Caste System
A response by Jagannatha Prakash, © April 2007 (updated December 3, 2024)Questioner: Sachi
Subject: Caste SystemQuestion:
How did this caste system evolved ? Who created these categories of low caste and high caste ?
Jagganatha Om Prakasa's reply
Hi Sachi,
The origins of the caste system (the varnashram dharma) are unknown.
The word "caste" seems to come to English from the Portuguese word casta, from the Latin castus, meaning "pure."
The purpose of the fourfold caste system is to categorize society in ways that further the well being of the whole by developing innate proclivities for social good. In time however the system was abused and became a system of racist segregation. "Varna," meaning color, came to mean the lighter the skin color the higher ones caste. While there are the four varnas or castes (plus the untouchables), the caste system is divided into countless subgroups (jati).
Today most Hindus formally reject the caste system, but it continues to hold great authority over the lives of most village people.
The tenth book of the Rg Veda mentions this system, as does many later writings; its origins therefore date from the earliest days of the Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism):
10:11 When they divided Purusha how many portions did they make? What do they call his mouth, his arms? What do they call his thighs and feet?
10:12 The Brahman was his mouth, of both his arms was the Rajanya made. His thighs became the Vaisya , from his feet the Sudra was produced.So, from a Hindu perspective, Brahman (God) created the caste system in an earlier age (we are living in the fourth of four such ages or yugas). From a more human perspective, the answer is lost to antiquity.
Many modern scholars theorize that it predated the arrival of the Aryans to India, while others believe the Aryans, who were of course light skinned, established it to control the darker skinned people of the subcontinent. In my opinion, this later view is not likely because the Vedas (the scriptures) offer many ways for elevation to the level of brahman (the highest caste) and many of these people had darker skin. In the Vedas, ones caste is determined by ones inborn qualities alone. One who acts like a brahman is to be honored as a brahman (and given the Sacred Thread).
Hope this helps,
~Jagannatha Prakasa
Follow up
Thanks for enlighting me. I've more follow-ups.
Who are these untouchables ? Who created this category ? And in todays India, we are hearing hulla-bulla about SC/ST/OBC category? How these categories were evolved? How much is the man-kind responsible for this evolution ? Was this system followed as per ouy mythologies like Ramayan and Mahabharata?
Reply from Jagannatha Prakasa
Hi again,
The Untouchables (achuta or Dalits or Mudhas) are those without caste.
People view this in different ways. Technically everyone in the world who is not assigned a caste, which would include most people, are achuta. This isn't what is being referenced however. Others are usually considered "foreigners" and often placed in a jati or class based on their occupation etc.
The Dalits are those Indians without any caste. They are normally darker skinned and poverty stricken people. As they have no established caste or jati (category) they are unable to acquire honorable jobs. They often work in sanitation, in body disposal and other "lowly" jobs or become beggars and share croppers. They are not allowed to take part in "respectable society. They aren't educated etc. Even the shadow of an untouchable requires the higher castes, especially the Brahmanas, to bathe and enter periods of purification.
As the Bhakti (devotional) movements gained preeminence many people began condemning the system. Gandhi and other Vaisnavas condemned discrimination against at the Dalits. Guru Nanak (founder of Sikhism) was so intent on raising the social status on the Untouchables that his disciples changed their names in order to remove any caste implications implied names.
Today there are serious attempts to do away with all caste distinctions. The situation is similar to the struggle in the US where anti-segregationists attempt to reverse racial discrimination through laws, quotas and so on. Its by no means a easy transition.
The Scheduled castes (SC) consists of Dalits or untouchables.
About 16% of India's population (about 160 million) are categorized as SC.The Scheduled tribes (ST) are mainly independent tribal groups.
Around 7% of Indians (about 70 million) fit this category.Other Backward Classes (OBC) reference around 35% of the population.
This number is subject to much debate.The way the jati of sub-castes came to be is rather simple. Let's say among the Vaishyas or merchants a group arose who focused on making and selling lighters, those in this line work work would become the lighter-making Vaishyas. Of course I'm simplifying it, but this is basically how things developed.
Ultimately everything is a man-made creation (in these areas). They develop naturally according to human need and desire.
In the days of the Great Epics, the Mahabharata, the Ramayana and so on, the Caste System was in place. We find countless references to the system is most of Vedic accounts. For instance in the Bhagavad Gita (which is a popular selection of Mahabharata chapters), Sri Krsna tells Arjuna,
2:7 2:7: Due to my faulty and inferior nature my heart is confused concerning my [Kshatriya caste military] duty and religious obligations. I take refuge of You as Your disciple; please tell me decisively what is best for me.
2:31, 32: Considering your personal religious and moral duty, you ought not to vacillate in the face of this sacred obligation. Indeed, for a Kshatriya [a warrior] nothing is better than war.Again,
1:39-42: With the destruction of a family its noble traditions perish.
When its eternal rites and religious principles are destroyed, the whole dynasty is overtaken by irreligion. O Krishna, irreligion having become prevalent the women of the family become adulterated. When the women become corrupt, O descendant of Vrishni, caste confusion is generated.
Such confusion brings to hell the slayers of the family and the family itself. Then the ancestors are deprived of their sacrificial offerings of rice cakes and water and hence they also fall.
By such faults on the part of the destroyers of the family, caste confusion leads to the devastation of caste religious traditions as well as the eternal family traditions. 1:43-45: We have heard, O Janardana [Krishna], that those who spoil family traditions have hell as their eternal abode.
Alas, due to greed for royal pleasures we have determined to commit a great sin and are prepared to kill our own relatives -- (my translation, http://allfaith.com/Religions/Hinduism/gita.html)You can see from such verses how difficult it is to abolish the system. It is not only deeply entrenched by culture and law, but by religion as well. Gradually however it is being dismantled.
Hope this helps,
~Jagannatha Prakasa
Jai Jagannatha! |
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