Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c9.284

c9.284

The śūdras are described as having and worshipping gods like any other class of the community. In the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad the śūdra is called Pūṣan, which suggests that this god is assigned to him.⁸ Similarly in the mythology of the Mahābhārata the twin Aśvins, physicians of the gods, are regarded as śūdras.¹ It is significant that in the ratnahaviṃṣi ceremony the Aśvins are associated with the saṃgrahitṛ² and Pūṣan along with the bhāgadugha.³ But in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa Pūṣan, along with the Viśvedevas (All-Gods) and the Maruts (peasant-gods), is associated with the vaiśyas.⁴ In a way the Viśvedevas are indirectly assigned to the śūdras as well. The anuṣṭubh, which is a later and popular metre ascribed to the śūdra,⁵ is also assigned to the Viśvedevas.⁶ It is stated that through the recitation of this metre Prajāpati⁷ and Indra were honoured among the Viśvedevas, and the Pañcāla prince Darbha Śātāniki among the śūdras.⁸ Therefore in this case the Viśvedevas of divine society correspond to the śūdras of human society.