Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East (Vol. I: Champa; Vol. II: Suvarnadvipa) v2.c20.s3.35

v2.c20.s3.35

An Old-Javanese prose work, Tatva-Ning-Vyavahāra, like Raghunandan's Aṣṭāviṃśati Tattva, seems to lay down rules for society. A sanskrit śloka describing the origin of the four castes from the forehead, arms, thigh, and feet of Brahmā is quoted with an Old-Javanese translation. It then mentions the classes of food prohibited to the different classes. A list is given of the unclean animals such as dog, mouse, ape, snake, etc. It also deals with the marriage ceremony. How far books of this kind represent the actual state of society, it is difficult to say.