Duties of the Chandalas as per Manusmriti

Manusmriti is an ancient Indian legal text that lays down various social, religious and legal codes of conduct. One of the important aspects of Manusmriti is the division of society into four varnas or castes. The Chandalas were considered the lowest of the low and were subjected to various restrictions and duties.

The duties of the Chandalas as per Manusmriti are as follows:

1. Collection and disposal of corpses: The Chandalas were traditionally responsible for collecting and disposing of dead bodies. They had to carry out this duty without any hesitation or reluctance.

2. Living outside the village: The Chandalas were not allowed to live inside the village. They had to live outside the village in separate settlements.

3. Wearing specific clothes: The Chandalas were not allowed to wear clothes made of cotton or silk. They had to wear clothes made of jute or other coarse materials.

4. Specific haircut: The Chandalas were not allowed to grow their hair long. They had to keep their hair cropped short.

5. Forbidden from certain professions: The Chandalas were not allowed to take up certain professions such as farming, cattle-rearing, and trade.

6. Prohibition from using certain objects: The Chandalas were not allowed to use certain objects such as umbrellas, shoes, and vessels made of clay or bronze.

7. Strict purity laws: The Chandalas were subjected to strict purity laws. They had to perform various purification rituals after coming in contact with other castes.

In conclusion, Manusmriti lays down the duties of the Chandalas as a social group that is considered to be at the bottom of the caste system. These duties were designed to keep the Chandalas in a subservient position and to maintain the social hierarchy of the time.