I searched Hinduism on internet curious to
see the results and was really agitated on seeing a definition of Hinduism on a
British website ‘the free dictionary’. First line of the definition says “a
body of religious and philosophical beliefs and cultural practices native to
India and based on a caste system; ”
“Religious belief Based on Caste
system?? “
I felt that there was an immediate need to write about the fact that caste system is not divinely inspired and was not mentioned in the Vedas. Hoping that it would help few to change their attitude towards Hinduism.
In this write-up I will be speaking about the myth of 'caste system being mentioned in the Vedas'. I don't want to add Manusmriti into this discussion because I am not a follower of Manusmriti and I disagree with many points by Manu.
Manusmriti is considered to be a law book that was used to
enforce Caste system in the ancient days. Manusmriti was discoursed by Manu and
Bhrigu on their own fancy to suite and aid the management of the
situation back in the 3rd century. It was one of the first Sanskrit texts
to be translated to English during the British Rule in India. So we could
assume the rest, British knew what was good for them. What was supposed to be
taken to Britain and what was to be imposed in India!
It is important for Hindus as well as
non-Hindus to have a correct diagnosis on the social history of Caste system while
the misconception on Vedic teachings is spreading like wild fire.
Introduction
Caste system has always been a problem
‘for’ India, a boon from The British I
would say. Though we all know that nobody believes in division of men on
illogical factors in this 21st century but we have to admit that few
citizens still enjoy the superiority that they assume to have, due to the illusion
from the past.
A recent caste survey found that one in four, among the Indians still believe in Caste system. India could actually change the mindset of rural and the urban with rural attitude by providing good education and creating development in their areas. Andhra Pradesh being an epitomic example of
prevailing caste based system has a recent example of the suicide of Rohit
vemula which I don’t want to discuss in this article but point out that caste
was misused and pointed at as more relevant by the Media than the actual
malfunctioning of education system. Caste system is nothing but a
political tool for vote banks and controversies, which is the part of a game.
Generally we go back till the Vedic
age when we talk about the genesis of Caste system. But do we realize that the
word ‘Caste’ is derived from a Portuguese word ‘Casta’ meaning ‘Race, Lineage
or Breed’. There is a big misconception among the public that caste system in
India is divinely inspired
What is said in the Vedas?
The most controversial line “Chathurvarnyam Mahashreshtam” from ‘Purushasukta’ of the
RigVeda is brought to debate under this topic but is intentionally quoted inappropriately since the debaters leave out the very next
line “Gunakarmam Vibhathara”.
It says; Brahmano mugha aseeth
Baahu raajanya kritha
Ooru thathasya thas Vaishya
Papbhyaam Shudro achayatha
Explanation
First step towards understanding what is
said in the Vedas is the ability to distinguish between ‘Varna’ and ‘Jati’.
Firstly,
Caste refers to Jati not varna. Jatis are the thousands of indigenous social-
occupational groups, while varna refers to the four individualized societal
functions described in many texts.
Let us begin by translating the verse I had mentioned above (from the Purusha
Sukta). The 90th Sukta of the 10th Mandala in the Rig Veda.
Here the entire universe is described as the body of God (Purusha), and of all
creation as emerging from Him. Like in
the book of Genesis from the word of God- The Bible
From his mouth came forth the Brahmins (mouth-Brahmins were engaged in chanting and other prayers)
And of his arms were Rajanya made
(Arms- Kshatriya were engaged in wars and fights. they were the warriors)
From his thighs came the Vaishyas (Thighs- Vaishyas were engaged in works which required no movements, as in sitting. They were business men, accountants etc)
And his feet gave birth to Sudras. (Feet- Sudras were engaged in works requiring alot of travel, they were the messengers, peons etc)
At a literal reading, this indeed appears to define a hierarchical
system of classes with the Brahmins occupying the most prestigious position and
the Sudras being the most inferior as they emerge from the feet. And this has
pretty much become the dominant understanding of the verse among academics.
The best way
to demonstrate the silliness of this interpretation of the 90th Sukta, is to
actually assume it to be correct and then see where that leads us in terms of
understanding the rest of the hymn. Thus, if the above verse indicates a
hierarchical system, then presumably the body parts of the God (Purusha) from
which everything in creation emerges, or the order in which the names are
mentioned, or both, ought to be indicative of its superiority or otherwise.
Let us test
this understanding against translations of the next two verses from the 90th
‘Purusha Sukta’:
Of his mind, the Moon is born
Of his eyes, the shining Sun
from his mouth, Indra and Agni,
And of his life-breath, Vayu
Space unfolds from his navel
The sky well formed from his head
From His feet, the earth and His ears the Quarters
Thus they thought up all the worlds.
If our
assumption above were true, then the moon ought to be superior to the sun
because the mind is superior to the eyes, and also because the moon is
mentioned first. Moreover, based on where they emerge from, Indra (the king of
the Devas) ought to be inferior to both Chandra (moon) and Surya (sun) and on
par with Agni (fire), which also is illogical.
A similarly
absurd comparison of the space, sky, earth with the ‘four directions’ will
arise from the second verse. If the earth comes from the God’s (Purusha) feet,
is it then inferior to the moon which comes from the mind?
There is
clearly no hierarchy intended, but only symbolic meanings.
In way Chathurvarnyam was established as a part of planning and organizing for a better management of the economy. Say an example of a Court, not all can become the judge. We need Peon, Courtofficers, lawyers etc for functioning the court like wise a system and order existed. Hence occupations were charted and people were given options to chose what they want to do. For evidence let me quote Veda “I am a reciter of hymns, my father is a healer, my mother a grinder of corn. We desire to obtain wealth through various actions”-- Rig Veda 9.112.3. I guess this helps us understand that people had choice of career. Chathurvarnyam is not caste system but a proper management technique for a better functioning of the system.
Evidences
from the Religion's History
There is only one varna in the ancient Indian society. Read the
following passages and quotes from different Hindu texts and Scriptures.
The Brhadaranyaka Upanisad (1.4, 11-5, 1.31) says “We were all
brahmins or all sudras,” Same is said in Mahabharata (12.188).
In The Bhagavad Gita, 4.13, Krishna says: “The fourfold varna has
been created by Me according to the different ‘Gunas’ (Qualities)”. According
to The Bhagavad Gita, ‘varna’ is
conferred on the basis of the intrinsic nature of an individual, which is a
combination of three ‘gunas’ (qualities): sattva, rajas, and tamas.
In the Mahabharata SantiParva, Yudhisthira defines a brahmin as
one who is truthful, forgiving, and kind. He clearly points out that a brahmin
is not a brahmin just because he is born in a brahmin family, nor is a sudra a
sudra because his parents are sudras.
Apastamba Dharmasutra states that by birth every human being is a
sudra. It is by education and upbringing that one becomes ‘twice born’, that
is, a dvija.
Manu sums up the relative status and functions of the varnas in
the following verse of Manu Smrti: “The brahmin acquires his status by his
knowledge, the ksatriya by his martial vigor, the vaisya by wealth; and the sudra
by birth alone.”
In Bhagavada Gita 18.41, Krsna states: “The devotees of the Lord
are not sudras; sudras are they who have no faith in the Lord whichever be
their varna.” Mahabharata says that a wise man should not slight even an
outcaste if he is devoted to the Lord; he who looks down on him will fall into
hell. SantiParva, Mahabharata also says that there is no superior varna. The
universe is the work of the Immense Being. The beings created by him were only divided
into varnas according to their aptitude.
Conclusion
This aspect of the caste system as
it first existed has been acknowledged by even the most trenchant modern critic
of the caste system.
As Dr. B.R. Ambedkar wrote- “Particular
attention has to be paid to the fact that this (the varna system) was
essentially a class system, in which individuals, when qualified, could change
their class, and therefore classes did change their personnel.” (Writings and
Speeches, Vol. 1, P.18)
It has been a trend by the westerners to criticize the sacred teaching and misinterpret it into illogical
writings. Not only Vedas but also they try to depict Sanskrit as a language of oppression.
The beauty of Hinduism is its openess. Slokas like "loka samasthaa sughino bhavanthu"
"Adhiti devo bhava" etc shows us how welcoming and peaceful the religion is. Hinduism is an art of living and caste system is just one of the many factors that the invaders imposed on a Hindu nation which affected the culture and altered the teachings of Sanatana Dharma.