The book analyses in depth the concept of impurity as depicted in the Dharmashastra and similar practices followed by the various ancient and primitive societies across the world. Survey of the Vedic Literature and Dharmashastra from Dharmasutras (600 B.C.) to main Smrities and their commentaries (1100 A.D.) at least 17 hundred years literature has been the very first and basic material for analytical approach and original Sanskrit textual Studies is the basis of the book. Scanning of vast Dharmashastra literature from Gautama to Vijnanesvara forms the foundation of the publication. For the purpose of a systematic representation, the book comprises of nine chapters. The first and the second chapters aim at laying the foundation by studying the concept of untouchability in Primitive and Ancient societies respectively. The third chapter focus on analyzing impurity as identified in the Dharmashastra. The remaining chapters analyze the core issue with respect to Rajasvalastri, Causes of untouchability, Food and Untouchability, Purity of food, Purification of objects and means of purification and Candala-The only untouchable by birth in Dharma-shastra. The epicenter of the study conducted for this book has been on ‘establishing the variation by identifying the differences between the concept of impurity in our Dharmashastra and its present form prevalent in the Indian society’.
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