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JULY, 1983
33
about them without taking into consideration the history of the localities with which they were associated.49
It is apparently clear from the evidences, as pointed out, that in the beginning the word 'Vratya’ was used to denote Sangha and a tribe or caste, but later on with the development of Indian society the very word was applied to signify the people who did not observe the customs and rites of the Vedic Aryans and those who became fallen in the Vedic traditions. It seems that the culturally advanced Vratyas merged with the Vedic Aryans, while the culturally backward lower Vratyas were condemned as fallen or outcaste.
[To be continued
See Index to the names in the Mahabharata, p. 752, S. Sorensen.,cf. Moh., V. 1229; VII. 5965, VIII. 2038, 2045, 2057, 2009, 2090, XII. 10869, XIII, 2621 for reference to Vratyas, cf. Der Vratya, pp. 233-40, cf. Yogapraxis, 176 ff. Hauer, vide Vratyas in Ancient India, p. 16.
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