8th Century Document On Means Of Earning Money

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "8th Century Document on Means of Earning Money" by Prof. Prem Suman Jain:

This document, drawing heavily from Udyotana Suri's 8th-century work Kuvalayamalaka, explores the diverse methods of earning money prevalent in ancient India, categorizing them into "ignoble" and "respectable" vocations.

Ignoble Means of Earning Money:

These were considered morally wrong and often involved causing harm or deception. Examples cited include:

• Criminal Activities: Gambling, burglary, theft (snatching earrings, picking pockets), looting passengers, and cheating people.
• Exploitation of Living Beings: Selling creatures and animals.

Jain writers of the time, adhering to non-violent principles, strictly prohibited these methods.

Respectable Vocations:

These were deemed noble and sanctioned by ancient sages. They involved more legitimate and often profitable ventures:

1. Disi Gamanam (Traveling for Trade): Undertaking journeys to other countries for business was highly profitable. Merchants could sell local goods at higher prices abroad and buy foreign goods cheaply to resell at home. This also provided valuable experience in inter-state trade guilds and opportunities for young merchants to earn independently.
2. Mitrākaraṇam (Partnership): Doing business in partnership offered several advantages, including shared risk in journeys, mutual support in case of loss, and the pooling of common sense and business acumen. However, it also carried the risk of dishonesty from partners, leading to potential losses for the honest party.
3. Naravara Seva (Pleasing the King): Gaining the king's favor was crucial for conducting business within his territory. Merchants would offer valuable presents to the king and seek permission to trade, highlighting the essential role of royal sanction.
4. Kusalattānam ca māṇappamāṇesu (Skill in Weights and Measures): Possessing expertise in judging the quality and worth of goods was vital. Profitable trade depended on purchasing pure goods, requiring a keen eye and proficiency in assessing merchandise.
5. Dhātuvāda (Alchemy): The art of creating artificial gold from metals through chemical processes was a recognized means of earning. The text mentions the existence of "Dhātuvāda" as an established art in the 8th century, even detailing attempts and successes in creating gold, with alchemists sometimes referred to as "Narendra" (master of charms).
6. Devayāgaham (Worship of Deities): Undertaking journeys for earning often involved performing rituals and worshipping auspicious deities. Specific deities were associated with different means of earning; for example, thieves worshipped certain deities before embarking on their activities, while merchants traveling by sea worshipped the sea-god.
7. Sayara-Taranam (Sea Voyage): Foreign trade, which necessitated sea voyages, was a significant source of income. It allowed for profitable selling of domestic goods abroad and bringing back wealth from overseas. While lucrative, sea voyages also involved considerable risk to life.
8. Rohanammi Khananam (Digging of Rohanparvata): This was considered a last resort for earning money, believed to be a mountain in the underworld made of gold. It symbolized the idea that even an unlucky person could gain wealth through persistent and hard labor, akin to digging for gold in a difficult and mythical location.

Other Means of Earning Money:

The document also lists several other methods employed by merchants:

• Agriculture (kisi karisanammi)
• Loading animals (Aroviya goni bhariyalla)
• Slavery (Para gehe acchhik Samadhatta)
• Begging (Bhikkam bhamanti)
• Service (Dejjasu Amham Vitti)
• Soldiery (lagga olaggium)
• Using occult powers (Anjana-jogesu)
• Entering caves (Vilammi Pavisanti)
• Mantra siddhi (Mantam gahiūņa)
• Exchange (Thora-Kammam)
• Wrestling (Mallattanam)
• Mining (Khannavae)

Moral and Religious Interpretations:

The text notes that when individuals faced disappointment despite employing these means, they often sought solace in religion, reinterpreting the worldly means of earning in a moral and spiritual context. For instance, trade could be viewed as controlling the "shop of the body" with the "shopkeeper of the heart," buying and selling "virtue" to earn the "profit of happiness." Similarly, begging could be reframed as seeking "alms of knowledge" from teachers with the "bowl of trust" and "loin cloth of control."

Conclusion:

Udyotana Suri believed that all these worldly means of earning were, in some way, connected to violence and thus did not lead to liberation from the cycle of rebirth. However, he acknowledged that many people used them to support their families. The text highlights that in 8th-century India, there was a flexible division of labor, not strictly based on caste, allowing individuals to pursue various professions. Trade, agriculture, sea voyages, arts, and crafts were prominent, with cities like Varanasi being significant commercial hubs where fraudulent practices like looting and cheating were also present due to large crowds.