Varna ashram -8

...The Hindu society is actually a pentagraded society which includes four Varnas and one group of Antyajas. The Antyajas or untouchables are not considered as a part of Chaturvarna system. They are also known as Avarnas meaning people without any Varna. The degrading of jobs has been taking place in Hindu society. The jobs of butchering and skinning were carried down from Rig Vedic times. At some point of time the jobs of butchering, skinning and scavenging were downgraded to fifth level. So the people attached to these jobs by inheritance became downgraded. Nevertheless, by the time this last category came into existence due to degrading of jobs by Brahmans, the Vedas had been finalized. The Purusha sukta of Rig Veda was the final word on Varna origin. Any addition to Varnas meant changing Rig Veda or Word of God, which nobody could do. Neither it was possible to add anything to add to Vedas. This degrading was not objected to because those who suffered were people without any means of sustance who survived merely on their labor. These people did not know when they became untouchable. Only passage of time told them so. One indication that they have come down from Varna system is that like the people of four Varnas these people also have their own jatis. This category emerged after the entry of each Varna into Varna system so they were called Antyaja. The word “Antyaja” means those who are born at the end or last-born. Being born after everybody, they were also placed at the end of everybody, which means at the bottom social structure. Like Shudras they were also supposed to have an impure origin. Even more impure than the Shudras. Thus they were placed at the end. The impure people were always linked to impure jobs through inheritance. A man born in Hindu society inherits his parents’ jati and the occupation of jati also...