Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

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Sec. II]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SÜTRA
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of agriculture, arts and crafts, industry and commerce and determined the scientific age marked by the development of metallic works.
The term 'Agara' occurring in this canonical work denotes the mine which was one of the most important sources of the state income as evidenced in all the Jaina, Brāhmaṇical and Buddhist texts.
It is clearly suggested by the denotation of this term that the mining industry was in operation to exploit the mines for extracting various kinds of metal ores, such as, iron (aya, loha)", silver (ruppa,", gold (8uvanna)', copper (tamba)", tin (tauya), etc.
Moreover, there occurs also an indirect reference in this canonical work to the exploitation of the mines of gold and jewel by the four merchants of Srāvastī in a forest, while searching for drinking water there, as it is related by Gośāla Mankhaliputra to Ananda, the disciple of Lord Mahāvīra?.
The study of the list of ornaments as already discussed in connection with the topic 'Dresses and ornaments' in the seventh section of the fourth chapter on 'Social conditions', reveals that there was a great development of metallurgy and the art of goldsmithy during the period of the Bhs.
Besides these, there is mention of various products of metal works, such as, articles of furniture, utensils, etc. which have already been mentioned in the seventh section of the fourth chapter in details.
Even the bullocks, horses'', and elephants were decorated with the metallic articles of adornment, while the bullock.cart13 and pala nquins were inlaid with various kinds of precious jewels, and gems.16
i Bhs, 1, 1, 19; 7, 6, 287; 13, 6, 491; 15, 1, 547. 2 15, 16, 1, 564; 15, 1. 547.
3 16, 11, 11, 430; 18, 10, 647. Ib' 8, 5, 328; 11, 11, 430; 18, 10, 647. 5.6 Ib, 16, 6, 581. 7 16. 15, 1, 557. 8,9 10, 11, 11, 430. 10 Ib, 9, 33, 380.
11 11, 9, 33, 383. 11 16, 7, 9, 300; 9, 33, 385.
18 1b, 9, 33, 380. 14 Ib, 9, 33, 385. 15 I6, 9, 33, 380. 18 Ib, 9, 33, 385.
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