Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c7.11

c7.11

Dāsas, pessas, kammakaras and bhaṭakas 108 Economic disabilities according to the Dharmaśūtras 112 Śūdras as primary producers; their living standards 114 Comparison with Greek slaves and helots 116 Politico-legal discriminations 116 Social disabilities 124 Exclusion from the rite of upanayana and from education 133 Exclusion from sacrifices and sacraments 134 Contempt of the higher varṇas for manual occupations 137 Five despised castes of the early Pāli texts 138 Origin of untouchability 144 Religious reforming movements and the śūdras 146 End of the ambiguous position of the śūdras 152 Śūdra reaction to disabilities 154