Question

What are shrenis? Mention their role in development

Answer 1

SHRENI Described in many classical Sanskrit and Pali texts, shrenis were occupational groups or guilds. The fourth-century b.c. grammarian Pānini, referred to shrenis, though without a clear description. ... Communities of shrenis sometimes became entire villages or urban neighborhoods.

The Shreni was more in nature of group of professi6nals. Merchants or artisans who worked in an association.


The growing importance of guilds is an attested by the fact that law-givers like Gautama and Manu recognised the rights of traders, cultivators, horse­man, artisan etc. to frame rules for their respective as­sociations. These rules were to be taken into consid­eration by king in giving legal decision. Manu refers to Sreni-dharma as having the force of law.