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Vol. XXII, No. 4
203
The creed of the Pashupatas was propagated by Shiva himself, Kaņāda preached Vaishesika, Gautama Nyaya, Kapila Sankhya, Bphaspati Chārvāka and Vişņu bimself incarnated as Buddha preached Buddhism. Shiva preached the doctrine of Māya in the guise of a Brāhmana (i c. Shankarāchārya) which was but a disguised form of Buddhism. Jaimini composed Mimānsăan atheist system 11 Six of the Purāņas (Matsya, Kūrma, Linga, Shiva, Skanda and Agni) lead people astray and so do six of the Smrtis (Gautam, Brhaspati, Samvarta, Yama, Shankha and Ushanā). As reading and listening to these Purāņas and Smptis leads to hell, a wise man should ever shun them 12
Even if it is granted that such propaganda led to untouchability, it remains to be explained why the Buddhists alone were affected. Brābmanas had no less hatred for the Jainas, Chārvakas and Păshupatas, why did they not become untouchable then ? Moreover, despite such attack, the Purāņas (including the Vaişņava oncs) adopted the Sankhya system with slight modifications and it became respectable on the part of the Brahmanas to learn and teach the heretic philosophies mentioned above. Shankarācbarya was branded a Buddhist in disguise but came to be revered by the Hindus despite that. Nor were the Purānas and Smstis denounced in the Padmapurāņa thrown a way by the Hindus, why did the Buddhist alone become untouchables then ? If á section of the Buddbists ate beef and that was the reason of their degradation, the Kāpālikas were far worse than them, why were they not degreaded then ? Untouchability by untouchables
That the contempt for the Brahmanas led to untouchability cannot be accepted also because it does not agree with what we know about the untouchables. That the untouchables do not receive Mantra from a Brāhmana that they do not have Brāhmaņa priests, that they keep the Brāhmanas far from their houses and localities is simply the negative aspect of the social reality. But if the untouchables are really descendants of a section of Buddhists, we expect something positive as well to show that. Despite oppression and degradation they should bave preserved at least some of the essentials of Buddhism. It is not too much to expect that as followers of the egalitarian creed of Buddhism do not harbour ill-will against their own brethren or practise discrimination against them. The attack of the triumphant enemy should have cemented differences if any. among them and strengthened their solidarity. Nothing of the kind is seen in reality.
Gods and goodesses of the untouchables are different from those
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