<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The thing is, the concept - what the west terms "spiritual pollution" - was there in India in earlier times. And such situations existed in different forms, whether for similar or different reasons, in other countries like Japan, Congo, Rwanda (see that article on Rwanda linked in post 113).<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Concept of spiritual pollution is a colonial construct; it is basically a mutilation of Indian category of Karma as viewed through the ideological prisms of race and religion common in 19th c England. There is no ideological relationship between jatis. Is there an ideological relationship between bears and tigers though these species can definitely compete among themselves? When Kevat refuses to take money from hands of Sita, is Kevat thinking about spiritual pollution, or is it merely a strategy of interaction? When Lakshmana refuses to take beda from Shabari, is he worried about spiritual pollution or is it merely a strategy of interaction? He does not want to become indebted to shabari,, he does not want to take anything from a banjari woman, Shabaris' ancestors killed his fourth cousin removed, etc, etc... one thing he will not say is that shabari is a communist, therefore I am opposed to her. but westerner will interpret any answer given in that same way. Even Rama learned from Ravana, even Devas were told to go seek knowledge from Ravana. And Rama told Lakshaman to seek knowledge from this banjari woman.
These strategies of interaction allowed for an infinite diversity of practices and traditions in India. In contrast in the west, where Ideology defined their "true innate self", traditions have been purged and everyone is located in an ideological matrix, and one must occasionally declare one's allegiance to ideology, whether communist, liberal, christian, muslim, capitalist, etc.....
Concept of spiritual pollution is a colonial construct; it is basically a mutilation of Indian category of Karma as viewed through the ideological prisms of race and religion common in 19th c England. There is no ideological relationship between jatis. Is there an ideological relationship between bears and tigers though these species can definitely compete among themselves? When Kevat refuses to take money from hands of Sita, is Kevat thinking about spiritual pollution, or is it merely a strategy of interaction? When Lakshmana refuses to take beda from Shabari, is he worried about spiritual pollution or is it merely a strategy of interaction? He does not want to become indebted to shabari,, he does not want to take anything from a banjari woman, Shabaris' ancestors killed his fourth cousin removed, etc, etc... one thing he will not say is that shabari is a communist, therefore I am opposed to her. but westerner will interpret any answer given in that same way. Even Rama learned from Ravana, even Devas were told to go seek knowledge from Ravana. And Rama told Lakshaman to seek knowledge from this banjari woman.
These strategies of interaction allowed for an infinite diversity of practices and traditions in India. In contrast in the west, where Ideology defined their "true innate self", traditions have been purged and everyone is located in an ideological matrix, and one must occasionally declare one's allegiance to ideology, whether communist, liberal, christian, muslim, capitalist, etc.....