Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c13.553

c13.553

Some medieval commentators draw a line between pure (*sat*) and impure śūdras and prescribe rituals only for the former.⁶ Thus Gadadhara, a commentator of the sixteenth century,⁷ prescribes twelve *saṃskāras* for pure śūdras, and only marriage for impure śūdras.⁸ Possibly Sārṅgadhara's sacraments are ordained for the pure śūdras, but he clearly prescribes five sacraments for mixed castes.⁹ According to him the twice-born are entitled to sixteen, the śūdras to twelve, and the mixed castes (*miśrajātinām*) to five.¹⁰ Apparently in this case mixed castes refer to untouchables, who seem to have played an important role in the expanding agrarian feudal economy and were apparently in a position to meet the costs incurred in these rituals.