Chandala

Historically this order of society, notions of purity and pollution were central, and activities were delineated in this context.

Vedic literature also mentions some groups, such as Ayogava, Chandala, Nishada, and Paulkasa, which were outside the four-varṇa classification.

[2] There are frequent references to the forest-dwellers in the post-Rigvedic literature; the Chandalas were one of these primitive people, who belonged to the fringes of the society.

In many parts of India, Chandal is used as a pejorative or an insult among Hindus, even though castes known as such are not practically present outside Bengal (Namasudras).

In that country they do not keep pigs and fowls, and do not sell live cattle; in the markets there are no butchers' shops and no dealers in intoxicating drink.