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SOCIAL CONDITIONS
329 The PCV refers to some other professionals without mentioning their caste. They were the interpretors (nemittiya 5.68;48.86) of marks and omens, the expositors of dreams (sumine-nemittio 7.80). the astrologers (nakkhatta pādhaya & ganiyaņū 17.106, 112) and the physicians (vejjā 65. 42;110, 27). By their very professions it can be inferred that they belonged to the higher grade of society. The Buddacarita refers to the interpreters of nimittas as Brahmins (Viprasca ......... nimittāni vicārya, 1.31) who prophesied the future of lord Buddha and they were offered presents of wealth by the king (1.46).
Sūdras :-The Sūdras are mentioned to be constituting the lowest class of the society. They pursued the professions of lower grade and served the other classes (niyakammaņirayā parapesaņa-kārayā 3. 117). The AP (16.185-186) states that the Sūdras were assigned the duty of serving other three classes and they were divided into two classes, viz. Karu and Akāru. The artisans and craftsmen came under the Káru class and those who lived by peforming services constituted the Akāru class. Manu lays down that if the Sūdras are not able to serve the higher castes, they may live by the means of Kärukarma. The Kárukarmas are said to be various artisan and craft-works (silpāni 10 99-100). According to the above definitions the following professionals, mentioned in the PCV can be put under this lower grade. The weaver (kuvinda 21.2), the potter (kumbhāra 5.207), the painter (cittayāra 1.21), the mason (sippi 78.48), the garland-maker (sippi yakayamālā 6.175); and along with these the acrobats, dancers and bamboo-players (nadanațțachattalaikhayā 2.5) also belonged to the lower caste. Then there were the betel-leaf dealers (tamboliya 77.90) the fowlers (loddhaya 49.26), pāraddhifandiya 6.140), the hunters (vāhā 82.52), the fishermen (dhivara 55. 42; 82. 43), macchabandhā (14. 15), the trappers (vāuriya 14. 15), the wood-gatherers (taṇadārujīviya 31. 44; 103. 30), and the charcoal-makers (alivīyā=ādīpikāḥ 14, 15) who lived on lower type of professions.
The kinkaras (mentioned as bath-givers 90, 7; and menial servants 35. 34 ) and kammakāras (17. 7. working as cart drivers) can be taken as performing services under the people of higher castes.
The slaves are referred to as Dåsas. They were put to the service of the Jaina temples (jiņa-hara.nioga-karane 5. 102). Their status can be inferred from a simile. It is said that Bharata, Lavana and Ankuša had subjugated the land like a slave-girl (dāsīvvavasīkayā 5. 179; 99. 18). It indicates that they were completely dependent at the mercy of their masters.
