________________
THE VANIK AND THE VANIJJA IN EARLY ANCIENT INDIA (from EARLIEST TIMES to 300 A. D.)
Dr. ARUN KUMAR MISHRA*
It is still controversial as to who were the Vaniks or the Vanijja. The Reveda refers to the word Vanik denoting merchants in general. It mentions about a Brahmaņa Vanik who in the time of distress took to trade (Vanijja).1 Again, the same source calls a group of maritime traders as well as an individual merchants as a Vanik. Bțbu, a nonAryan merchant who was the leader of merchants and donor of gifts to the Rsis, was named as Vanik.4 The trader of the precious stones of the sea and the trader in pearls were also termed as Vanik.5 Indra was regarded as Vanik (trader) and he became guide and leader of coinmerce, 6 The Vaniks were generally supposed to be greedy and therefore Indra was asked not to deal like them.? At one place in the Rgveda there is a reference to Vajinivati which according to Sayana, means rich in wealth and capable of giving in substance. This shows that Vajinivati at that time meant for a group of men living on trade.
Merchants engaged in foreign trade were also known as Vaniks. The Ramayana refers to the merchants (Vaniks) who used to travel far and wide for profit with loaded carts.9 The Mahabharata also includes all the merchants into this term Vanik.10 The same suggests how the
* Depatment of History, L. S. College, Muzaffarpur 1. RV, I. 112. 11; Basu, P. C., IHQ, I, 1925. 2. Ibid., I. 56.2; I. 116.5. 3. RV, 1.48.3; 1.56.2; 1.116.5; 4.56.6 The name of this trader
was Bhujyu. 4. RV, 1.47.6; 7.6.7; AV, III. 15.1. 5. RV, VI.45.31-3; Iyengar, S., The Trade of India, IHQ, 1, 1925. 6. RV, 1.33.3 7. Ibid., 1.33.3. 8. Ibid., VI.51.3 9. Ramayana, 11.67.22; V.28 (Nanadeshnivasaishch vanigibh rup
Shobhitam, Balkand Sarg, 5). 10. Adi Parva, 10.8.4. (Vanijibhi shachanukiyarnt nagaranyalh shil pimi).
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
