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Lord Mahāvīra and His Times
flute-makers, weavers, and barbers whose professions were considered to be low. MIXED CASTES
There must have been a steady increase in the mixed castes during this period, and these are found mentioned in the Dharmasūtras. These mixed castes arose not only as a result of the permitted anuloma marriages (a member of a higher caste marrying a woman or women of lower castes), but also as a result of the prohibited pratiloma marriages (where the husband's caste was lower than that of the wife). Difference in occupation must have resulted sooner or later in an increase in the number of such mixed ċastes.
From the four Varņas, there came into existence several castes and sub-castes, such as Ambaștha, Ayogava, Sūta, and Karna. A passage in the Sūtrakritāngai names the following classes in this order-Ugras, Bhogas, Aikshvākavas, Jñātrīs, Kauravas, Warriors, Brāhmaṇas, Lichchhavis, commanders, and generals. Other passages of the Jaina scriptures add princes, artists, and Kshatriyas.3 The Nāgas, too, formed a part of the country's population. Many cities were named after castes or professions, e.g., Uttara-Kshatriya-Kundapura (after Kshatriyas), Dakshiņa-Brāhmana-Kundapura (after Brāhmanas), Nātika (after Jñātis or jñātrikas), Bhoganagara (after the Bhogas), and Vāņijyagrāma (the village of commerce.) SLAVERY
During this period, slavery was quite common in the society, and both male and female slaves (dāsas and dasis) were employed for doing all sorts of household work. Not only kings and wealthy people, but even ordinary families could keep slaves. The practice was confined not only to cities but was in vogue also in the villages. It was not restricted to a particular Varna, but even Kshatriyas, Brāhmaṇas, and men belonging to the upper strata of society were reduced to
1. SBE, XLV. p. 339. 2. Ibid, XLV. p. 71. 3. Ibid, p. 321. 4. Dia. II, p. 288,
