Malatimadhava (study)
by Jintu Moni Dutta | 2017 | 52,468 words | ISBN-10: 8120813057 | ISBN-13: 9788120813052
This page relates ‘Origin and Number of Caste’ from the English study on the Malatimadhava of Bhavabhuti:—A Prakarana type of Drama in ten acts revolving around the love-story of Malati (from Padmāvatī) and Madhava (from Vidarbha). This study discusses the history of its author and the literary, social, religious, historical and cultural aspects of the Malatimadhava.
Part 1.2 - Origin and Number of Caste
The division of caste was first traced in the Puruṣasūkta of the Ṛgveda.
According to this sūkta, the different varṇas were created from different parts of the body of puruṣa or primal man.—
- the Brāhmaṇas were created from his head,
- the Kṣatriyas were created from his hands,
- the Vaiśyas were created from his thighs and
- the Śūdras were created from his feet.[1]
Apart from the Puruṣasūkta, in the 8th maṇḍala of the Ṛgveda also, the division of society into varṇas is found. There the three varṇas viz., the Brahma, the Kṣatra and the Viśaḥ are mentioned.[2]
The Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa expressly mentions that [the following are the four varṇas]:
In the Manusmṛti, Manu has emphatically said that there are only four varṇas and there is no fifth varṇa.[4]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ṛgveda,X.90.12
[2]:
[3]:
Śathapatha Brāhmaṇa,V.4.6.9