Shreni

Shreni

Shreni, in the context of Ancient India, was an association of traders, merchants, and artisans. Generally, a separate shreni existed for a particular group of persons engaged in the same vocation or activity. Shrenis have sometimes been compared with the guilds. However, persons engaged in life destroying activities like hunting and fishing did not form any shreni.

Well documents references to the existing of shreni have been found from 5th century BC, and texts pertaining to Buddhism and Jainism mention existence of shrenis and conversion of entire members of some shrenis to Buddhism or Jainism. Over a period of time, some shrenis became very wealthy with surplus resources, and acted as custodians and bankers of religious and other endowments. One of the widely referred shreni was of ivory carvers of Vidisha (located in the modern Indian state of Madhya Pradesh). This shreni is accredited with sponsoring and financially supporting the construction of the southern gateway of the Stupa at Sanchi, which is currently a World Heritage Site.

Some scholars have opined that as the each economic activity and craft was having its specific traditions and trade secrets, shrenis were formed to protect the same, and fathers use to pass on the same to their sons, and so it continued from one generation to the next generation. Daughters were excluded from becoming the members of the shreni, as once married they went to their husbands’ homes, and were prone to divulge the trade secrets to the families of their husbands.

References

*"Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend" (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dhallapiccola


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Republican Kambojas — There are several ancient literary and inscriptional references which testify that the ancient Kambojas were a republican people. References in Sanskrit and Pali literature attest terms like e Gana , Samgha , Shreni and other similar bodies… …   Wikipedia

  • Gupta — Empire Gupta गुप्त राजवंश (sa) IIIe siècle – VIe siècle L empire Gupta à son apogée …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Development of Carnatic music in Karnataka — Karnataka is a state of India with a long tradition of innovation in the fields of both Carnatic and Hindustani classical music.Basaveshwara, King of Kalyana, leader of the Bhakti movement and Prime Minister of Bijjala, created his Vachanas, an… …   Wikipedia

  • India — /in dee euh/, n. 1. Hindi, Bharat. a republic in S Asia: a union comprising 25 states and 7 union territories; formerly a British colony; gained independence Aug. 15, 1947; became a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations Jan. 26, 1950.… …   Universalium

  • Development of Carnatic music — Karnataka is a state of India with a long tradition of innovation in the fields of both Carnatic and Hindustani classical music. Basaveshwara, King of Kalyana, leader of the Bhakti movement and Prime Minister of Bijjala, created his Vachanas, an… …   Wikipedia

  • Guild — For other uses, see Guild (disambiguation). One of the legacies of the guilds, the elevated Windsor Guildhall was originally a meeting place for guilds, as well as magistrates seat and town hall. A guild (German: Gilde) is an association of… …   Wikipedia

  • Baba Budangiri —   taluk   …   Wikipedia

  • Dilip Chitre — Born September 17, 1938 Baroda, Gujarat Died December 10, 2009 Pune, Maharashtra Occupation Poet translator Painter Fiction writer Critic Film Maker Literary movement …   Wikipedia

  • Kambojas in Kautiliya's Arthashastra — The Kambojas, an ancient Ksatriya clan of Indo Iranian affinities [Vedic Index I, p 138, Dr Macdonnel, Dr Keith.] [Ethnology of Ancient Bhārata – 1970, p 107, Dr Ram Chandra Jain.] [The Journal of Asian Studies – 1956, p 384, Association for… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”