Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c16.19

c16.19

The second explanation given by Manu for the origin of numerous castes is the extension of the theory of anuloma and pratiloma, an idea which also forms part of the vrātya theory. More than thirty castes are accounted for by means of this theory. The origins of a good many of these are explained in the Dharmasūtras, and in several cases the varṇasaṃkara theory applied by Manu runs counter to them. The inconsistencies involved in accounting for the varṇasaṃkara origin of the same caste in different ways by different lawgivers including Manu have been brought out in an article.² They demonstrate that this theory was fictitious. Whether it is deviation from prescribed varṇa duties or the miscegenation between the varṇas or both the relentless logic of the four original varṇas is being imposed on all the castes. But it seems that many of the mixed castes had nothing to do with the four orders in either sense. The explanation has to be sought in certain historical processes.