Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c14.4

c14.4

Once labour was made available by means of force, law, religion and ideology were pressed into the service of the ruling orders to regularise the system so that labour supply could be maintained and augmented. The Dharmasūtras made a clear distinction between the twice-born and the śūdra by stating that the latter was meant for serving the three higher varṇas. Various kinds of social distinctions were drawn between the two on the same ground by the law-books. The śūdras were excluded from Vedic sacrifices and investiture with the sacred thread which were considered to be the ritualistic hallmarks of an ārya or twice-born. The śūdra was saddled with economic, politico-legal, social and religious disabilities. All this could be justified on the basis of his mythical origin from the feet of the creator. This is similar to Aristotle’s justification of slavery on the ground that some people are born to obey and others to command. He adds that the first become slaves, and the second citizens.