Page:Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists.djvu/28

Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists poets, such as Tulsi Das and Kamban, ranking in power with Vālmīki himself. The material of the epics, more over, as also of many of the Purānas, has been made familiar not only to the literate, but also to all the unlettered, not excepting women, by constant recitation, and also by means of the drama, in folk-song, and in painting. Until quite modern times no Hindu boy or girl grew up unfamiliar with the story of the Rāmāyana; and their highest aspiration was to be like Rāma or Sītā.

The Mythical Origin of Caste

It is in the Rāmāyana, and in the Laws of Manu (c. 500 ) that we find the chief account of the ideal Hindu system of Colour (caste). The mythical origin of Colour, according to Manu, is as follows: Brāhmans are sprung from the mouth, Kshatriyas from the arm, Vaishyas from the thigh, and Shūdras from the foot of Brahmā. This myth is true in an allegorical sense; it is used more literally to give divine sanction to the whole system. But it must not be supposed that Manu or Vālmīki describes a state of society actually existing at any one time all over India. The history of Hindu society might much rather be written in terms of the degree of approach towards or divergence from the systems of the Utopists, Vālmīki and Manu. How powerful their influence still is, compared even with the force of custom, appears in the fact that it is at the present day the aim of many reformers by no means to abolish the caste system, but gradually to unite the sub-castes until none but the four main Colours remain as effective social divisions.

This development, combined with some provision for the transference from one caste to another of those who are able and willing to adopt the traditions and accept the 8