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Sat-Sudra or High Born Sudra, also known as Pure Sudra, is a caste classification found in ancient Hindu texts and mentioned in several British Raj records.

Sat-sudra is a classification used to describe high-caste groups who are originally Brahmins, Kshatriyas, or Vaishyas but do not follow their Vedic rites, hence becoming sudras in ritual rank.

According to the sacred Hindu text Bhagavad Gita verse 13.2: "Janmanā jāyate śūdraḥ saṁskārād dhi bhaved dvijaḥ," meaning everyone is born śūdra by birth, by samskara one upgrades to dvija status.

Sat-Sudras, placed after Brahmins, were considered higher caste, different from Sudras or asat-Sudras (the working class).

Hiranyagarbha Ritual

In Ancient India, Brahmins and Kshatriyas rulers performed a ritual called Hiranyagarbha, which was used to reclaim their lost varna rites. It was a sacrifice aimed at obtaining divine sanction from the original creator – Brahma or Prajapati – who were believed to be born from a Hiranyagarbha, or golden conception. This concept, though simple, was considered expensive during that period.

The term "hiranyagarbha" translates to "golden womb," symbolizing both a golden pot (kunda) offered to a Brahmana and the deity Vishnu. During the ritual, the donor conducts an archana (worship ritual) and recites a mantra praising Vishnu as Hiranyagarbha. Subsequently, the donor enters the "golden womb" while priests perform rites similar to those for a pregnant woman, including garbhadhana, pumsavana, and simantonnayana. Upon emerging from the "golden womb," the priests perform jatakarma and other rites customary for a newborn. The donor then recites a mantra proclaiming a "rebirth" from the divine womb, thus referred to as "born of the hiranyagarbha." After the ceremony, the donor gifts the "golden womb" and other offerings to the priests.

References

  1. https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/6/5/20/
  2. BHAGWAN, SWAMINARAYAN (2018-10-30). SHIKSHAPATRI: Sanskrit - Hindi - English. purnavallabhswamiji@gmail.com. ISBN 978-81-939354-3-9.
  3. A Comprehensive History of India: pt.2 No special title. People's Publishing House. 2008. ISBN 978-81-7304-561-5.
  4. Ghurye, Govind Sadashiv (1957). Caste and Class in India. Popular Book Depot.
  5. Gail, Adalbert J.; Mevissen, Gerd J. R.; Salomon, Richard (2006). Script and Image: Papers on Art and Epigraphy. Motilal Banarsidass Publishe. ISBN 978-81-208-2944-2.
  6. Centre, Sri Sathya Sai Media. Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Volume 01 to 43: Divine Discourses from 1953 to 2010. Sri Sathya Sai Media Centre.
  7. Samarpan (2023-07-27). Veda Vihangam: The Essential Veda. Pan Macmillan. ISBN 978-93-95624-65-7.