Great Indian Religion

Author(s): G T Bettany
Publisher: Ward Lock Bowden and Co

Page 64

52 THE BRAHMANISM OF THE CODES. castus, pure. The word used in Manu is varna, or colour, while in later Hindu phrase caste is denoted by jati or jat, meaning birth.
The code of Manu was forced to recognise that wide departures took place from the original purity of caste,
Growth of although maintaining that only those born of mixed castes. wedded wives of equal castes were to be considered as belonging to the same caste as their fathers. Hence distinct names were given to the offspring between the different castes; some of these are declared to be ferocious in manners and delighting in cruelty. These had already been assigned to distinct occupations, which increased as the Hindu life grew more settled and diversified. Some of them are said to be inherently fit only for low and degrading offices, and unworthy to receive the sacramental rites. The modern development of the caste system must be dealt with later.
Finally, as to the important belief in the transmigration of souls, which in the Hindu system plays so large a part, Transmigra-it appears to have been wielded by the Brahtion of souls. mans very much as a mode of influencing actions on earth. Evil actions done with the body were to be punished by being born next in something inanimate, those done by speech were followed by birth as a bird or a beast, while sins of the mind, such as covetousness, evil thoughts, and adherence to false doctrines, led to re-birth in a low caste. Self-control in all these respects led to emancipation from all births and final blessedness. This scheme is elaborated in great detail, many gradations being fixed in descending order, each the just recompense for some fault. The specific reason for many of these cannot be imagined, although some are intelligible enough, such as these : "men who delight in doing injury become carnivorous animals; thieves, creatures consuming their own kind; for stealing grain a man becomes a rat, for stealing meat, a vulture," etc. Sensual men are said to suffer in a succession of dreadful hells and agonizing births, slavery, imprisonment in fetters. The last pages of Manu are devoted to further glorification of Brahmans who do their duty, and to the extolling of the