Chandala

Chandala ( Sanskrit: चाण्डाल, Candala, in modern Indian languages ​​Chandal ) is a contemptuous term in Sanskrit literature for as niederklassig viewed. They belong to the scheduled castes (see caste). The term Chandal is used in India as a dirty word.

Early Indian literature

The term first appears in the Manusmriti and Mahabharata on in connection with the case separation. In the Manusmriti is referred to as the Chandala caused by " box mix " descendant of a male and a Shudra Brahman. You assigned to the Sapaka the lowest position; they are outside of society.

" The habitation of Chandalas and Cavpacas ( sapaka ) should be outside the village; them should be granted no dishes ( apapatra ); their property consists of dogs and donkeys. Your clothes should be clothes of dead and her jewelry made ​​of iron. Take your food, they should of broken plates; and they must constantly wander. "

Observations of Faxian

The Buddhist Chinese pilgrim Faxian mentioned in the records of his trip to India in the early 5th century, the Chandalas as the only ones eating the onion and garlic and live separately from the others. You must make itself felt when they come to cities or market places, so you can avoid contact with them. The Chandalas are the only ones who hunt and sell meat, which indicates their status as untouchables.

Chandalas Today

Many Dalits in North India, particularly the states of Maharashtra, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal are referred to as a lump sum Chandals. In Bengal, efforts were made to change the name in Namasudra to escape the negative effect of the term.

Use of the term outside India

The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche took in several of his writings with the term ( in an older German transcription chandala ) and others Reference to the Christian religion. The use of the word by him back to the French writer and Indologist Louis Jacolliot and his work Les législateurs religieux back. Nietzsche took over the possibility gross errors Jacolliots.

The Swedish author August Strindberg published in 1889 influenced by the writings of Nietzsche a novel titled chandala.