Consider the following statements regarding the institution of Upanayana (sacred thread ceremony) in the Later Vedic period:
1. It became a crucial marker of the Dvija status, which was strictly limited to the top three varnas.
2. Both Shudras and women were systematically excluded from this ritual, which effectively barred them from formal Vedic education.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Accepted Answer

Both statements are correct. In the Later Vedic period, social hierarchy crystallized. The Upanayana ceremony became the boundary marker for the Dvija (twice-born) status encompassing Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas. Shudras and women were denied this sacrament, leading directly to their exclusion from reading or chanting sacred texts.

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