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R. S. Betai & J. R. Betai
Jātis are born and with that their social status als) gets fixed on the principles laid down. In his "Varņajātiviveka' Yajoavalkya does not show the great care of Manu to fix up their occupations. This shows that even though the relation of Jāti and its occupation persists in the days of Yājnavalkya, the element is growing dim. On the other side, Jāti and Varņa by Guna and Karma is almost lost. Again, Yājoavalkya, like Manu, does not state that "Śūdras shall not collect wealth even though able to do so." (Manu 11.129) This shows that even though rich, the Sūdras cannot hope to go higher in social status by caste. Again, Yājoavalkya clarifies how these Jātis constantly expand. This indicates the future expansion of Jātis.
Yājoavalkya has resolved the realistic state of Varna and Jāti as it existed in his days. He does not proceed with a preconceived notion that besides the accepted status of diferent Jātis, one is lower or one higber. Partially he accepts the different special priviledges of brābmins laid down by Manu. But he has no serious favourable attitude towards brahmins. He does not lay down severe restrictions on Sūdras and Candalas as Mana does, and Manu's very fierce dislike towards the latter in not found in Yājaavalkya. The only word of importance that he has used for him is Sarva-dharma-babiskặta' (1.93). The idea of high and low, as it may be prevalent in any society in the world was found in the Indian society. Yajnavalkya lays it down but does not give very serious importance to it. He adopts the stratification that he found in his society and accords sanction to it. The stratification in the Jätis in India then was due mainly to these factors - form of marriage, Anuloma and Pratiloma marriages and partially due to occupation and economic condition.
Stratification in Indian Society.
Stratification is scientifically defined by western scholars but stratification as such has existed in all societies in the world as in the Indian society. Let us seek some clarification about social stratification before we understand what it was in the days of Yajnavalkya. Rightly it is stated by Davis that
“Men have always dreamed of a world in which distiuctions of rank did not occur. Yet this dream has to face reality. Any society must distribute its individuals in the positions of its social structure and induce them to perform the duties of these positions."7
7. 'Human Society,' Kingsly Davis, p. 366
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