The Rashtrakutas and their Times c21.111

c21.111

therefore fair to conclude that the intercaste anuloma marriages ceased to take place soon after our period. It is true that a Dutch clergyman of the 17th century, Abraham Roger by name, observes that Brahmanas used to marry girls of all the four castes, though their marriages with Sudra girls were disapproved. (85) Another 17th century European observer, Bernier, however contradicts this statement asserting that the intermarriages between the four castes were forbidden. (86) Abraham Roger had lived in the southern presidency, and he had probably the Nambudri Brahmanas in view when he refers to the unions of the Brahmanas with the girls of the lower castes. We may therefore conclude that Kalhaṇa was the spokesman of the 12th century view and that soon thereafter the intercaste marriage became obsolete.