Also, the Hindu texts clearly show that all the members of the Shudra community cannot be traced back to a servile origin. Yes, Gandhi was a proponent of the Varna system and belief in the varna-ashrama system was a cardinal qualification to … Untouchability is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden (Art. As nouns the difference between caste and varna is that caste is any of the hereditary social classes and subclasses of south asian societies while varna is (hinduism) any of the four original castes in hinduism, or the system of such castes. Jana → Jati → Caste The word caste derives from the Spanish and Portuguese “casta”, means 'race, lineage, or breed'. According to Hindu shastras, there are mainly four hereditary castes or Varnas into which the Hindu society is divided viz. In the caste system an uneducated Brahman is respected while an educated Shudra is looked down upon. One of the main characteristics of caste system is Endogamy i.e. Hindus maintain that the proliferation of the castes (jatis, literally “births”) was the result of intermarriage (which is prohibited in Hindu works on dharma), which led to the subdivision of the four classes, or varnas. The Dashuds may be considered as the ancestors of the Shudras who are the fourth caste in the varna system. India cannot become a truly modern country in the 21st century, if it fails to abolish this discriminatory practice based on caste. The caste system is a check on economic and intellectual advancement and a great stumbling block in the way of social reforms because it keeps economic and intellectual opportunities confined to a certain section of the population only. by . It is not just about the way how society is structured but also it has become a part of a man’s identity. Purpose of the VARNA System. In other words they stand for the support system of the entire body. Caste or Varna System is a purely Indian phenomenon and especially it is practiced among Hindus, though with time, as far as India is considered, other religions such as Islam, Sikhism, Christianity etc. The laws are clearly against discrimination of any kind, but they are not uniformly or co… However there were various social reformers such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy who devoted their lives for the upliftment of these downtrodden people, various reform movements were there to abolish the caste system. also adopted some trappings of it. Its root can be traced back to thousands of years. 2. The Four Varna System reflects a deep ecological and yogic vision of social and universal unity very different from the divisive idea of caste by birth. Their castes are assigned by birth, and cannot be changed. Varna is a fundamental concept underlying the Hindu society. Caste system is a phenomenon related to Hinduism in particular. This theory seems to be the most logical theory explaining the origin of varna system. The skin color was an important factor in the caste system as the word varna itself refers to color. In the previous article, I have shown the difference between the lenient Varna system and the rigid caste system.So, it is sensible to argue that caste is a later construct and a social setback. As far as theory of origin of caste system is concerned, the religious theory explains that according the Rig Veda, which is one of the most sacred religious texts of Hindus, different Varnas were created from different parts of the primal Purusha’s (the First Person) body; the Brahmans were created from his head, the Kshatrias from his hands, the Vaishias from his thighs and the Sudras from his feet. In Four basic categories are defined under this system - Brahmins (priests, teachers, intellectuals), Kshatriyas (warriors, kings, administrators), Vaishyas (agriculturalists, traders, farmers ) and Shudras (workers, labourers, artisans). According to this theory, Dravidians were the original inhabitants whom Aryans pushed into the Southern India. Caste System (varna) The hierarchy of the Hindus that began as far as 2000 B.C.,is one of the things that greatly distinguish it from other religions. However, this statement basically suggests that there is a functional differentiation based on quality and action. The basic idea was division of labor in the society. In Hinduism, the Varna System was based on class, colour, guna and yoga. Varna is a fundamental concept underlying the Hindu society. Krishna thus says in the Gita: “The four-fold order was created by me on the basis of quality (guna) and action (karma). Ltd. | 2017 All Rights Reserved. Today, I will be resolving a few of the misconceptions about it with more in-depth information on it. This project will seek to trace the origin of the Varna system via three different theories namely the Western theory, the Brahmanical theory and the Marxist theory. And they were exploited for by their rulers. The hierarchies which have been created in society have been deeply embedded over a period of time so as to serve the interest of the ruling and powerful class. It was the duty of the Vaishyas to ensure the community’s prosperity through agriculture, cattle rearing, trade and business. The Marxist theory seems to be the most probable theory of the origin of varna system. The concept of ‘caste’ and ‘caste System’ is often equated to the Hindu scriptural concept of ‘varna’, and it is alleged that the latter provides a religious basis and a justification for the former. The segregation of people based on their Varna was intended to decongest the responsibilities of one's life, preserve the purity of a caste, and establish eternal order. Recently the Government has introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha in the name of. The purusha who is identified with the primeval giant or the ideal ‘Man’ or world spirit is said to have produced the brahmana from his mouth, the Kshatriya from his arms and vaishya from his thighs. For generations of Indians, the ancient code of social stratification known as the caste system has defined how people earn a living and whom they marry. Hindu caste system—the varna—developed in the period 1500-1000 B.C. ... Untouchable Outcasts and the Varna System. All the privileges were for Brahmanas and Kshatriyas. Thus, when India got independence and the Constitution was being framed, our founding fathers were of the opinion that such provisions should be added in the text which would lessen the ills of caste system and bring about equality in social field. VARNA/CASTE SYSTEM AND DHARMASHASTRAS The former President of India S. Radhakrishnan in his book “The Hindu View of Life” presented a fascinating picture of Hindu society. The early Rig Vedic society was tribal, pastoral, semi-nomadic and largely egalitarian and was free from the later institution of social classes called varna. But according to the Manusmriti, the caste system in India was, in the beginning, a system of prescribing codes of conduct for people to suit the requirements of their occupation. Copyright © 2020 Lawctopus. Thus, it becomes very important to understand its origin. A discussion of how varnas as described in the Rigveda and Bhagavad Gita relate to the notion of "caste" in modern India. Inscriptions attest the beginnings of a caste system during the Licchavi period. He is the author of Mahabharata (biggest literary work in the world), the 18 Puranas (of which Bhagavatam is important), and the Brahma Sutras (which are 564 formulas and gives the complete pict… 15 (2)). The varna system illustrates the spirit of comprehensive synthesis, characteristic of the ancient Indian mind with its faith in the collaboration of races and the cooperation of cultures. Next strata consist of the Kshatriyas, the ruling class and soldiers. The term jati appears in almost all Indian languages and is related to the idea of lineage or kinship group. During the rule of Chandragupta Maurya (320 BCE – 298 BCE), Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador to Chandragupta Maurya's court in India came up with his own classification. Jati and Varna are classifications of the traditional Indian Society. Further, the Constitution guarantees protection from social injustice and all forms of exploitation (Art.46). Businessman, traders and farmers came under this category. Thus, it becomes very important to understand its origin. The Caste system is the social hierarchy in India. The divine sanction which is given to the Varna system is controversial and subject to interpretations. Unlike class system, cast system does not allow any person to move from one caste to another. Caste which is also known as Varna or Jati can be understood as an identification on the basis of birth. It could be rightly said that the upper echelon of the Indian Society promoted varna system which evolved into the caste system as a basis to command order and have a direct or indirect control over the society. Ambedkar Reference – Books of Dr. B.R. The later Vedic people took to agriculture on a large scale and produced enough cereals to enable the princes to perform sacrifices and reward their priests. Because law can provide protection from exploitation but it cannot bring attitudinal change in so-called upper castes. What is Varna? Recently, a path breaking study by Harvard and indigenous researchers on ancestral Indian population says there is a genetic relationship between all Indians and more importantly, the hitherto believed “fact” that Aryans and Dravidian signify the ancestry of north and south Indians might after all, be a myth. Paradoxical as it may seem, the system of varna was the outcome of tolerance and trust. Thus caste is based upon birth while Varna is on action. Thus, ‘caste system’ as a rigid hierarchical social institution with an embedded element of discrimination is often considered as a hallmark of Hinduism. The main castes were further divided into about 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes, each based on their specific occupation. These discriminatory practices against so-called Sudras are still prevalent in our society in large measure. The biggest problem in abolishing and removing this menace from the society is the in general social acceptability of the same. More or less, the situation is still the same. The term caste was first used by Portuguese travelers who came to India in the 16th century. Though the younger generation is discarding such social norms but still the system is well-entrenched in our socio-religious beliefs. Ambedkar. Until and unless this changes no hope is there. To make this point clearer, I will show specific examples where the prevailing ideas of a caste … These two upper castes are considered as superior to the lower castes. People who term caste discrimination as “Hindu” Evil, primarily base their argument around Varna system mentioned in Purush Sukta, given in Rigveda. The caste system, as it actually works in India is called jati. There are at least two perspectives for the origins of the caste system in ancient and medieval India, which focus on either ideological factors or on socio-economic factors. Its origin, evolution and existence are peculiar to India. Caste or Varna System is a purely Indian phenomenon and especially it is practiced among Hindus, though with time, as far as India is considered, other religions such as Islam, Sikhism, Christianity etc. The western theory which provides for racial basis has no scientific evidence to back it up. Untouchables of Malabar, Kerala (1906) / Photo by Joseph Deniker, Wikimedia Commons. 2. A similar exercise was made during the reign of Mahindra Malla (1506–1575). google_ad_slot = "1982849078"; The caste system was not absolute during much of Indian history. The Caste System of India A Very Rudimentary Summary Background The caste system in India is an important part of ancient Hindu tradition and dates back to 1200 BCE. It is popularly accepted that the Indian caste system is at least 3000 years old, though an analysis of the Vedic literatures suggests that it is perhaps as old as Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) itself. Varna System is one of the most famous and controversial topics in Hinduism. It’s a big shame that even in a 21st century and in this age and time when human society has so progressed scientifically that people are planning to buy lands on planet Mars, Indian society believes in a system as archaic as the caste system. The concept known as a caste system is an anglicised explanation of the Indian concepts of Varna (वर्ण) and Jaati (जाति). The shudra is said to have sprung from his feet. And anything against or in opposition of this system is considered to be a sin or disrespectful to God. The Aryans organized among themselves into three groups, namely, Rajayana (later changed to Kshatriyas), Brahmins and the Vaishyas. Varna is the precursor to caste or jati. The different Varnas (groups or castes) were created from different parts of his body. The distinction between the caste and Varna system is that the caste is a local group, whereas the Varna system has an all India basis. For example, the renowned Gupta Dynasty , which ruled from 320 to 550, was from the Vaishya caste rather than the Kshatriya. "Some men say that they should be satisfied "with the abolition of untouchability only, "leaving the caste system alone. The Brahmins and the Kshatriyas devised and developed a social mechanism through which the two classes could benefit from the economic expansion leading to the exclusion of the peasants, the artisans and the agricultural laborers. Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudra. The caste system is a classification of people into four hierarchically ranked castes called varnas. The Brahminical theory gives divine sanction to the varna system. To check and deter atrocities against SCs, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 has also been enacted. Many believe that the groups originated from Brahma, the Hindu God of creation. Varna System in Ancient India was based on occupation, but with time it turned to a rigid caste system. Varna system is extensively discussed in Dharma-shastras. Each of the four Varnas has its own Dharmas (duties) or ethical codes. They are classified according to occupation and determine access to wealth, power, and privilege. As already been explained it is much like the western concept of racism, it can also be compared with the Class System of European continent. The system is still continuing in India as a well-established and sacred customary rule and is followed by almost everyone regardless of their economic or social status. According to the ancient text of Bhagavad Gita, the varna system was not considered to be hereditary and was assigned on the basis of karma. Sujatha Gidla was born into India's lowest social caste, the untouchables. Given that Rigveda is one of the primary authoritative text in Hinduism and considered absolute truth, if Varna system is really a basis of the caste based discrimination, then it is clear that caste system has deep roots in Hinduism philosophy. Mixing of castes was also considered a part of the declining interest in Varna system. Varna system is the social stratification based on the Varna, caste. The Vedas arose five thousand years ago, when human society was rooted in nature. The social order of varna or caste (varna krama) is still a very sensitive subject in Hinduism and Hindu community. He proposed the mode of production involving the theory of surplus leading to class formation (varna system). All About Varna system i.e caste system whcih is based on classification of human society during the period of ancient india termed as vedic period to present date india 2017. Class system is based on many different factors such as wealth, power, prestige, ancestry or birth, religion, and occupation. Class system is also a discriminatory system. Some theories also believe that the primal Purusha was nothing but the God Brahma himself. The philosophical justification of the Varna system is agreed upon in the Upanishads. But gradually the occupation of people became hereditary and the caste system also changed from occupation to birth and heredity. By using the term both for caste (that is jati) and Varna, as also for caste and sub-caste, a good deal of confusion has been created. Hence Varna is concerned with one’s colour or occupation. The Varna system forms the basic structure of Hindu society. 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