Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c13.19

c13.19

A characteristic feature of the Smṛti writings of this period is their Vaiṣṇavite leanings. This is noticeable particularly in the *Viṣṇu Smṛti*, the *Bṛhaspati Smṛti*,⁸ the *Viṣṇu Purāṇa*,⁹ and the *Matsya Purāṇa*.¹⁰ Probably the worship of Kṛṣṇa and the influence of Vaiṣṇavism account for the more liberal views that are so largely represented in the great epic.¹¹ As will be shown later, the Vaiṣṇavite tendencies liberalised the brāhmaṇical attitude towards the śūdras, who were granted narrow but definite rights in the sphere of religion.