Popular Sports and Pastimes in 12th Century Gujarat
Summary
In this article Saloni N. Joshi analyses references to sports and entertainment in the Candappahacariya, a Prakrit narrative poem composed in 12th‑century Gujarat by Haribhadra. The work, preserved in palm‑leaf manuscript form, recounts the life and previous births of Candraprabha, the ninth Jina. Joshi notes that, alongside religious teachings, the text vividly describes courtly amusements, giving historians rare insights into social life. She compiles a catalogue of performers mentioned in the poem, including acrobats, dancers, wrestlers, boxers, jesters, rope‑walkers, jugglers, rasa singers and pole dancers. These performers entertained kings and commoners during festivals, royal processions and domestic celebrations. The diversity of sportsmen listed suggests an organised culture of professional entertainers supported by patronage. The article contextualises these references by comparing them with other Jaina texts and with archaeological evidence from Gujarat. Joshi links the depiction of wrestling and boxing to sculptures on temple friezes and notes that certain terms used in the Candappahacariya correspond to technical vocabulary in classical treatises on dance and drama. She discusses the social status of entertainers, observing that while some performers were revered for their skills, others were marginalised. The presence of female dancers and rope‑walkers hints at the participation of women in public performances, challenging assumptions about gender roles. The author also highlights the inclusion of games such as dice, ball games and board games, illustrating the leisure activities of laypeople. By studying the Candappahacariya, Joshi illuminates aspects of medieval Gujarati culture often overlooked in political and religious narratives. She argues that understanding sports and pastimes helps scholars reconstruct a more holistic picture of medieval society, including its values, aesthetics and daily routines. The article concludes that the Candappahacariya is a valuable source not only for Jaina philosophy but also for cultural history. Joshi encourages further interdisciplinary research using literary, epigraphic and material sources to explore the social life of premodern India.
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Conclusion
Joshi’s examination of the Candappahacariya uncovers a vibrant world of entertainers and games in 12th‑century Gujarat. By cataloguing the sportsmen and performers described in this Prakrit poem and linking them to wider historical evidence, she shows that medieval Jaina narratives preserve detailed snapshots of social life. The study broadens our understanding of how leisure, performance and gender intersected in premodern Gujarat. It also demonstrates that religious literature can serve as an unexpected archive of cultural practices, encouraging historians to read such texts with a multidisciplinary lens.