Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c13.462

c13.462

Amara gives ten names for caṇḍālas, some of which such as *plava*, *divākirti*, *janaṅgama* are rarely mentioned in the earlier texts,⁴ which may suggest an increase in the number of this untouchable caste. This can be also inferred from the fact that while the caṇḍālas are not mentioned by the Greek writers of the earlier period, they attracted the special attention of Fa-hsien.⁵