ABSTRACT
The seventeenth century was a landmark in India’s commercial history. An important example of the movement of business community is provided by the migration of the Jains to Bihar in the seventeenth century. Bihar contains several Jain holy places. In the last quarter of the seventeenth century Bihar, Bengal and Orissa were commercially the most prosperous territory in India. After Patna, the next important settlement of the Jains appears to be the township of Bihar. Besides being an important textile manufacturing centre and market-place for the surrounding countryside, it was near to two Jain sacred places, Rajgir and Pavapuri. Bihar was famous among the Jains and a work of the late seventeenth century devotes two pages to its description. The other important place where the presence of the Jains is mentioned is Hajipur. It was just across the Ganges opposite Patna and was a collecting point for textiles and saltpetre obtained in north Bihar before being despatched to Patna.
