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Varnashramain Hinduism

Offered byProfessor M. Emdadul Haq MA PhD

Department of GCE

North South University4 October 2A11

Meanings

. Varna means different shades of textureor color,

o The term "caste" is derived from thePoftuguese term " castd' & refers to themultiple strata of Indian society whereinoccupation was largely hereditary.

r "Caste" provide a sense of kinship withinthe Hindu society, identity for anoccupation/ & some degree of reciprocitybetween *'castes" as skills & productswere exchanged,

Origins of Varnashrama

r Difficult to trace out when castesystem entered into the life of Hindus,

r The system didnt exist in the Vedicera, but came up later as theAryanization of society,

r It was the basis of the Aryan society.Aryans were divided into three socialclasses:1. Priests (Purohita),2" Warriors or aristocracyr &3" Commoners.

Highlights

r Meaningo Originsr Major Categorieso Implicationsr Caste system in Bengalr Conclusion

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Origins of Varnashrama

r Spread of Arya culture led to theclassification of different groups withparticular occupations as distinct jatis.

r Aryanisation of the subcontinent led tothe varna division into a hierarchicalorder.

o Gradual absorption of outsiders withinthe cultural fold of the caste system.

o Absorption of non-vaidika people to thelower stratum.

r Gradually turned into an extreme form,

Origins of Varnashramar The idea of varna is traceable in the Rig

Veda.. By way of metaphor, the Veda tells that

Lord Krishna's body was divided into thefour divisions:

r "From his mouth came the priestly class,who tell us about the Lord; from hisarms, the rulers & administrators; theagriculturists came from his legs & theworkers from his feet""

o Individuals naturally fit into one of theseoccupational divisions, based on theiroualifications & work.

Origins of Varnashrama

o Brahmanic attempt to classify newoccupational groups & communities tothe older varna system,

o Non-vaidika peoples in cities of theGangetic basin, some of them of rural ortribal backgroutrd, were put into thecategory of working class people,

r With the increase in the number ofpeoples, there was an increase in thekinds of jobs & occupations held by thisdiverse population.

Brahminsr Intellectuals or priestly people at the top of

the social hierarchy.o Believed to be the embodiment of

sacredness"e Regarded as teachers & judges or even gods

on earth"o Will to acquire knowledge, wisdom & faith.e Thoughtful & inclined toward study". Responds to goodness & is gentle & clean.o Ritualistic Brahmins explained dharma in

their own way"

Origins of Varnashrama

r Afticulation of Varnashrama is found inthe Bhagavad-Gita, commonly known asthe Bible of India.

r Lord Krishna explains that he createdhuman society with four natural socialclasses (or varnas), ?s well as fourunderlying spiritual orders or ashramas.

r These social & spiritual divisions allowfor the effective application of eternalreligious principles.

Origins of Varnashramar Occupation become increasingly a

matter of bifth (JatD.o Many occupations that were passed on

from father to son, had becomeincreasingly a matter of birth (ia7f1.

r The jatis classified in the brahmanicliterature eventually came to be knownas "'caste""

r It became increasingly rigid, & socialmobility & intermarriage vverediscouraged, if not forbidden,

Kshatriyao Politicians, administrators, warriors & rulers.o Powedul of physique & might & are the

custodians of state.e Duty to protect the Hindu dharma & the

people,o Courage is a virtue of the Kshatriyas/warriors.o Chivalrous, knightly type, & ?re generally

inclined with "this worldly" life,r Main focus is on 'action' or getting things

done, with honor, virtue, & integrity.r Characteristically noble, except when passion

runs out.

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'Untouchables'o Others, not belonging to any of the castes

were considered outcastes or untouchables.o Higher caste people wouldn't touch the caste-

less.o Refraining them from letting their shadows

fall on the person or path of the upperclasses.

o They would be contaminated & would need tothrough cleansing rituals'

o Legitimating unsociability in the name ofmaintaining brahmanical ritual purity'

Implicationso Hereditary & permanent.o Hierarchy is determined on the basis of

different varnas exhibit in theircharacter & actions.

o The levels of the social hierarchy is fixed& clearly defined,

r In Hindu political thought religion wasthe supreme force that held societytogether.

o The set rules imposed by one's karma(act) was eternal & unchangeable.

Sudraso Manual workers, aftisans & craftsman.o 'No superior qualities'as compared to other

upper castes.o Physically strong, hard working & belong to

the lowest stratum of social order"o Vision is limited, feels good when work hard.o Born assistant, does not posses original ideas.r Life revolves around physical work &

immediate bodily pleasures.o Prefers routine work rather than innovative

thinking.

Implications

e All Hindu traditions have respect forVarnashrama as paft of Dharma.

r The socio-religious system set inIndia's distant past.

r Most Hindus adhere to it to the best oftheir ability"

o Others deemphasize it & even rebelagainst it.

e All acknowledge that it is founded intheir theological heritage.

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Vaisya

r Farmers, merchants, o( economists'r Merchants those prefer business of all

kinds.o Deal with wealth & gold & strive for

material gains.r His life revolves around money & his

motivation is security & prosperity'o Embodying a mixture of passion &

ignorance,r Focus on economic stability' & it is

difficult for him to see beyond that.

lmplications contd"

r Varna represent mental temper orGunas that are of three kinds:

o Sattava resides among the whiteBrahmirs,

o Rajas or red/brown color ispr6Aominani among the business ormerchant people &

. Tamas or black color among theworkers,

o By the differential of mental quality &c6lor, physical action@sdetermined.

o Social position of individuals is ascribed

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Implicationsr Varnashrama is the Nitya Dharma.r "Eternal Duty", er the essential function

of the soul,r Hindu social system works in

conjunction with deeper spiritualrealities, i.e., service to God.

r According to Hindu traditions one'spersonal duty based on distinctiveinclination & body type.

o The privileged maintain it as result ofkarma from past actions"

Implications contd,

r All the Jatis have their distinct Varna,which is specified by a particular Karma'

s Karma division wholeheartedly isregarded as Dharma,

r Ancient writers of dharmasutras & Smrtisystematized the practice & custom ofcaste & tried to confine the whole ofIndian society within the four divisions'

Implications contd.

o Racial discrimination in colonial South Africa'o Plato's Republicdemonstrates "the ldeal

Stater" categorizing society into threeclasses-Gold, Silver, & Copper.

r Plato elaborates that, on top, there arephilosopher-kings, who rulel below them arethe warriorsp and, finallyr w€ have themerchants and the workers, whom Platocombines into one category.

o This categorlzation comparable to Indiancaste system.

Implicationso Preserve ritual purity & social position in

the face of urban pluralism,r For the lower casts, it meant denial of

access to oppoftunities that are availableto the " vaidikd' elites.

o For "untouchables" it would mean livingoutside the area of the cities where the"twice-born" lived.

r No access to social & religiousopportunities that are available to the

Caste system in Bengal

r Epigraphic evidence suggests that priorto the establishment of Arya Brahmanicalstate, caste patterns & their religiouscustoms & culture were by no meansacknowledged in Bengal.

r During the Gupta period the Brahminsstafted to come from North India toBengal to settle here"

e Their dominance was established by thepatronage of ruling dynasties & wealthypeople.

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Implications contd"

r Associated with the reincarnatiolt - thatHindus are born again after death.

r Hinduism suggests that people'sbehavior in their previous life will decidethe caste they are born into afterrebirth"

r Brahmins made people believe that thesocial position or caste they are borninto is god-given.

r People generally accept their ascribedcaste position.

Caste sYstem in Bengal contd"

r Many Brahmins obtained land to settlepermanently & their temples were builtfor worshiPing'

r Brahmins had honor & dominance inevery field of the Pala state & society(750- 1150).

r Buddhist Pala state remained theupholder & defendant of theBrahmanical social sYstem.

r They made many land endowments tothe Brahmins & Brahmanical temples"

Conclusion

r Buddhism & Jainism emerged in the 6th

century BC as a Protest against thecaste system'

r The system was finally encountered bythe *g"litarian approach pursued byIslam,

e Hindered Progress of societYpreventing those with talents fromrising in occuPation.

r Mahatma Gandhi called untouchablesas'Horizon",

Thank you

Caste system in Bengal contd.

r Under Palas, caste system was liberal &flexibleo but with the Senas it becameinflexible and rigidlY defined"

o sena rulers put emphasis on the rigidityof the Hindu caste sYstem.

o With Sena rule, the worshiP ofBrahmanical Gods & Goddesses & theirreligious practices spread throughoutBengal.

Conclusion

r Dr. Ambetkar became the framer ofIndian Constitution.

o The place of Dalits in the IndianConstitution.

c Despite repeated legislation againstcaste discrimination, it is still verymuch a part of Indian life.

r Higher caste Hindus have been knownto brutally attack Gandhi's Harijans or"people of God""

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