THE SHUDRAS : THE DEGRADATION OF THE SHUDRAS 185
Brahmin is the sole judge of deciding whether a given community is entitled to Upanayana.
(3) The support of the Brahmins for the performance of Upanayana need not be based on honest grounds. It could be purchased by money. Shivaji got the support of the Brahmin Gagabhat on payment of money.
(4) The denial of Upanayana by the Brahmins need not be on legal or religious ground. It is possible for the denial to be based on purely political grounds. The refusal by the Brahmins of Upanayana to Kayasthas was entirely due to political rivalry between the two.
(5) The right of appeal against the denial of an Upanayana by a Brahmin is only to a Vidvat-Parishad and the VidvatParishad is an assembly for which a Brahmin alone is eligible to be a member.
From the foregoing discussion, it must be clear to all that the Brahmins did possess the power to deny Upanayana. Given the powers and the motive, there is nothing strange if they used it against the Shudras.
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