Thread by @vishalaary

#Manusmriti
Varna vyavastha practiced upto the Mahabharta period:

Manu’s social system all people had equal rights to join any of the varnas according to their merits nd vocations, irrespective of their parents profession.

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System continued from Rigvedic period until Mahabharata(Geeta) period, Geeta clearly says:

चातुर्वर्ण्यंमयासृष्टंगुणकर्मविभागशः।(4-13)

The chaturvaranya (the four-class system) has been created on the basis of people’s vocations nd merits nd not on their birth nd parentage.
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The whole community acquiring a new varna:

Besides individuals we also come across examples of a whole community or a large part of it leaving its earlier varna and acquiring a new one.
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Some verses in the Mahabharta and the Manusmriti, with, of course some variations in the text reveal that some of the communities were Kshatriyas earlier but with the negligence of their duties,
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and for their not having undertaken penance to atone for their omissions and commission seven when so required by the Brahmanas, degenerated into being enlisted among the Shudras.
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शनकैस्तुक्रियालोपादिमाःक्षत्रियजातयः। वृषलत्वंगतालोकेब्राह्मणादर्शनेनच।।

पौण्ड्रकाश्चौड्रद्रविडाःकाम्बोजायवनाःशकाः। पारदापह्लवाश्चीनाःकिरातादरदाःखशाः।।(10-43, 44)

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Meaning: Owing to their having neglected their prescribed duties and not having undertaken penance even on being advised to do so by the Brahmanas some of the Kshatriya communities which came to be called Shudras were:

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Paundraka, Audra, Dravida, Kamboja, Yavana, Shaka, Parada, Pahalva, Cheena, Kirata, Darada and Khasha. In addition to these some other communities that find a mention in the same context in the Mahabharta.....
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Mahabharta(Ch. 35. 17-18) are: Mekala, Lata, Kanvashira, Shaundika, Darva, Chaura, Shabara and Barbar.

#JaiShriKrishna

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