Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c12.397

c12.397

If the descriptions of the Kali age in the Purāṇas are taken even as a faint indication of the conditions prevailing during the pre-Gupta period,⁸ it would appear that the śūdras openly defied the existing social system. The excesses committed by the śūdras are described in the Kūrma Purāṇa: “The foolish śūdra officials of the king force the brāhmaṇas to give up their seats and beat them. The king dishonours the brāhmaṇas in the Kali on account of the changing times, and the śūdras occupy high seats among the brāhmaṇas. The brāhmaṇas, who are less educated in the Vedas and are less fortunate and powerful, honour the śūdras with flowers, decorations and other auspicious things. Though thus honoured, the śūdras do not cast even a glance at the brāhmaṇas. The brāhmaṇas dare not enter the houses of the śūdras but stand at the gate for an opportunity to pay respect to them. The brāhmaṇas, who depend upon the śūdras for their livelihood, surround them, when they are seated in vehicles, in order to praise them and teach them the vedas”.¹ A somewhat similar picture is presented in the Matsya Purāṇa, which prophesises that the dharma of the Śrutis and Smṛtis will become very lax and the varṇāśrama dharma will be destroyed. It deplores that the people will be of mixed origin, the śūdras will sit with the brāhmaṇas, eat and perform sacrifices with them, and pronounce mantras with them.² The Vāyu Purāṇa and the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa state that in the Kali age the śūdras act as brāhmaṇas and vice versa. They inform us that the śūdras are respected by everybody, and that, unprotected by the kings, the brāhmaṇas depend for their livelihood upon the śūdras.³