the untouchable

[blizzard90]

in india the untouchables are
seen as polluting people and their
dwellings were at a distance from the
settlements of the four Varna
communities. The untouchables were
not allowed to touch people from the
four Varnas. They were not allowed
to enter houses of the higher Varnas.
They were not allowed to enter the
temples. They were not allowed to
use the same wells used by the
Varnas. In public occasions they
were compelled to sit at a distance
from the four Varnas. In regions
where the attitude towards the
untouchables were more severe, not
only touching them was seen
polluting, but also even a contact
with their shadow, or stepping in their shadow was seen as bad luck and
polluting. because of any reason, there was
a contact between an untouchable
and a member of the Varnas, the
Varna member became defiled and
had to immerse or wash himself with
water to be purified. In strict
societies, especially among the
'Twice Born' (the three top Varnas)
the touched 'Twice Born' also had to
pass through some religious
ceremonies to purify himself from
the pollution. If the untouchable
entered a house and touched things
of a Varna member, the Varna
members used to wash or clean the
places where the untouchable
touched and stepped.
In some incidences the untouchables
who associated with the Varna
members were beaten and even
murdered for that reason. Some
higher hierarchy Jats also had
servants whose job was to go or
walk before the high Jats members
and announce their coming to the
streets and to see to it that the
streets would be clear of untouchable
people.