However these rules formally applied only to the three higher castes and thus the lower ones (Shudras, Panchamas) were allowed to cross the seas.īut the Hindu religion being what it is, the maxim 'தடியெடுத்தவன் தண்டக்காரன் (taṭiyeṭuttavaṉ taṇṭakkāraṉ )', meaning, one who takes (possesses) the laathi is the punishing authority, rules and since the persons earn a lot of money abroad as generally compared to those working in India, our purohits (vaadhyaars) also willingly go to US and other foreign countries and do service to people there. Such an offender is grouped with prisoners, sellers of soma, one who eats food given by the son of an adulteress, a bard, an oilman or a perjurer. Manusmriti (Chapter 3, verse 158) lays down clearly the rules - if a Brahmin crossed the ocean, he is to be denied a Shraaddha.
According to our Shastras, the moment a brahmin crosses the ocean, he becomes impure and ineligible to do any 'vaideeka karma' he is like a person ostracized from the braahmana caste.