Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c12.340

c12.340

But in particular Manu wants to avoid all contact between the brāhmaṇas and the untouchables. He lays down that a snātaka (generally a brāhmaṇa) should not stay with the caṇḍālas, pukkasas, antyas and antyāvasāyins.⁶ Among those who should not look at the brāhmaṇa at the śrāddha ceremony are the caṇḍālas, village pigs, cocks, dogs etc.⁷ Manu further declares that, if a brāhmaṇa either has intercourse with caṇḍāla or antya women or takes their food, he shall fall from his brāhmaṇahood. But if he does these things intentionally, he shall be reduced to their status.¹ This would imply that such connections of non-brāhmaṇas with the caṇḍālas were not strongly disapproved.