Var峁嘺 (4): The 艢耻诲谤补s

Historical Elements in the Matsya Purana

by Chaitali Kadia | 2021 | 91,183 words

This page relates 鈥榁arna (4): The Shudras鈥� of the study on the historical elements of the Matsya-purana: one of the eighteen Mahapuranas which are Sanskrit texts that have preserved the cultural heritage, philosophy, religion, geography, etc of ancient India. This Matsyapurana was originally written in 20,000 verses and deals with topics such as architecture, ancient history, polity, religion and philosophy.

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Var峁嘺 (4): The 艢耻诲谤补s

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The words 鈥�艢耻诲谤补 鈥�, 鈥�Antaja 鈥� and 鈥�笔腻诲补箩补 鈥� are used in the Matsya 笔耻谤腻峁嘺 to denote this order. The word 鈥�艢耻诲谤补 鈥� is found in the 峁欢惫别诲补 (RV-10/90/12). In the Matsya 笔耻谤腻峁嘺 it is said that 艢耻诲谤补 originated from the feet of 痴腻尘补诲别惫补 and as a result he was called 鈥槺誓寤宀孤岵光€�.^[1] From this explanation it is understood that the 艢耻诲谤补s are the lowest caste of the society and the servants of all. It is said in the Matsya 笔耻谤腻峁嘺 that the 艢耻诲谤补s, like all other castes, were engaged in their work during the 碍峁泃测补 Yuga . Their duty was to serve members of other castes.^[2] But in Kali Yuga the 艢耻诲谤补s will sit on the King鈥檚 seat in their power.^[3] However, the Brahmin writers do not approve of this phenomenon because it is not a matter of their choice and it is considered as a horrible origin of the Kali era. This undesirable condition was later ended by Pramati鈥檚 activities.^[4]

The position of 艢耻诲谤补s in the society was deplorable. There were various obstacles in their lives. For example, they could not receive Vedic education and participate in Vedic sacrifices. Nowhere in the Matsya 笔耻谤腻峁嘺 is it mentioned that the 艢耻诲谤补s could generally participate in Vedic education and Vedic activities. It is only mentioned that in the ungodly and perverted Kali Yuga , they manifested themselves by overcoming all their obstacles and participated in Vedic teachings with everyone else.^[5] According to the author of 顿丑补谤尘补蝉腻蝉迟谤补 , only the Matsya 笔耻谤腻峁嘺 allowed the 艢耻诲谤补s to perform 艢谤腻诲诲丑补 without chanting Vedic mantras. It is said in the Matsya 笔耻谤腻峁嘺 that the 艢耻诲谤补s will be able to perform general 艢谤腻诲诲丑补 and 痴峁沝诲丑颈蝉谤腻诲诲丑补 .^[6] The Sudras must be generous because charity will fulfill all their desires.^[7] The 艢耻诲谤补s could also perform some vows. E.g. 搁辞丑颈苍颈肠补苍诲谤补蝉腻测补苍补 vow (MP-57/6) and Angaraka vow (MP-72/28). However, it was advisable to recite a few Vedic mantras to perform these two vows.^[8] There is an example in the Matsya 笔耻谤腻峁嘺 that under the direction of 叠腻濒颈, his wife Sudes峁嚹� sends one of his maid, 顿丑腻迟谤别测颈办腻, for intercourse without going herself to Dirghatam膩.^[9] This is a harsh and cruel incident which proves how low class the 艢耻诲谤补s were. This further proves that the 艢耻诲谤补s were employed properly, but they had no honor. Or it can be said that the 艢耻诲谤补 maids did not have much knowledge about sex so they were made to do these things. On the other hand, it can be said that they may have done this in silence for lack of food. There is also a mention in the Matsya 笔耻谤腻峁嘺 that the 艢耻诲谤补s also worked as servants in the house of a prostitute. In the house of a prostitute named Lil膩vati, a 艢耻诲谤补 named 艢ounda used to work as goldsmith. He and his wife helped Lil膩vati in donate Lavan膩cala and made an idol and a gold tree for Lil膩vati just for free for religion only. God was pleased with his and his wife鈥檚 service, which resulted in the birth of thesupreme king Dharmamurti and his wife, the most beautiful Bhanumati.^[10]

King 驰补测腻迟颈 freed the 艢耻诲谤补s from bandits and saved their lives. All these examples prove that the 艢耻诲谤补s , no matter how inferior they were, were protected from the kings. And in terms of religion, they also got some benefits like other castes. Because the Matsya 笔耻谤腻峁嘺 sanctioned that, like other castes, they too would be reborn as inhabitants of 艢颈惫补辫耻谤腻 incase of death in the 础惫颈尘耻办迟补办峁迟谤补 (MP-181/19).

Antyaja:

There are two types of words used in the Matsya 笔耻谤腻峁嘺鈥撯€�Antyaja 鈥� and 鈥�Antajanmana 鈥�. There are many such races in the ancient Vedic literature which have been called Antyaja in the 厂尘峁泃颈 . Different races like 颁补苍诲腻濒蝉 , Pulakas etc. were generally called Antyaja .

The general meaning of the word 鈥�Antyaja 鈥� or 鈥�Antajanmana 鈥� is 鈥榣ast birth鈥� or 鈥榣ow birth鈥�. Naturally it is thought to be the 艢耻诲谤补s who lived at the lowest level of society. In the Matsya 笔耻谤腻峁嘺 , these two terms mean 艢耻诲谤补 . And in 惭补苍耻蝉尘峁泃颈 also 艢耻诲谤补 nation is meant in the sense of 鈥�Antyaja 鈥�.^[11] In the bull-sacrifices law (V峁涐梗otsarga Vidhi ) of Matsya 笔耻谤腻峁嘺 , it is said that the black bull is suitable for the oppressed, i.e. for the 艢耻诲谤补s .^[12] It is also said in the Matsya 笔耻谤腻峁嘺 that if one has intercourse with a 艣udra girl, one has to make a vow of 颁腻苍诲谤腻测补苍补 as penance.^[13] If a Brahmin unknowingly has intercourse with a 艢耻诲谤补 girl, eats food or receive alms from her, then that Brahmin falls from his religious. And if he knowingly has done this then that Brahmin is equal to that lower caste.^[14] The house of the oppressed nation was considered evil and it was believed that if the shadow of this house fell, there was a fear ofbeing shot (MP-255/14).