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Vol. XXII, No. 3
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these terms which mislead the researchers too. That seems to be the case here too. We shall now, therefore, collect the evidence that shows pollution was observed not only by Brahmaņas but by Kṣātriyas and Vaigyas also.
Yajnavalkya prescribes a hundred pana as fine if a Câṇḍāla dares touch the higher three varņas27. Visņu Dharmasūtra says the untouchable deserves beating for the same offences. Hemadri quotes from Garuḍapurāṇa and Parāśara to show that sixteen castes are to be treated as candālas in matter of sight, conversation and touch". They include Rajaka, Nata, Buruḍa, Kaivarta, Meda and Bhilla as well as blacksmith, goldsmith, barber, carpenter etc. Angirasa Smrti enumerates seven castes as Antyajas, namely, Rajaka, Charmakara, Naţa, Buruḍa, Kaivarta, Meda and Bhilla. Eating cooked food of these castes requires atonement for purification, Candrāyaṇa Kṛchchha and ardha-kṛchchha are prescribed for Brahmanas, Ksatriyas and Vaisyas respectively in this connection". Angira prescribes purificatory measures for all the four varṇas separately in case they dip their pots and take water from a Canḍāla's well by mistakes. Apastamba Smrti enjoins atonement as a must for all the varņas if they drink water from a Canḍāla's well or pot3s. It is also stated there that Cāṇḍālas touch pollutes every varṇa and all of them require atonement. Despite such statements in the Dharmasastras we are expected to believe there were no untouchables at the time !
There are stronger objections to Ambedkar's thesis and basic ones at that time. The distinction between Impure and untouchable mentioned by Ambedkar in Chapter XV of his book goes against the well-known concepts of sociology and does not agree with the distinction between the two drawn by Ambedkar himself in Chapter II of his work. So we turn now to the distinction between Impure and untouchable pointed out in Chapter II and examine how far that distinction is applicable in case of Caṇḍāla etc.
1. Impure person is isolated for a certain period on occasions like birth, marriage, death etc. while untouchable is avoided always.
2. After the expiry of a certain period or after performance of certain rites, the impure is allowed to mix with others in society. But untouchability is permanent. People polluted by the contact of untouchable become pure by bathing etc. but there is nothing that purifies the untouchable.
3. Impurity is caused by certain factors to particular persons or at most to their close relations while untouchability is attached to entire groups:
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