A Sidelight on Social, Economic and Political Aspects of Civilization in its Beginning on the Basis of the Jaina Agamas
By J. C. Sikdar
Summary
J. C. Sikdar uses narratives and injunctions from the Jaina Āgamas to reconstruct early human history and examine the evolution of social, economic and political institutions. Beginning with the story of Rishabha, the fourteenth Kulakara and first Tirthankara, Sikdar interprets the prohibition of sibling marriage and the endorsement of the nuclear family as evidence of a transition from primitive group marriage to more stable households. He discusses how the division of labour by gender shaped economic life during the Age of Kulakaras and how the advent of agriculture and craft specialisation led to the emergence of occupational classes such as potters, weavers and artisans. As commodity production increased, a mercantile class arose and wealth became concentrated, giving rise to social inequality and the need for a coercive state. Sikdar compares these developments to Friedrich Engels’ analysis of the family, private property and the state, noting that both traditions describe a dual process in which private property and slavery develop alongside commodity production. Drawing on the Āgamas, he credits Rishabha with instituting moral punishments, introducing taxes and dividing territory into provinces and villages as responses to mounting social antagonisms. Sikdar emphasises that, in Jain thought, the state is not eternal but arises at a particular stage of development and must be guided by ahimsa and mutual respect. The article offers a unique indigenous perspective on the birth of the state and argues that Jain scriptures illuminate early social evolution and the ethical foundations Jainism sought to instil in society.
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Conclusion
Sikdar’s examination of the Jaina Āgamas shows that Jainism preserves detailed accounts of human social evolution that parallel, and sometimes anticipate, modern sociological theories. By interpreting the narratives of Rishabha and the Kulakaras as metaphors for the emergence of the family, division of labour, private property and state power, he demonstrates that Jain texts offer valuable insights into prehistoric society. The study underscores the importance Jainism places on ethical conduct and non‑violence, suggesting that even as societies became more complex and hierarchical, Jain thinkers advocated social harmony, economic justice and the restraint of state power.