Jain Purankalin Bharat Me Krushi - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text, "Jain Purankalin Bharat me Krushi" by Dr. Deviprasad Mishra:

Book Title: Jain Purankalin Bharat me Krushi (Agriculture in Ancient India According to Jain Puranas) Author: Dr. Deviprasad Mishra Publisher: Z_Parshvanath_Vidyapith_Swarna_Jayanti_Granth_012051.pdf Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/210816/1

Summary:

This text, "Agriculture in Ancient India According to Jain Puranas," by Dr. Deviprasad Mishra, explores the significance and practices of agriculture in ancient India as depicted in Jain Puranic literature. The author emphasizes that while Jainism is a religion of renunciation, it does not neglect the importance of economic prosperity and the acquisition of wealth for sustenance. Jain scriptures, particularly the Mahapurana, highlight agriculture and animal husbandry as a primary means of livelihood, alongside other professions like military service, writing, crafts, learning (various professions), and trade.

Key Aspects of Agriculture in Ancient Jain Puranic India:

Centrality of Agriculture: Agriculture and animal husbandry were the principal occupations from ancient times and formed the bedrock of India's economic development. Even today, a significant portion of the population relies on agriculture.
Land Preparation: Cultivation involved leveling mountainous and uneven terrain, clearing forests, and tilling the land. The term "kshetra" (field) is used in Jain Puranas, with mention of plowing the land with the front part of the plow.
The Plow as a Status Symbol: The plow held significant prestige. The number of plows a person possessed indicated their wealth and social standing. The Mahapurana mentions King Bharata having one crore plows, suggesting that even ordinary farmers' plows were considered the king's.
Agricultural Implements: Besides the plow, other agricultural tools mentioned include Henga (plowshares and other implements), Khanitra (digging tool), Godarana (a type of hoe), Khurpi (small sickle), Datra (sickle), Lavitra (scythe), and Hansi (sickle).
Types of Fields: Jain texts describe two types of fields:
- Fertile Land: Capable of producing excellent crops when sown.
- Infertile Land (Usara or Khila): Land where seeds sown would be completely destroyed. Non-Jain texts indicate that rewards were offered by the state to make such barren land cultivable. Various terms existed in texts like the Abhidhan Ratnamala to describe different soil types and land conditions.
State Support for Agriculture: The state provided assistance to organize agriculture and improve yields. Kings, according to the Mahapurana, supplied manure, agricultural equipment, and seeds to promote farming. Fields were considered equivalent to the king's treasury.
The Cultivator (Krishak/Karshak and Halvahaka/Keenash): Farmers were described as simple, virtuous, free from vices, tolerant of hardships like hunger and thirst, and even superior to ascetics in their endurance. They worked with plows, oxen, and other tools, ensuring good plowing, using quality seeds, and applying manure (cow dung manure was considered highly beneficial).
Irrigation: Irrigation was crucial for good harvests. The Mahapurana mentions two types of irrigation:
- Adeva-Matrika: Irrigation through artificial means like canals and rivers.
- Deva-Matrika: Irrigation solely dependent on rainfall. Timely and adequate rainfall was essential for good crops. Water from wells, lakes, ponds, and stepwells (vapi) was utilized for irrigation. Devices like the Ghan-tantra (water wheel or arhat/rahat) were used to draw water from wells and ponds. Canals were highly beneficial, with farmers creating channels to bring water to their fields. Irrigation was also sourced from lakes, rivers, wells, machine-operated wells, water wheels, ponds, and river embankments.
Crop Cultivation Process: After sowing seeds, farmers would irrigate the fields and then carry out weeding and other maintenance. Further irrigation was done as needed. Upon maturity, crops were harvested and gathered in threshing grounds. Threshing was done using oxen to separate the grain from the chaff. The grain was then taken home for consumption, while the fodder was kept for feeding cattle.
Crop Protection: Protecting the crops was vital. Farmers' wives protected fields from birds and animals. The Mahapurana also mentions "Chanchapurusha," figures that would scare away animals.
Types of Grains and Crops: The text lists various grains and crops cultivated during this period, including: Breehi, Sathi (a type of rice), Kalam (rice variety), rice, barley (Yava), wheat (Godhuma), Kangni (foxtail millet), Shyamak (barnyard millet), Kodra (kodo millet), Neewar, Barfa (peas), sesame (Til), flaxseed (Tasya), lentils (Masoor), mustard (Sarsap), coriander (Dhanya), cumin (Jeerak), mung beans (Mudga), arhar (Dhakki), Rasa (possibly a type of pulse), urad beans (Mash), chickpeas (Nishpava), kulthi (Kulittha), Tripura (possibly a type of grain), safflower (Kusumbha), cotton, Pundra (perhaps sugarcane or another crop), sugarcane (Ikshu), and various vegetables (Shak). Inscriptions from this era also mention many of these crops.

In essence, Dr. Deviprasad Mishra's work provides a detailed account of the sophisticated agricultural practices and the central role of farming in the socio-economic fabric of ancient India, as illuminated by Jain Puranic narratives.