z:\ ambedkar\vol 04\vol4 05.indd MK SJ DK YS 23 9 2013/YS 8 11 2013 221
RIDDLE NO. 18
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Some of the names of the mixed castes mentioned by Manu and the other Smritikaras appear to be quite fictitious.
For some of the communities mentioned as being of bastard origin have never been heard of before Manu. Nor does any one know what has happened to them since. They are today non-existent without leaving any trace behind. Caste is an insoluble substance and once a caste is formed it maintains its separate existence, unless for any special reason it dies out. This can happen but to a few.
Who are the Ayogava, Dhigvana, Ugra, Pukkasa, Svapaka, Svapacha, Pandusopaka, Ahindaka, Bandika, Matta, Mahikar, Shalika, Shundika, Shulika, Yekaj, Kukunda to mention only a few. Where are they? What has happened to them?
Let us now proceed to compare Manu with the rest of Smritikars. Are they unanimous on the origin of the various mixed castes referred to by them? Far from it compare the following cases.
Smriti Father’s caste Mother’s caste I AYOGAVA
Manu Shudra Vaishya
Aushanas Vaishya Kshatriya
Yajnavalkya Shudra Vaishya
Baudhayana Vaishya Kshatriya
Agni Purana Shudra Kshatriya II UGRA
Manu Kshatriya Shudra
Aushanas Brahman Shudra
Yajnavalkya Kshatriya Vaishya
Vashishtha Kshatriya Vaishya
Suta Vaishya Shudra III NISHADA
Manu Brahmana Shudra
Aushanas Brahmana Shudra
Baudhayana Brahmana Shudra
Yajnavalkya Brahmana Shudra
Suta Sanhita Brahmana Vaishya
Suta Sanhita Brahmana Shudra
Vashishta Vaishya Shudra IV PUKKASA
Manu Nishada Shudra
Brihad-Vishnu Shudra Kshatriya
Brihad-Vishnu Vaishya Kshatriya