inscriptions.1 The Karanikas mentioned in some records2 were not different from the
Some lower castes like Sūtradhāra occasionally find a mention in our records.3 Of
the untouchables, the Mōchī or shoe-maker is mentioned in a late record.4 Dēvapāla
who belonged to this caste was a religious-minded person. He was rich enough to construct a temple of Narayana at Khalvatika, modern Khalari in the Raipur District.
Women were honoured and treated with respect. Polygamy was in vogue. Kings
generally maintained a large seraglio. From inscriptions as well as from literature5 We know
that Yuvarājadeva I married a large number of princesses from different countries.
Gāńgēyadēva is said to have had as many as a hundred wives.6. The custom of the sati was
in vogue. If the description in the Khairhā and Jabalpur plates is correct, all the hundred
wives of Gāngēyadeva immolated themselves on his funeral pyre near the banyan tree at
Prayaga. Another instance of the Sati is recorded in the Shēorinārāyan inscription of K.
919. When the prince Ulhanadēva died fighting with Jayasimha of Tripuri, his three
queens died as Satis.7 The inscription describes vividly the grief which the people felt on
that occasion. Such self-immolation was, however, not obligatory on women. Those who
did not subject themselves to it led a restrained and pious life. We know of some queens
who survived their husbands and helped their sons with advice in the administration of the
State. The dowager queens Alhanadevi and Gōsaladēvi are notable instances of this type
mentioned in our records.811
That the joint family system was in vogue appears clear from the numbers of realatives
mentioned in commemorative prasastis, The Ratanpur inscription dated V. 1207, for instance, mentions, besides the Kayastha Ratnasimha, his wife, one son, two daughters-in-law,
two grandsons, one grand-daughter and two other persons whose realation to him is not stated
explicitly.9 Another instance is that of Purushōttama, the Sarvādhikārin of Ratnadēva II.
He lived to a good old age. His four sons, all of whom distinguished themselves in state craft, continued to live with him.10 On the other hand, we have an instance of the division
of even state property. Sarvadeva, the brother or Prithvīdēva I, we are told, obtained, as
a share of patrimony, the territory round sonthiva, where he later established himself.
such partitions were, however, rare.
In India from very ancient times trade and commerce have been carried on through
guilds(srenis). The first inscription included in this Volume mentions four guilds, viz.,
those of potters, makers of hydraulic engines, and oil-millers, and one more whose name is
lost. These guilds acted also as banks and received deposits of money, on which they stipulated to paya certain amount of interest in perpetuity. Piois persons deposited money
1Kirtidhara, his son Vatsarāja and grandson Dharmarāja who wrote several grants of the Kalachuris
of Ratanpur belonged to the Vastavya famliy and were evidently kāyasthas.
2No. 45, 1. 33; No. 50, 1.49.
3No..64 1. 26;No. 105, 1.20 etc
4No. 108, 1. 10.
5See above p. lxxvii
6No. 56, 11. 10-11; No. 57, 1. 10
7No. 98, 1. 20.
8No. 60, 1. 23 and No. 69, 1. 1.
9No. 93, 11. 10 ff.
10No. 90, 1. 20