Caste and Race in India c8.2

c8.2

THE post-Vedic period testifies to the rigid stratification and internal solidarity of the four varṇas. Each group was recognized as distinct, almost complete in itself, for its social life. Among the laws that were valid, provided they did not contradict the sacred precepts, are those of castes. "Cultivators, traders, money-lenders, and artisans have authority to lay down rules for their respective classes."¹ It is clear that many of the sub-divisions within each varṇa—and undoubtedly by now there must have existed in each varṇa numerous sub-divisions—had rules of their own for their internal management. Jāti or caste had now grown to be such an important and universal feature of social organization that in a lawsuit both the plaintiff and the defendant had to register their jāti or caste along with their residence and their village, and one of the questions to be put to the witness of the defendant was to be about the latter's caste. While defamation of one's nation or village was punishable with the lowest amercement, that of one's own caste or guild, was meted with the middle one.² Allegiance to one's caste was thus more important than loyalty to one's nation or village. Correctly stating one's caste was evidently thought to be such a matter of common honesty that the level-headed Kauṭilya says that among persons who may be suspected to be murderers, etc., are those who misstate their caste and "gotra". Persons of low caste and avocation might also be suspected of such serious crimes.³