Prachin Jain Sahitya Me Arthik Jivan

This is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Prachin Jain Sahitya Me Arthik Jivan" (Economic Life in Ancient Jain Literature) by Dr. Kamal Jain, published by Parshwanath Vidyashram Shodh Sansthan, Varanasi in 1988.

The book, edited by Prof. Sagarmal Jain, is a detailed study of the economic aspects of life as depicted in ancient Jain literature. The author, Dr. Kamal Jain, embarked on this research due to a personal conviction that despite Jainism's emphasis on spiritual and ascetic values, the substantial lay community of Jain followers across various social strata must have had their economic lives reflected in the literature.

Key aspects covered in the book:

• Scope and Methodology:

  • The study draws from a wide range of Jain literature, including Agamas (canonical texts), their commentaries (Niryukti, Bhashya, Churani), and narrative texts (Purana and Katha literature).
  • The author acknowledges the challenge of precise dating of Jain literature, which often blends material from different periods. She emphasizes the importance of considering the chronological context of the source texts when analyzing the economic information.
  • The geographical focus is primarily Northern India, as much of the influential Jain literature originated and circulated in this region, though mentions of South Indian events are present.
  • The book employs a comparative approach, drawing parallels with Kautilya's Arthashastra, Jataka texts, travelogues of foreign travelers like Megasthenes and Fa-Hien, and ancient inscriptions. Comparisons are also made with Hindu textual evidence.
  • While acknowledging the socio-political and religious contexts, the primary focus remains on the economic aspects, with modern economic categories used for structuring the analysis.

• Jainism's Economic Philosophy:

  • The book highlights that while Jainism emphasizes renunciation (aparigraha), it doesn't outright reject wealth or economic activity. The initial Tirthankara, Rishabhadeva, is credited with establishing an economic system, and the concept of Lakshmi (wealth) is present in the auspicious dreams of a Tirthankara's mother.
  • The text emphasizes that wealth should be acquired through righteous means and its accumulation should be judicious. The principle of aparigraha encourages the wealthy to utilize surplus wealth for public welfare.
  • The book contrasts Jainism's emphasis on karma as the basis for social division with the Hindu concept of varna (birth-based social hierarchy).

• Key Chapters and Economic Themes:

  1. Survey of Ancient Jain Literature: This chapter provides an overview of the structure and classification of Jain canonical and non-canonical literature, including Angas, Upangas, Mul-sutras, Cheda-sutras, Chulika-sutras, Prakirnakas, and the chronological development of their compilation.
  2. Importance of Wealth and Factors of Production:
     • Wealth (Artha): Discusses the significance of wealth in enabling religious and worldly pursuits, quoting various sources that emphasize wealth's role in achieving life's goals.
     • Land: Analyzes land as a primary factor of production, its various types (fertile, rocky), land ownership (state, individual, collective), and its importance in agriculture.
     • Labor: Examines the role of labor, including agricultural laborers, artisans, and even slaves, in production. It highlights the concept of division of labor.
     • Capital: Discusses capital in its various forms (wealth, grains, livestock, etc.) and its role in production and trade. It also touches upon savings and lending institutions.
     • Management: Underscores the importance of management in coordinating the factors of production for efficient output.
  3. Agriculture and Animal Husbandry:
     • Agriculture: Details the significance of agriculture, types of land used, agricultural tools, irrigation methods, crop protection, harvesting, storage, major crops cultivated, and the role of villages and the state in agricultural development.
     • Animal Husbandry: Covers the importance of cattle, sheep, goats, horses, elephants, and other animals for various economic purposes and sustenance. It also mentions poultry and fishing.
  4. Industries and Crafts:
     • Explores the importance of industries, industrial labor, workshops, industrial capital, and the division of labor.
     • Details major industries like textiles (cotton, silk, wool, leather), metalworking (iron, gold, gems), pottery, woodwork, sugar industry, oil extraction, salt production, alcohol distillation, ivory carving, painting, cosmetics, dyes, and cottage industries.
  5. Exchange:
     • Trade: Discusses trade, traders (local merchants, sarthavahas), trade organizations (nigama, shreni), weights and measures, methods of price determination, advertising, trade routes, and import-export activities.
     • Transportation: Analyzes various modes of transport, including land routes (roads, carts, animals) and water routes (rivers, seas, boats, ships), and their importance for trade.
     • Currency: Examines the types of currency used (gold, silver, copper coins like nishka, suvarna, dinar, karsapana, pana, kakinī), their minting, and their purchasing power.
  6. Distribution:
     • Analyzes the distribution of national income among different factors of production: rent to landowners, wages to labor, interest to capital, and profit to management.
     • Discusses the economic disparity in society, with the wealthy merchant class and the impoverished labor class, and the role of Jain ethical principles in mitigating exploitation.
  7. Revenue System:
     • Details the importance of the treasury for state functioning.
     • Discusses tax principles, sources of state revenue (land tax, commercial taxes, fines, gifts, tribute), expenditure on administration, military, justice, and public welfare. It highlights the state's role in irrigation and encouraging agricultural practices through tax incentives.
  8. General Lifestyle:
     • Examines consumption patterns, including food (grains, pulses, fruits, dairy, sweets), clothing (types of fabrics, ornamentation), housing (types of dwellings), entertainment (music, dance, festivals, games), education (gurukulas, vocational training), and health and medicine.

• Key Findings and Significance:

  • The book demonstrates that ancient Jain literature provides rich insights into the economic life of ancient India, revealing a sophisticated system of agriculture, industry, trade, and finance.
  • It highlights the pragmatic approach of Jainism towards economic activities, balancing spiritual aspirations with the necessities of worldly life.
  • The study underscores the importance of ethical conduct in economic dealings, with Jain principles guiding against exploitation and promoting welfare.
  • The author's meticulous research provides valuable historical data for understanding the economic landscape of India during the early centuries CE.

In essence, "Prachin Jain Sahitya Me Arthik Jivan" is a scholarly work that successfully illuminates the economic dimensions of ancient Indian society through the lens of Jain literature, offering a unique perspective on the material culture and economic practices of the time.