 | Caste System |
| Blacks of South Africa were Enslaved |
| Scriptural Support |
| Unique Dilemma of the Forward Caste Hindus |
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| Caste Determines Duty |
The most significant feature of the Hindu social system is what is called ‘caste’ under which the people are divided into various groups on the basis of lineage. The status of an individual in the society is determined by the caste in which he is born. A Hindu is born as a member of his caste and he dies as a member of that caste. There is no Hindu without a caste and being bound by caste from birth to death, he becomes subject to social regulation and tradition of the caste over which he has no control. The Brahmin is the highest in the caste order and Pancham (literally, the fifth) is the lowest with the Kshatriya, the Vaishya and the Sudra in between in descending order. Even among Brahmins there are a number of castes. So with the Sudras. A regular activity for an average Hindu is to calculate who are all such people who are above him and who are all below him.
A person born in a caste carries the name of that caste as a part of his Surname. The division of the people into various castes is said to be eternal so that no act of virtue or vice in this earthly life is enough to make any change in the caste or social status of a man or woman. The caste system of India has generally been regarded as an absurd, unhealthy social phenomenon, without parallel elsewhere in the world.
Blacks of South Africa were Enslaved:
The Caste System that, the blacks of South Africa were also enslaved. But after some time the people started thinking, what does a white man possess which I don’t have? Is it the skin? It gives no additional strength. Then, it has to be the gun! That means, he has to acquire a gun to fight back. And he fought back. Finally, he gained independence. But, the Indian case is different. An Indian lower caste man is taught from childhood that he is born into a LOWER CASTE only because, he has committed a few great sins in the previous chance. And that he is now undergoing punishment for those past deeds. To take rebirth as an upper caste demands his unreserved and absolute obedience to the upper caste! In a nut shell, he is programmed not to fight back. So, there is no revolution. And there can’t be one as long as the people believe in such trash!
According to the Hindu scriptures, the Brahmans have sprung from the mouth of Brahma (Hindu creator god), the Kshatriyas from his arms, the Vashyas from his thighs and the Sudras from his feet. (For more details please refer to our chapter___________or click “Why I Am Not A Hindu”
Broadly, Hindus are divided into two groups: caste Hindus (also Varna Hindus) and low-caste Hindus. The former includes the Brahman, the Kshatriya and the Vashya who are the descendants of the fair-skinned Aryan invaders and the latter includes the Sudras, who are dark in skin and are the offspring of the original inhabitants of India. In this group is also included the most unfortunate Dalit (literally, the oppressed also called as the Pancham) who is outcaste because he falls outside the original fourfold groupings. He is untouchable because his touch is bound to pollute the other castes and that is why he must always remain at a sufficient distance from them.
Unique Dilemma of the forward caste Hindus:
Let’s take a (hypothetical) example of a well educated Brahmin boy working for an MNC in Delhi, comes across a female colleague who is also well educated and young. They two start liking each other. Liking what the opposite one likes and disliking what the (probable) mate dislikes. They start appreciating each other’s appearance also. After a few days, the boy asked her something. She gave a reply. He was shocked to learn that. They both went back homes disappointed, disgusted, frustrated, upset, disturbed, annoyed and helpless. What they realized is that, they too, though have no known relative in common for generations together, can’t marry each other. Because, they are BROTHER AND SISTER to each other. So is the rule that they cannot marry each other even though all other specifications are favorable .One might wonder, how is it possible? What is this all about?
The forward castes have another strange subdivisions called as Gotras. According to this system, a man and a woman born in two different families which are not related to each other for generations together are BROTHER AND SISTER TO EACH OTHER if they are born in two families carrying the same Gotra name. They can never marry, even if their likes and dislikes match. Even if they are in professions suitable to each other. There is no way they can marry each other.
In match making, the broker will be happy to see all the details match but not this Gotra! This has become a menace among the Brahmin society which is actually fast shrinking. To add insult to injury, they have another superstition called as Janam Kundali. Meaning, horoscope. If the horoscope of the girl does not match that of the boy, that marriage can never get acceptance from the family and friends.
Infinite Castes and sub – Castes:
According to a survey undertaken by the Anthropological Survey of India during 1985-92, those who are called Hindu are divided among 2,800 unique communities. The so-called low-caste Hindus are officially divided into three broad groups, namely Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. According to this survey, these groups are subdivided into 450, 461, and 766 distinct communities respectively.
The great distinctions of caste are to be maintained not only in the earthly life, but also after death. According to Markandeya Purana, after death, the virtuous Brahman goes to the abode of Brahma, the good Kshatriya to that of Indra, the worthy Vashya to that of the Maruts, and the dutiful Sudra to that of the Gandharvas. Apparently, the Untouchable (Dalit) does not deserve any place in any heaven, may be because of his untouchability.
In Hindu community, the basic duty of every individual is determined by his caste. The Brahman is the rightful possessor of the Veda and is the chief of the whole creation. He has the exclusive right to become a priest. It is through his benevolence that other mortals enjoy life.
It is clearly mentioned in the Gita, as quoted under the topic, Gita. We will now see what the Hindu Book of Law, the Manu Smriti, has to say about the duties based upon castes.
Manu Smriti says in Ch.1 Vv. 88-91 …
“The six duties of a Brahmin are : Study, teach, performing ritual Yagna for self and for others (mind you, they make fortunes out of it!), giving* and accepting alms.
The duties of a Kshatriya are : Study during Brahmacharya (bachelorhood), perform rituals like Yagna give charity, rule efficiently, maintain good conduct and abstain from intoxicants.
The duties of a vaishya are: Study Vedas, perform rituals like, Yagna, give charity, maintain cattle, sell milk and other products, carry out agriculture, take usury, on loans.
The duties of the Sudra are: The Lord orders that a Sudra has to simply obey and serve the above three castes without any feeling of resentment.” EXPRESSED IN THE SIMPLEST MANNER! ISN’T IT?
{ NOTE: And be not surprised to see that a Brahmin is being ordered to give something, instead of taking something. As a matter of fact, the same Manu Smriti mentions in Chapter 11 that ‘Only a Brahmin is entitled to accept the alms!’ That means, the wealth of a Brahmin can never reach a non – Brahmin but, the wealth of the non – Brahmins can always reach a Brahmin.}
However, the Brahmins have been generous in exempting a Sudra from giving alms. This is due to the sympathy that a Sudra however, can possess NOTHING!
The Khsatriya is described as the dispenser of justice, particularly as the one whose duty it is to punish law-breakers; he exercises the civil power and to his tender mercies the Brahmans could hand over law- breakers. He has to see that the various castes attend to their prescribed duties; but in doing this work he must abide by the decisions of the Brahmans.
The Vaishya comprises the merchant, the agriculturist, and the keeper of cattle. His chief work is keeping cattle and lending money on interest.
The Sudra has been created to serve the other three castes (i.e., the fair-skinned Aryans). He is spoken of as a slave, his property, as well as his person, being at the disposal of his master.
The Dalit is to perform the most unpleasant tasks: cleaning lavatories, carrying night soil, skinning carcasses, blacksmithes and making footwear.
