Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c9.266

c9.266

There is specific mention of the participation of the śūdra in several religious rites. He could take part in the preparation of the offerings (*havis*) for the god along with the members of the three varṇas, although the mode of address employed for him reflects his lowest place in that rite.¹ Similarly along with the members of other varṇas he could drink soma, and had to undergo atonement in case of vomiting.² Refering to the case of the *dāsi-putra* Kavaṣa Ailūṣa Hopkins points out that the śūdra’s son shares the sacrifice and the śūdra drinks soma in one of the half-brāhmaṇical, half-popular festivals.³ It is curious to note that a passage from the *Kāṭhaka Saṃhitā* does not permit śūdras and women to drink soma.⁴ This is, however, not found in other collections of the *Yajus*, and hence seems to be either an interpolation or at best the view of the Kāṭhaka school.