Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c12.318

c12.318

The above-mentioned castes were to be distinguished by their occupations.⁸ The caṇḍālas, śvapākas and antyāvasāyins were engaged for executing criminals, and were given their clothes, beds and ornaments.⁹ The niṣādas lived by fishing, and the medas, andhras, madgus and cuñcus were employed in hunting wild animals.¹⁰ Kṣattṛs, ugras and pukkasas are described as engaged in the catching and killing of animals living in holes.¹¹ Apparently all of these were backward aboriginal tribes, who retained their occupations even when they were absorbed in brāhmaṇical society. Manu informs us that some of the mixed castes pursued important crafts. The āyogava practised wood work;¹ and the dhigvaṇa and the kārāvara worked in leather,² and the pāṇḍusopāka dealt in canes.³ The mārgava or the dāśa subsisted by working as a boatman and was known as the kaivarta by the inhabitants of Āryāvarta.⁴ The veṇas played on drums,⁵ and the sairandhra was considered skilled in adorning and attending on his master. The latter, though not a slave, lived like a slave or subsisted by snaring animals.⁶ The maitreyaka is described as a sweet-tuned fellow, who rang a bell at the appearance of dawn and was constantly engaged in praising great men.⁷