Synopsis The present study ‘Jaina Economic Life: Ancient and Medieval India’ traces how people earned their livelihood through agriculture, farming and trade. According to Jaina texts Samaraiccakaha, Kuvalayamala, Upamitibhava-prapanchakatha and several other works agriculture was the important source of earning. Peasants were the backbone of the society. There were both small farmers and big landlords. Jaina texts give information about the earlier agricultural technology and system of irrigation of fields, principal crops, industrial ventures, professional groups of skilled craftsmen and the working class. According to Jain Katha texts next to agriculture, spinning and weaving was the most important industry in ancient and medieval times. Cloth was manufactured throughout the country. This study clearly reveals that Jaina community was fully aware of their role in the origin and growth of agricultural activities, industry and trade channels besides technological formations which took place gradually in due cource of time. It is thus clear that the management and control of industry and trade was in the hands of mercantile class and they occupied an important position in the socio-economic sphere. The mercantile class no doubt had opted Janism from the very beginning and lived peacefully following the religious path shown by the Tirthankaras.