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Shudra (IAST: Sanskrit and Hindi: शूद्र Śūdra, normally now spelt Sudra or Súdra in English, which has produced a spelling pronunciation.) is the lowest Varna in the traditional four-section division in the Hindu caste system. Their assigned and expected role in post-Vedic North India was that of farmers, craftsmen and labourers. The four Varnas are Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra.

Origins

Whilst the origins of the other varnas can be traced to Indo-Aryan or even Proto-Indo-European words, the word is translated as the Sanskrit word for color of the soul. In the Shanti Parva of Mahabharata, it is said that there was only one Varna - Brahmana - in the beginning. The other Varnas were formed depending on the dominance of the three Gunas - Sattwa, Rajah and Tamah - in one's self.

Etymology

The etymology of the word is not certain. One theory is that Shudra comes from the word śuchāt dravanam (शुचात् द्रवनम्) a person who is in suffering/mourning/pain, who needs mental or physical cleansing. This theory is however intended to demean the significance of the Varna system. Shudra was a common Sanskrit word, any person regardless of his/her varna to could be addressed as shudra. An implied version of this common form has become traditionally associated with the varna system. It is also mentioned in the purusha-sukta of Rigveda where shudras are said to have emanated from the feet of the lord (पद्भ्याम् शूद्र् अजायत padbhyām śūdro ajāyata). A very symbolic statement indeed. It denotes that the three other varnas which made up the parts of purusha (पुरुश, the lord) were supported by the shudras as the feet form the supporting system of the entire body. This can be understood clearly from the fact that the shudras were basically farmers, potters, cobblers etc (anything the other three varnas would not do viz, teaching, fighting and trade) and hence they formed a support system for the entire society. Unfortunately, direct misinterpretations of these vedic hymns have caused a lot of unrest and confusion in the modern Hindu society. Vedas do not establish supremacy of any varna over the other nor do they say head of the Lord is superior to his feet. Sri Krishna in Bhagavad Gita clarifies (Chapter 4 verse 13) states "catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah tasya kartaram api mam viddhy akartaram avyayam" meaning that the fours varnas were established based on one's karma/duties .

Jāti

Main article: Jāti

The theoretical and the original varnas carried to its extreme in the ages following the 'Vedic' Indian period. Every Jāti claimed to belong to some Varna.

Local variations of Jāti sub-castes exist within the Shudra caste. A sub-caste is a local endogenous group practising a lower end Shudras will be untouchable Dalits.

Saints in Hinduism

Sant Bogar, goldsmith, a South Indian Siddhar who became a Siddhar under the guidance of Kalanginaathar. It is said that he proceeded to China to teach the ways of the Siddhars. There is even a myth that Lao Tze is none other than Bhogar. Bhogar’s Samadhi is to be found in the South West corridor at the Palani Muruga shrine.
Sant Dadu, cotton carder, founded Dadu Panth, tried to bridge gap between Hindus and Muslims
Sant Enadinatha, Shanar (Toddy tapper) devotee of Shiva
Sant Goroba, Kumbhar (potter)
Sant Ilakkulaccanrar, Shanar devotee of Shiva
Sant Janabai, Dasi, domestic servant in Sant Namdev's home, performed Vatsalya Bhakti on Lord Vitthala
Sant Kabir, member of the weaver caste and Vaishnava devotee of Lord Rama. He tried to bring peace between Hindus and Muslims. He is said to have been found in a lotus flower according to a legend.
Sant Kahar, a weaver, devotee of Vishnu (Ranchi University P. 58 Journal of Social Research)
Sant Kwaja Lassa Sahib
Sant Kanchipurna , Vaishnava devotee of Lord Vishnu
Sant Matsyendranath, said to be born out of a fish and then adopted by a fisherwoman, worshiped by Shaiva, Vaishnavas, tantric and Buddhists (Bista, P. 34 Fatalism and Development: Nepal's Struggle for Modernization).
Sant Namdev, Vaishnava devotee of Lord Vithoba. It is said that he is a part (Amsa) of Lord Krishna, wrote Abhangs devoted to Krishna
Sant Nammalvar
Sant Raka Kumbhar, potter, devotee of Vitthal
Revana Siddeshwara, Kuruba, devotee of Lord Shiva
Sant Sajan Kasai, butcher
Sant Savata Mali, Mali (gardener) from Aran, Maharashtra, devotee of Vithal, wrote Abhangs devoted to Krishna
Sant Sena, Nai (barber), wrote Abhangs devoted to Krishna
Sant Sachidanand, Nai, devotee of Dattatreya
Siddharameswar Maharaj, a devotee of Lord Shiva
Sant Tirukkacchi Nambi
Sant Kannappa Nayanar, a devotee of Lord Shiva
Sant Tiruneelakanda Nayanar, potter, devotee of Shiva, one of 63 Shaivite saints
some of the Azhvar , devotee of Vishnu

Maharishis

Maharishi Ramananda Raya, a very important devotee of Krishna
Maharshi Aitreya Mahidasa, composed the Aitreya Brahmana and sections 1-3 of the Aitreya Aranyaka (the latter contains the Aitreya Upanishad - one of the 10 canonical Upanishads for Hindus) belonging to the Rigveda.
Maharishi Karve

Sant Ravidas

Other Sages

Bhagat Amir Shankar, butcher, devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba

Bhagat Avvaiyyar, Azhvar
Bhagat Bala Ganpat Shimpi, tailor, friend of Shirdi Sai Baba
Bhakta Jaidev, made poetry of the Gita-Govinda
Bhakta Kakshivat, a Brahmavadin, was the son of Dirghatamas by a Shudra maid servant (Brihaddevata 4.24-25). His descendants are also referred to as "Kakshivat".
Bhagat Mhalsapati Sonar, goldsmith, the supreme devotee of the saint Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi
Manikyavachakar
Mudisoodum Perumal, Nadar, a religious Ayyavazhi reformer
Karta Ram Maharaj, Rajasthani, meghawals (leather-weavers) the guru of members of his caste
Kashiram Shimpi, tailor
Gabaji Sutar, carpenter, devotee of Sai Baba in Sai's time
Bhakta Narayan Baba, the youngest son of Tukaram, began Pandharpur Festival in 1685
Rajak Var-Pradanam, Chanda (washerman), first disciple of Shripad Shri Vallabha avatar
Bhakta Rani Rasmoni, Bengali, founded the Dakshineswar Kali Temple
Bhakta Madanapala was the son of a boatwoman
Bhakta M.S. Subbulakshmi, devotee of Vishnu, musician and was taught Bhajagovindam and Vishnu Sahasranamam from her guru Chandrashekarendra Saraswati
Bhakta Vatsa, according to the Rig Veda, a descendant of Kanva RV 6.1; 8.8 etc; was called a Shudra-putra (Panchavimsha Brahman 14.66).
Bhakta Sarala Dasa, wrote the Mahabharata in Oriya. He was renamed Sarala from Siddheswar Parida (after the boon Goddess Sarala.)

Avatars

Shri Ayya Vaikundar, considered incarnation of Vishnu in the Ayyavazhi Smarta sect

Sant Ravidas

Shudras and North Indian society

It is commonly believed that the caste division is somewhat uniform in North Indian society compared to South Indian society. However some prominent rulers of North India were believed to have originated from the Shudra caste. Ex: The Nandas and the Mauryas.

Medieval royal dynasties

Inscriptions of Shudra dynasties declare that belonging to the fourth varna was a matter of pride. An inscription of Singaya-Nayaka (1368 CE) says:

The three castes, viz. Brahmanas and the next , were produced from the face, the arms and the thighs of the Lord; and for their support was born the fourth caste from His feet. That this caste is purer than the former is self-evident; for this caste was born along with the river Ganges , the purifier of the three worlds. The members of this caste are eagerly attentive to their duties, not wicked, pure-minded, and are devoid of passion and other such blemishes; they ably bear all the burdens of the earth by helping those born in the kingly caste.

Another inscription relates how his relative Kapaya-Nayaka "rescued the Andhra country from the ravages of the Mohammedans".

Nair a sudra caste doing Kshathriya function who have morgatic relations with Kshathriyas and bhramins

Nairs which include Menon, Pillai etc where a sudra caste doing Kshathriya function in the state of Kerala. They had morgatic relations with Kshathriyas and Bhrimins Now they are ashamed of being called as shudras so they are pretending like Kshathriyas even with enormas evidence

Shudras outside of India

Shudra as a Varna is seen amongst the Hindus of Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bali in Indonesia. In Bali, Indonesia they form 97% of the practicing Hindu population (See Balinese caste system). During the historic period many people in Java, Cambodia and Champa (a region in Vietnam) were considered to be Shudras prior to their conversion to Islam and Buddhism.

Notes

Who were the Shudras By B. R. Ambedkar

Shudras in Ancient India/R. Chandra and K.L. Chanchreek. New Delhi, Shree Pub., 2004, xiii, 253 p., ISBN 81-88658-65-0.

Early Evidence for Caste in South India

Oxford English Dictionary, s. v. "Sudra" sic
Sastri, K. Rama (1982). "Akkalapundi grant of Singaya-Nayaka: Saka-Samvat 1290" Epigraphica Indica, vol. XIII. India: Archaeological Survey of India. pp. 259ff., v.5–7.
Sastri, K. Rama (1982). "Akkalapundi grant of Singaya-Nayaka: Saka-Samvat 1290" Epigraphica Indica, vol. XIII. India: Archaeological Survey of India. p. 261.
Caste and tribes of southern India, Edgar Thurston
Medieval Indian Literature, K.Ayyappa Panikar, Sahithiya Akadami
Malabar Manual, William Logan
Communism in Kerala, Thomas Nossiter, Royal Institute of International affairs
Femaile ascetics, Wendy Sinclair

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