1902.] S. C. Vidyabhusana —Vratya and Satnkara Theories of Caste. 161 
Manu affords us a pretty long list of the Vratya people. In his list 
of Vratya Brahmans* we find the following people :— 
Vratya Brahmana .—“ From the Vratya Brahmana spring the wicked 
Bhrjja Kantaka, the Avantya, the Vatadhana, the Puspadha, and the 
paikha. ” 
In reality these people were distinctly foreign or aboriginal races. 
Avantya .—Referred to in Baudhayana (1, 2, 13) was probably the 
name of the Brahmana inhabitants of Avanti (Ujjain). The probable 
reason of the Avantyas being designated Vratyas is that they were 
greatly influenced by Buddhism. Avanti, which formed the western 
part of the great kingdom of Malwa, was ruled by the eldest sons of the 
Buddhist emperors of Magadha. Thus Asoka, who was emperor of 
Magadha, had at first been ruler of Avanti. So also was Asoka’s son 
Mahinda prince of Avanti. It is a well-known fact that the priests of 
Avanti took a prominent part in the great second Buddhist convocation 
about 443 B.O. In fact, Brahmanism did not properly flourish in Avanti 
until about 71 B.C., when it declared independence of Malava. We can 
therefore fairly conjecture that the inhabitants of Avanti were called 
Vratyas, owing to their leaning towards Buddhism. « 
Vdta-dhana .—Enumerated among the northern tribes, is probably the 
same as Vethadina or Vetha-dipa described in the canonical Pali works. 
Accordiug to the Maha-parinibbana-sutta the Brahmanas of Vetha-dipa 
were devotees to Buddha and his religion. In chap. VI of the work 
it is distinctly stated that, on the demise of Buddha in 543 B.C., the 
Brahmanas of Vetha-dipa claimed and actually received 8th part of the 
relics of his body on which they built a great stupa. Vetha-dipa was 
situated in or near the district of Sahabad. We can thus well imagine 
why the Vata-dhanas or Brahmanas of Vetha-dipa were called Vratyas. 
Vratya-Ksatriya .—Among the Vratya-Ksatriyas f Manu includes 
mang g firmer i 
s ^ ii ii 
farm ^rfire siram i 
Jim sfT^jun^i^’r =3 II 8^ ii 
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