flower which opens at midday and withers away the next morning) and Padhā (a kind of red blossoms)
A critical study of the above list of flora reveals the economic resources of the society of its period as derived from the horticulture and arboniculture.
The reference to the occupations, Vanakamma', 'Ingālakamma' and 'Sāļikamma' adopted by certain sections of the people clearly shows that the trees, the natural products of the forests and gardens supplied the necessary woods for making charcoal, carts and other wooden articles required by the society in its economic life.
Forests
Forest was one of the important sources of the state income as mentioned in the ancient Indian literatures. Moreover, they were the abodes of the wild denizens some of which came to the service of the people after their domestication, e.g. wild elephants. They were also the places of serene and peaceful atmosphere for practising austerities and meditation, as it is evidenced by the fact that a number of the vānaprastha Tāpasas including the royal sage, Siva', practised asceticism, living in a forest on the bank of the Gangā.
Fauna
Since the hunting age of human civilization upto the present day both wild and domestic animals have supplied the economic needs of the society to a considerable extent in various forms, such as, flesh, milk, skin, bone, wool and other byproducts in the peaceful civil life as well as in times of war.
In the economic life of the period of the BhS also, the cattle have been considered by the householders and even by the
1 Bhs, 23, 1. 8 1b, 9, 33, 381. 6 16, 23, 1.
: 10, 11, 9, 417, 4 10, 21, 8. 7 Ib, 8, 5, 330.
8 Ib, 22. 5. 8 Ib, 11, 9, 417.