Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c13.547

c13.547

However in the *Vaijavāpa* list marriage is not included as one of the sacraments meant for the śūdras. This is done in the *Harihara Bhāṣya*, a commentary of the 13th-14th centuries.¹ Commenting on the statement of the *Brahma Purāṇa* that a śūdra is always entitled to the marriage sacrament. Harihara repeats the eight *saṃskāras* mentioned by *Vaijavāpa* and adds *vivāha* to it ² Another commentator Jayapāla (16th century)³ also speaks of nine *saṃskāras* allowed to the śūdras.⁴ This number is raised to twelve by Sārṅgadhara, quoted in a work of the 17th century.⁵ Sārṅgadhara however does not specify the twelve sacraments extended to the śūdras. Either he has in mind three additional ones or his list of twelve includes a few which are not listed by others who prescribe nine sacraments. In any case what is significant is a marked increase in the number of rituals to be performed by the śūdras.