Harshacharita (socio-cultural Study)
by Mrs. Nandita Sarmah | 2014 | 67,792 words
This page relates ‘Relation Among the Castes� of the English study on the Harshacharita: A Sanskrit (poetical work) which can be studied as a Historical book of Indian society during the 7th century. It was originally written by Banabhatta who based his Harsacarita on the life of the Gupta emperor Harshavardhana. This study researches the religion, philosophy, flora and fauna and society of ancient India as reflected in the Harsha-Charita.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Part 4: Relation Among the Castes
It is laid down in the ٳśٰ that if a śū assumes a position of equality with the dvijas in taking, sitting, on a couch, he shall undergo corporal punishment.[1] It is described by ṇa himself that his most intimate associates were his cousins Chandrasena and Mātṛsena, sons of his uncle from the wife of a śū caste.[2] According to the ѲԳܲṃh-�ś means sprung from a ṇa and a śū ڱ.�[3]
Although there was a caste system at that time, the people could associate with different castes without ruining any serious risk of losing caste or position. After the death of ṇa’s father and mother, he led a wondering life and he had all types of friends and companies in his livelihood (although he was a ṇa), which came from different castes and from different occupations i.e.,
- bhrātarau śu candrasenamatṛṣeṇau (they were the sons of his uncle from wives of the śū caste, p.19),
- ṇa첹 (panegyrist, p.19),
- ṛtٰܱܳ (ṛt poets, p.19),
- ٲⲹԾ (the elderly widow dressed in the ascetics red-robes, p.19),
- ṣa첹ٰܳ (a young physician, p.19),
- ٰ (painter, p.19),
- 첹岹 (goldsmith, p.19),
- ṃśi첹 (a flute player, p.19),
- kitaba (a gambler, p.19),
- ⲹԲ (a singer, p.19) etc.
It shows that there was no restriction for ṇa to mix-up between the different castes or peoples.[4] Also he cannot forget to mentions that some ṇa did not mix-up with other castes of the societies[5] in that time also. But, we have found the description of inter-caste marriages, which are permitted by the society and which was especially common.
From the description of his good number of friends who were from different castes, besides these friends such as�sairindhra,[6] i.e., a dasyu begets on a Dz (women) a sairindhra.[7] According to the ṅkٲ commentary-their professing was beautician also.[8] One friend was 岹ṅg첹[9] i.e., who beats the ṛdṅg,[10] ܲٲ첹峦첹[11] i.e., who make the dolls;[12] ٳܱ岹岹[13] etc. implies there were many sub-castes at that time. Again, in then society, people gave the respect to the 峾Բ, badhira or such type of men; and they also enjoyed with other people without any hesitation.[14]
From the above discussion it may be inferred that anuloma and pratiloma marriages continued in the then society. According to the ѲԳܲṃhs ons begotten by ṇas on their lawfully married śⲹ wives are called ambasthas; sons begotten by ṇas on their śū wives are called Ծṣād or śs.[15] It is seen in the Ჹṣaٲ, there was no restriction making friendship between the higher caste and the lower caste. ṇa himself declared that he had making friendship with different classes of peoples such as�ٲⲹԾ, tāmbūladāyaka, ś, 첹岹, 첹, Բٲī, ṣa貹ṇa첹, darduraka,maskarī, etc., although he was a ṇa in caste.[16]
Again, we find the guilds (śṇ�) as occupational sub-castes in the Ჹṣaٲ. Śṇ� is the term for a body of people belonging to the same caste and profession.
Here find the members of śṇ� are such as�
Therefore, ѱپٳ, the commentator of On Manu mentions that occupational guilds did not cover wide area and śṇ� is a body of traders and others who follow the same profession[17] and illustrates by mentioning tradesmen, artisans, moneylenders, coach-drivers and so forth.[18]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ҳܳٲūٰ,XII. 40-42
[2]:
Ჹṣaٲ, I. p.19
[3]:
śūdrāyā� brāhmaṇātjāta�, ѲԳܲṃh,X.64
[4]:
[5]:
ᾱٲᲹԲ貹ṅkٲⲹ�, Ibid., I. p.18
[6]:
sairindhrī kurṅgikā, Ibid., I.p.19
[8]:
prasādhanopacārajñā sairindhrī svavaśā smṛtā, Ჹṣaٲ,p.74
[9]:
Ibid., I.p.19
[11]:
Ჹṣaٲ,I.p.19
[12]:
ṣa,II.10.28
[13]:
Ჹṣaٲ,I.p.19
[14]:
vilasadunmukhavāmanakabadhiravṛndaveṣtitāḥ� nanṛtu.., Ibid.,IV.p. 62
[16]:
[17]:
ѲԳܲṃh,VIII.2
[18]:
Ibid., VIII.41