Dr. Satyan Sharma
Department of Sanskrit, Panjab University. From the city named after देवी चण्डी, ‘चण्डीगढ़’.
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Was asked about a statement of Aitareya Brāhmaṇa according to which 'Śūdra can be beaten at will'. Although I am no expert on Brāhmaṇa texts, but I do care about the context in whi...
From a book published in 1874. It tells that the Dhair (described as outcast) was one of the village council. He was the protector of village boundaries, an authority regarding the...
In Bṛhaspatismṛti, the king is told to protect the dharmas of those born of pratilomas, those residing in forts, and the dharmas of specific deśa & jāti. Even though, elsewhere the...
The praise of शूद्रजाति composed by कामदेव (कौण्डिन्यवर्य) ईश्वरवदनभुजोरुप्रभवा ब्रह्मादिजातयस्तिस्त्रः। तासामाधारार्थं चतुर्थजातिश्च तत्पदाज्जाता॥५॥ अस्या जातेस्ताभ्यो जातिभ्यश्...
The 'varṇa by birth' system sounds linear and easily comprehensible only if one does not consider thousands of years of mixed varṇa marriages, the offspring as a result of them, an...
"Brāhmaṇa is not superior to Cāṇḍāla" - Medhātithi (on Manusmṛti 10.112) Why? He says that it is only between two things of the same category, that one is said to be superior to t...