Animal waste
superior to Shudras
The Shastras also proclaimed that animals excreta is superior to Shudras because drinking of cows urine would purify the person defined by the touch of Shudra. (Samvart Smriti 183).
'Samvart Smriti' says if anyone belonging to the twice born category (Brahmin, Kshatriyas and Vaishya) happened take water by mistake from a holy place or from a river where Shudras what engaged in work, he should purify himself by taking 'panchagavya' ?a preparation of cow dung, cow urine, milk curd and ghee.
According to 'Prashar Smriti' if a twice born drinks water by mistake from a well that by Shudra he should fast for 24 hours. Again if the drinks the water from the well which had become impure by the touch of utensil belonging to a sweeper, he has to drink cow urine and eat barley soaked in cow's urine for period of three days. (Parasara Smriti Ch. 6).
The impurity caused by the touch of the Shudra is infectious if scriptures are the believed. For, even an indirect touch of the Shudra can defile a caste Hindu. In other words, a twice born can become impure if he is touched by those who have become polluted by coming in contact with the Shudra.
It is mentioned in the 'Apastambh Smriti' that a twice born after observing fast for one day and one night had to take 'Panchgavya' if he gets polluted by the contact of those who themselves were defiled by drinking water from the well made impure by a Shudra.
The Shastras also proclaimed that animals excreta is superior to Shudras because drinking of cows urine would purify the person defined by the touch of Shudra. (Samvart Smriti 183).
'Samvart Smriti' says if anyone belonging to the twice born category (Brahmin, Kshatriyas and Vaishya) happened take water by mistake from a holy place or from a river where Shudras what engaged in work, he should purify himself by taking 'panchagavya' ?a preparation of cow dung, cow urine, milk curd and ghee.
According to 'Prashar Smriti' if a twice born drinks water by mistake from a well that by Shudra he should fast for 24 hours. Again if the drinks the water from the well which had become impure by the touch of utensil belonging to a sweeper, he has to drink cow urine and eat barley soaked in cow's urine for period of three days. (Parasara Smriti Ch. 6).
The impurity caused by the touch of the Shudra is infectious if scriptures are the believed. For, even an indirect touch of the Shudra can defile a caste Hindu. In other words, a twice born can become impure if he is touched by those who have become polluted by coming in contact with the Shudra.
It is mentioned in the 'Apastambh Smriti' that a twice born after observing fast for one day and one night had to take 'Panchgavya' if he gets polluted by the contact of those who themselves were defiled by drinking water from the well made impure by a Shudra.
Shudra's divided
The Hindu lawgivers have tried their best to sow
the seed of rift among Shudras themselves. They took great care to keep Shudras
divided so that the question of their coming together could not arise. According to 'Parashar Smriti,' Chapter 6, if a twice born vomits the water which he drank from the vessel belonging to a scavenger, he can get over the sin by observing 'Prajapaty' vow. In case he fails to vomit and it gets absorbed in his body, he must observe the 'Chandrayan' vow.
Even these vows have been categorized: 'Santapan' for Brahmins, 'Prajapaty' for Kshatriyas and 'Ardh Prajapatya' for Vaishyas.
If a twice born or a Shudra happens to drink water on milk or God from the vessel of an outcast Chandal, the former can escape from the scene by observing 'Brahm Varchas' vow and the later by austerity and charity according to his capacity.
'Atri Smriti' also corroborates this practice of atonement of sin with the slight difference. It recommends 'Chandrayan' for Brahmins and 'Santapan' for Kshatriyas. Vaishyas have to drink 'Panchgavya', after observing simple fast for six nights and a Shudra can mitigate the sin by charity after three nights fast.
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