Give the meaning of the term ‘Antyaja’.
Answers
a man of one of seven inferior tribes (a washerman, currier, mimic, varuḍa-, fisherman, meda- or attendant on women, and mountaineer or forester). Home > Search > antyaja.
Antyaja means ‘the last-born’ or ‘the low born’.
Explanation:
Antyaja is a Sanskrit word which is compounded from two words- ‘Antya’ meaning end or last and ‘Aja’ meaning born. It thus means the last born.
Hinduism had a strong belief in the caste system. There are four main castes or varnas. Castes were initially meant to be determined by the work or profession practised by a person.
Antyaja referred to the people of the lowest caste. They were thus the last or low born. They included all the people who did menial work such as the Caṇḍala or cremator, Rajaka - the washerman, Carmakara - worker in hides, Buruḍa - bamboo worker, Kaivarta – fisherman and Bhilla - of a forest-tribe or a hill-tribe.