Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c9.280

c9.280

As to the significance of the Mahāvrata ceremony, it possibly preserves the memory of fights for cattle both among the Āryans themselves and between Āryans and non-Aryans, who were reduced to the position of śūdras. The Śāṅkhāyana Śrautasūtra states that this antiquated and obsolete custom ought not to be performed.⁶ This would show that the śūdra could enter into sacral relations with members of the higher varṇas in an old ritual such as the mahāvrata, but ceased to do so when such rituals went out of vogue.