Page:An Essay On Hinduism.pdf/85

 same caste or by some inferior caste. Still, these castes cling to Hindu society and are regarded as a Hindu caste, though they hold in the community a low position.

Of other strings which bind them to Hindu community the following are important—

(i) First of all, as far as impure classes are concerned, though the Vedas and the service of the Brāhmaṇas are beyond their reach, these classes still have a religious respect for them. They regard Brāhmaṇas as sacred, because the castes which they look up to hold them so. They also regard the Vedas as sacred books, and also regard themselves as unlucky mortals who through their impurity have no right for the Vedas.

(ii) Though the Shūdras and the impure classes have no right to read the Vedas, still they have a right to read or listen to Purānas and other sacred works, which are mainly written in vernacular languages, which are based on the Vedas.

(iii) As these lower castes read the Purānas they believe in and worship the same deities, like Rāma, Krishņa, Shiva, Durgā, as the higher castes do. Both higher and lower castes have common festivals, which are connected with these deities.

(iv) Again, most of the castes have the same beliefs as the higher castes have; those beliefs are numerous and they occupy various areas. The beliefs which are most common are those relating to the laws of transmigration of soul, and of karma.

(v) Again, some kind of tradition regarding origin connects them with the Hindu society in general. A large number of castes trace their descent from some