Page:The Cyclopedia of India (Specimen Issue).pdf/155

 THE CYCLOPEDIA 0i" lNDlA.

With the progress of Hinduism, the principle oi caste division as a method oi social organization became more rigid. birth became the supreme

“WWW test. and the multiplication of "'.."'m" m pruiasions resulted in a multi-

‘ tion oi castes. the members 0! each hein sternly prohibited from changing either the one or t c other. But this pernicious system Was the growth of lutnre times: at present caste was a new principle and as yet hardly an evil principle. What marked the Epic Age was simply a division of the people into a lew main groups according to their precailing occupations. The same mild class division existed in most of the kingdoms of medizeval Europe. " In the Epic Period the body of the epic (except the priests and soldiers) still form one united iii-3321::th and had not been disunited into miserably divi communities as at the present day. The body of the people were still entitled to religious knowledge and learning, and to perform religious rites for themselves. just like Brahmans and Kshatri- a.“ And even intcﬂnarriage hotween Brahmans,

ttiyas and Vaisyas was allowed under certain restrictions. However much. therefore. we may deplore the commencement ol the caste system. we should never forget that the worst results 0! that s tern. the priestly monopon 0/ learning. the (lamina in t body a] the proﬁle. and Me absolidr social so ration sarong castes. were unknown in india until the uranik times." ilnch interesting Information hearing on this matter may be gleaned from the literature 01 the period. Thus the White Yajur Veda enumerates a number of fusions lolloWed by the hody oi the people. Vntsyas and Sudrns; but as yet these prolessions did not [arm distinct castes. and the members at each were not separated from each otherhyrigid caste-haulers. The up .rclasses. tests and warriors. entoyed some specin caste prlmleges. such as exemption from taxation. but they were not yet separated [mm the min a: the Sets-:5: body; of their [helllow ItIitizens by I‘m", m an usnrmounta e We of caste 2: m superiority. Brahmans. Kshntri 'as. and Vaisytts ate and drank toget er. tntermarried. and received the same religious instruc- tion. all possessed the right of sacriﬁce and all alike wore the \‘ajnopavrta or sacred thread. which came into use during the Epic Period. A passage in one ol the Brahmanas shows that persons born in one caste or community might enter into another. Another shows that men not born Brahmans might become Brahmans by their re tation and their learning. And although the Satin oes not seem to have been admitted to sac. riﬁce, yet in one of the Upanishads we ﬁnd a Brahman imparting knowledge to a Sudrn, accepting presents from him, and takmg his daughter to wife. Such a tolerant ' tion of caste privileges Would haVe beenahsoluteg impossible a few centuries later. when the hereditary principle had once become inexorable.

n: m1 we, so. Socially. the chief diﬁerence between the Vedic and

theEpic Periorhis thegreater reﬁnement and culture which characterise: the latter. The rough warrior

settlers of the Punjab had changed into the cultured citieens of pruperous kingdoms. m&;: The royal courts were thriving cen- tres of learning and the kings them- selvns its patrons. Such a king as analta encouraged public discussions on religion an 'ﬁhilmophy. and gathered round him the wise men oi the ne' hbouro lug kingdoms. The reign of law and order had a; executive and judicial ofﬁcers maintained order and administered the law. Walled towns were springing u on all sides, and wealth was rapidly increasing. “ he wealth of rich men consisted in gold and silver; and jewels. in cars. horses. cows, mules and slaves, in houses and fertile ﬁelds, and even in elephants." Gold. silver and other metals were in constant use.

What. however. is at the greatest interest in a study of early Hindu civilization. is social organization and the points in which the men of ancient time differed lrom their descendants of late centuries. The chief social feature of this age is of cause the rise at caste, a subject of such importance that it has claim- ed a special section for itself. Hardly a less interesting

subject is the position at women.

"$233"? Here the customs oi the Epic Period show but slight cha from those which marked the Vedic Age. The a ute seclusion at women was still unknmm. The Brah— manas contain many showing the high esteem in which women were still eld. They were consider ed as the intellectual companions oi their husbands. as their helpers in the journev of lite and the partners of their religious duties. They moved lreely in society. frequented public festivities and sights inherited and [unstained property. and often distin islted them- selves in science and in learning. T position of Woman in these early times does not compare badly with that of her sisters in early Greece and Rome. and it was not until the tell ’on of the tiindus he- came dehasod in term. unti their society lost its freedom and elasticity in Puranik and Hohatltmedau times. that the position of women was degrnded to a lower level. Conlormahly with the high esteem in which Women were held. marriage was not regarded from such a otteaided point oi view as it afterwards came to be, child marriage was unknown. women in the upper classes at least had some share in the choice of husbands. and widow temarriage had the distinct sanction ol the sacred books.

When speaking ol the social constitution of the \‘edic Age. we remarked upon the prevalence of ﬂesh-

nah mm rating. This custom still continu.

" ed in the 1-: 'c Period. when animal

land. along with various lti of grains. formed the

staple diet of the In view oi the claims 01

modern vegetarianism it would be interesting. al-

though of course fruitless. to enquire whether man

for man the Hindus of today are physically as strong as their ﬂesh~eating ancestors.

We conclude. this section with a striking ‘ctnrc, given by Dutt. in his “ Civilization in Ancient dia." ol life such as it was lived by the citizen of Hastinapura or Avodhya three thousand years ago. The account is of course based upon contemporary literature. “The towns Were surrounded by walls,