manusmriti

LAWS OF MANU
Buddhism was never impedimented. In 10 th A. D. came the Turks invaders. They led
raids deep into India and plundered temples. The Turks were able to conquer large
parts of Northern India and they created a powerful state – the Delhi Sultanate. This
period was a turning point for downfall Buddhism and Hinduism prevailed once again
over the Buddhism. In the absence of state support Buddhism was gradually
overtaken by the Hindu Religion. By the end of the 12 th Century the so-called Sudras
were pushed once again to the deep darkness from where they were pulled by
Mahatma Budh or Lord Mahavir. During turmoil of these days Sudra gained some
awareness about fundamental rights. Saints like Shankaryacharya (788-820),
Ramanuja (1017-1137), Ramanand (1360-1470), Vallabhacharya (1479–1531),
Jaidev started preaching of the Hindus religion once again. Similarly, the Bhakti
movement originated in ancient Tamilnadu and began to spread to the north during
the late medieval ages when North India was under Islamic rule. The Islamic rulers
were pressing public to convert to religion from Hinduism to Islam. The Bhakti
movement had its own importance to save the Sudras from the clutches of useless
burden of heavy religious rituals.
Bhakti means staunch love or devotion to God. The devotees or Bhagats of God do
not believe in Caste distinctions and class hatred and believe in the brotherhood of all
humanity. They believe in the unity of God and discard all sorts of ceremonies and
rituals. The Bhakti reformers preached equality and brotherhood of man. They let hard
on the caste distinctions, rituals, sacrifices unnecessary religious rites etc. It gave a
great set back to the superiority of the Brahmins and priestly class in the society.19
Among these great saints of the Bhagti movement were Namdev, Kabir, Ravidass,
Tarlochan, Guru Nanak, Tukaram, Dadu, Ghasidas, and many more, who came
forward for the protection of Sudras. Many of them were Sudras themselves. These
saints did their best through their teachings to remove the untouchability. But these
medieval Bhaktas never made some rganized system for the removal of caste
system neither had they presented any social model to bring equality and unity at all
castes. It was only Guru Nanak the founder of Sikhism who totally rejected the caste
system and rganized social institutions based on the equality of all castes in the
northern India.”
See also http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1043&context=socssp
History of the Indian Caste System and its Impact on India Today By Manali S. Deshpande Advised by
Dr. Harold Kerbo, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Tripartriate Division of Vedic Aryan Society