Perpetuation of the Caste System through the Iconography and Chronicles of the Jati Purana

Abstract

The Indian society comprises of various castes and sub-castes. The system has prevailed for thousands of years and history has it that the criticism inflicted on it has always died down gradually in course of time. The society as if possesses an intrinsic system to nullify all the accusations against the caste system. The caste system continues to exist even today, albeit with a few modifications.

It is difficult today to pinpoint the exact roots of the caste system but it is generally believed that it was probably formalised by the Smritis. In addition, the Jati Puranas of all the castes and communities put in their mite in their preservation internally. The Jati Puranas continue to exist to a certain extent in Telangana even today and are performed with the help of chronicles, music and scrolls preserving thereby the caste system. The present research paper is an elucidation of the same phenomenon.