[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India)](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930) › v7.c91.34 # History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c91.34 History of Dharmaśāstra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c91.34 - **Language:** English ### [v7.c91.34](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c91.34) Though the brāhmaṇas in the 5th and following centuries A. D wanted to placate the śūdras who were probably a majority of the whole people and to wean them away from Buddhism, they still kept a distinction between \*dvijas\* and \*śūdras\* and the only concessions made were that the śūdras could worship in the same way as \*dvijas\* did and that they could have mantras (Paurāṇika) in their rites and ceremonies. For example, in allowing \*bhasma-snāna\* (smearing ashes on the body) the Padma (IV. 110. 286-289) provides Vedic mantras for men of the three varṇas but Paurāṇika mantras only (Padma IV. 110. 290-293) for śūdras. The Padma¹⁴⁶⁹ further provides that śūdras could not perform prāṇāyāma or utter the sacred syllable 'om' but that they should substitute \*dhyāna\* in place of prāṇāyāma and '\*Śiva\*' in place of 'om'. - [Previous: v7.c91.33](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c91.33) - [Next: v7.c91.35](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c91.35) - [Up: v7.c91](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c91) ## Cites (1) - [Padmapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.padma) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c91.34](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c91.34) · Pramāṇa