History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c19.403

v2.c19.403

In modern times each of the principal varṇas has numerous sub-castes, based upon difference of country, occupation, sect and other causes. For example, brāhmaṇas are first divided into ten classes, five of them being Gauḍas²¹⁴ and five Drāviḍas. Among the Drāviḍa brāhmaṇas, the Mahārāṣṭra brāhmaṇas are again subdivided into numerous sub-castes such as the Citpāvana (or Koṅkaṇastha), Karhāḍe, Deśastha, Devarukhe etc. It is said that in Gujerat there are 84 subcastes of brāhmaṇas,²¹⁵ most of which do not interdine nor intermarry. There is often a further distinction among the members of the same subcaste, viz. those who follow the priestly occupation and those who do not. The spirit of exclusiveness and ideas of superiority that arose in vedic times gradually led on to further and further divisons and subdivisions of people owing to geographical situation and other²¹⁶ causes. It appears that probably even in ancient times the brāhmaṇas of the north looked down upon the brāhmaṇas in eastern countries like Magadha. Vide notes 31-32 above and Fick (pp. 213-214). The Matsyapurāṇa (16. 16) says that brāhmaṇas who dwell in Mleccha countries, in Triśaṅku, Barbara, Oḍra (Orissa), Andhra (Teliṅgaṇa), Ṭakka, Draviḍa and Koṅkaṇa are not to be invited at śrāddhas.²¹⁷