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InAncient India, ashreni (Sanskrit:श्रेणि,romanized: śreṇi orश्रेणीśreṇī,Prakrit:seni)[1] was an association of traders, merchants, and artisans. Generally, a separate shreni existed for a particular group of persons engaged in the same vocation or activity. Shrenis have sometimes been compared with theguilds.[according to whom?]
Well-documented references[citation needed] to the existing of shreni have been found from 5th century BC, and texts mention the existence of shrenis andconversion of entire members of some shrenis toBuddhism orJainism. Over a period of time, some shrenis became very wealthy with surplus resources, and acted as custodians andbankers of religious and otherendowments. One of the widely referred shreni was of ivory carvers ofVidisha (in the modernIndianstate ofMadhya Pradesh). This shreni is accredited with sponsoring and financially supporting the construction of the southern gateway of thestupa atSanchi, which is currently aWorld Heritage Site.
Members were bound by guild-specificdharma. TheManusmriti stated "A king must inquire into the law of groups (jāti), of districts (ganapada), of guilds (shreni), and of families (kula)."[2]
a corporation or guild. Search for text "or guild" (without quotes).