Typically, when one thinks of classical India, something that immediately comes to mind is the caste system. The caste system was a significant part of Indians’ lives- one could even argue that their lives revolved around the caste system- and although it is now officially unenforceable, the system still exists as social stratification in India. The reasons are complex and many with regard to precisely how and why the caste system developed to be such a huge part of the people’s lives. In classical India, the caste system developed easily due to the existence of rudimentary social groups, the rise in power of the Aryans, and the system’s compatibility with Hinduism.
Before classical India, there was the Indus River Valley, or Harappan, civilization. This was one of the world’s earliest civilizations. The people of the Indus River Valley practiced a religion which roughly resembles Hinduism, which people of classical India would later practice. The Indus Valley civilization’s large scale achievements suggest that it was headed by a strong government. Although there is little evidence of a very strict social hierarchy in the Indus Valley civilization, it is suggested that there had already been a system of basic social groups, if not ranks, based on occupations before it solidified into the rigid caste system in classical India we are familiar with. George Dumezil, among other scholars, has theorized that there were three rudimentary social divisions in early Indo-European societies. In this early system, there were warriors and kings, priests, and peasants. It is likely that this system with its three classes was the basis for the varnas of the Hindu caste system. Systems like these tend to develop naturally due to the nature of c...
... middle of paper ...
...very compatible; the caste system provided a well-organized but unfair social and religious structure, while Hinduism conveniently justified the inequality in the system by promising people from lower castes a better next life, as long as they did what they were supposed to do. Most other Hindus were not unhappy enough with their position in life to leave the religion. Many members of low-ranking jati suffered quietly, likely out of hope for a better life next time.
The caste system developed as easily as it did due to pre-classical India’s basic social groups which developed on their own, the Aryans’ arrival, and Hinduism’s compatibility with the caste system. Over thousands of years, the caste system became increasingly complex and rigid. Even today, after enforcing the caste system has been officially outlawed, at least some level of social inequality is evident.
In India, the religion of Hinduism in particular, provides two sources of support in regards to the social structure of the era. These sources are the Vedas and the Upanishads. According to The Rig Veda when Purusha’s body was divided “his mouth became the brāhman; his two arms were made into the rajanya; his two thighs the vaishyas; from his two feet the shūdra was born (Reilly, 92).” By splitting up the body in this way, there was a justification for the creation of the varna or caste system. The highest class or Brahmin’s were the priest class, who were also known as the most pure. In this role, they were the connecting figures between Purusha and his people, which is reflective of them being his mouth. The next upper division class was the Ksatriya or warrior/leader class. In the class, the role was to do the fighting which was reflective of them being Purusha’s arms. The artisan/farmer or middle class was known as the vaisyas. In this class, members represented the role of the thighs of Purusha, who were responsible for doing the brunt or tougher jobs in society. The nethermost social class was the sudra, who were serfs and servants. They represented the feet of Pursha, which is reflective of their status as the lowest class. Along with the Vedas, the Upanishads served as a written guideline for the varna. These works urged the concept of doin...
The Caste system developed over time while the Aryans made settlements in India. Aryans recognized 4 main varnas: priests, warriors, merchants, and peasants. The society became more complex. Jati is made up of complicated subcastes. The occupation of one determined their jati.
Smith, Brian K. Classifying the Universe: The Ancient Indian Varna System and the Origins of Caste. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.
The caste system determined India’s social organization, and the relations within society, similar to the divide in Rome’s society as a result of the Plebeian and Patrician class. The Aryans
The traditional Hindu caste system remains one of the most controversial and debatable topics in the study of Hindu culture. The Hindu caste system describes the system of social stratification and social restrictions in which social classes are defined by specific hereditary groups. This caste system impacts much of Hindu history, society and culture to a level unknown anywhere else. However, the most apparent problem with this system is that under its strict rigidity, the lower castes were prevented from endeavoring to climb higher, and as such, economic progress was limited. It’s my assertion that a rigid system of structural inequality maintained through strict enforcement and social exclusion, is incompatible with a religion which claims to promote inclusion, peace and unity.
The caste system is a type of social inequality that exists mainly in the Indian Sub-continent, which was said to have been introduced by the Aryans, who categorised the different kinds of people as Brahmins (Nobles), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (Merchants), sudras (servants) and the untouchables who were not allowed to mingle with the other higher sections of the society or to do the work other than those which were ...
Hinduism is a religion in which the caste system exits to this day and this is an important factor because the different levels of the caste system represents each member’s ability to reaching the ultimate reality, Brahman. There are four castes of Hinduism: Brahmins/Seers, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and the Shudra. “The first group India called Brahmins or seers (Smith, 43).” The Brahmins are traditionally priests and scholars who should receive respect. The second level of caste system are the Kshatriya, who are traditionally warriors and rulers; they should receive power. Next are the Vaishya’s, merchants and small class landowners who should receive wealth. Last are the Shudra’s, traditionally the landless and field workers who should receive freedom. The caste system has its limitations and because of that, only the Brahmin (being on the top of the caste system) can become one with the ultimate reality, Brahman. In order to fulfill the core doctrine of Hinduism, it is important to be aware that only certain members “qualify” to unite with Brahman. In order for one to become a Brahman, they must go start from the bottom of the caste level and through the different levels until finally they are born as a Brahmin through good
The caste system was developed during the Vedic Period. The Vedas dictated these levels of the social structure through which the priests informed the public of their place in society. Society is primarily divided into four groups- the Brahmans, or priests; the Kshatriyas, or soldiers; the vaisyas, who are merchants and farmers; and the sudras, who are the servants to the high caste members. The fifth group, who are considered to not be human are known as the Untouchables. The caste system is based on the idea that your prarabadha karma, the karma from your previous lives that you cannot change, determines your place in society when you are reborn. Those who have very good karma are reborn as upper caste and those with bad karma are reborn into the lower caste, or as untouchables.
According to, Sociology: The Essentials, caste system is defined as a system of stratification (characterized by low social mobility) in which one’s place in the stratification system is determined by birth. This is also acknowledged as an ascribed status. “This system in found in the traditional Hindu population of India” (Haviland 256). Although it is found in other parts of the world,
The current manifestations of the caste system are now far more generalized across the Indian subcontinent than was the case in former times. Caste as we now recognize has been endangered, shaped and perpetuated by comparatively recent political and social developments. This is evident even i...
The Hindu caste system had four major classes which they gave different names based on their creators’ body parts, the Bantu people only had one ruling class, while the medieval Europeans had three classes which they called estates. Hindu tradition relates that the system of castes to different body parts of the creator god Brahma. On the top is Brahmin, or priests, then warriors (of the Kshatriya class), traders (of the Vaishya class) and laborers (of the Sudra class). The early Bantu social structure is simply based on kinship due to the low population, usually the higher status will bring higher power to the family, the man of the most prominent family would become the chief. As the population grows more complex political system was formed and the idea hierarchy was
The caste system had a very huge impact on ancient Hinduism, as well as the belief of rebirth and karma. Without those convictions, Hinduism would not have been what it was. The caste system told the people what responsibility they had based on the caste they were born into. The idea of good karma leading to reincarnation or rebirth into a better caste was used to keep people in line while also telling them how to live.
In addition to the importance of gender roles in the Indian-Muslim community, the caste system ruled over society. Each caste is a different social rank and there are four castes all together: It was highly frowned upon to marry outside of your caste and even considered normal to marry a first cousin. There was
Divided into four major social categories, the caste system categorizes Hindus, who act accordingly to their caste, into Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Sudra. Another class, the “untouchables,” is considered outside of the system. These five different classes of society define each person greatly. Castes are unchangeable and rarely intermarry. This social division is yet another example of how religion disbands organizations of people.
In each society, there are different types of rules and ideologies that are used in order to help govern its people. Within these communities, these rules create a social hierarchy developed through a ranked system based on either economic value or religious beliefs. A type of ranked system that most people are familiar with is the Caste System in India, which is a system of classification in a society based on birth. This complex social structure is most prevalent in India, where social hierarchy is in affiliation with Hinduism. It recognizes two concepts known as Varna and Jati. Varna is a word in Sanskrit meaning color and includes four main groups: the Brahmans, Kshtriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. The fifth group, the most segregated caste in the system, is the Untouchables. Within each Varna contains an array of sub-caste called Jatis, which are also based on birth. The rules of the cases are governed through religious ideas of purity and pollution. These two socially constructed ideologies determine whether or not you were respected in the community. Caste assignments in India are predestined at birth rather than a personal choice. Individuals act and dress like those of their own caste in public, due to strict caste laws. Pressures of these rules tend to brainwash people into conforming into what society considers pure, as we’ll see in Kakar & Kakar’s reading. As human nature takes precedent, caste rules become less relevant. Indulging in one’s own desires or needs, especially during times of hardship, outweighs any types of rules that we’ll see in Freeman’s reading and the movie Distant Thunder. Though the caste system is such an intrinsic part of life, when faced with needs to survive, it becomes nothing more than just a...