DDK HistoryF.p65 - CSIR

272 POWER OF GUILDS [8.6
half a dozen seem indubitably of craftsmen, of which one (no. 346) is
guild leader or foreman of ‘artisans of king siri-Satakani’. Nevertheless,
we can say that, from Safici down south, there was not the closed village
economy, nor the anonymity that went with it. It must be remembered
that though a great deal of the work at all these places came from donations
too small to be recorded, they were cash donations nevertheless. There
was considerable commodity production and exchange that enabled many
sorts of artisans to accumulate money — artisans who would have
nothing to donate in the ordinary self-contained village. It is worth
considering whether the custom preserved by the coastal open-seafishermen
Kolis, (of coming all the way to Karle, just after their new year,
from Bombay island or a greater distance) does not go back to their
association with the trade and transport from Dhenukakata and Sopara.
The survival to this day of such association is not improbable. The
Bhojakas of Asoka’s thirteenth rock-edict are southerners, like the
Pitinikas (of Paithan) with whom they are bracketed. The maharathim
Samadinika, daughter of a mahabhoja, donated a cistern at Bedsa. In
the Mahad-Kuda region, they seem to be tribal chieftains. In the same
locality, we find Rajbhoj as a surname among the scheduled castes,
formerly untouchables.
Some of these craftsmen were organised in powerful guilds. An
epigraph of Usavadata quoted in extenso speaks for itself in cave 10
at Nasik (EL 8.82-4) :
“ Sidham. In the year 42, in the month Vesakha, Usavaclata, son of Dinika, son-inlaw
of king Nahapana the Ksaharata satrap, has bestowed this cave upon the Samgha
(of monks from) all directions, He has also given a perpetual endowment of three
Thousand - 3000 -kahapcmas which for the members of the Order, of any sect and
origin, dwelling in this cave, will serve as money for their robes (civarika) and for
outside travel (kus