The caste system in India originated about 2,000 years ago. “Caste”, is a representation of a large-scale kinship that is based on a stratified system of hierarchy. This system is mainly adapted among the Hindu society in India, which is divided into four “varnas”. Rita Jalali describes that the varnas are, “ranked categories characterized by differential access to spiritual and material privileges” (Jalali 249). Each social class has different rights that are entitled from birth and cannot be changed. These rankings include the Brahman (poet-priest), Kshatriya (warrior-chief), Vaishya (traders, landlords), and Shudras (menials, servants). The Brahmans are the highest ranking of the four classes, and believed to have greater ritual purity than the members of the other varnas, giving them the prestige of performing most religious tasks. Kshatriya, initially the highest authority above the Brahmans, are made of rulers and militants protecting the society by fighting and governing. Vaishya decedents are assigned to traditional roles of farming and agriculture. They are landowners and money-lenders. Shudras serve the above three varnas as servants and laborers. However, this excludes the untouchables who are shunned upon because of their impure and polluting occupations/ degrading lifestyles, which are represented at the very end of the spectra.
The formation of the four varnas began with the arrival of the Aryans from southern Europe and north Asia around 1500 BC. The Aryans disregarded the local cultures and began conquering the inhabitants. They took control over regions in north India and organized themselves in three groups: Rajayana (later changed to Kshatriya), Brahmans and Vaishya. In order to secure their status the Arya...
... middle of paper ...
... Library. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.
Kuah, Desmond. "The Caste System." Victorianweb.org. N.p., 6 Nov. 2000. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.
Moorjani, Priya, Nick Patterson, and Lalji Singh. "Genetic Evidence for Recent Population Mixture in India." AJHG 93.3 (2013): n. pag. Print.
Negi, Anoop. "Genetic Study Finds Origin of Indian Caste System."
Past Horizons: Adventures in Archeology (2011): 154-61. Print.
Pruthi, Raj K. Indian Caste System. New Delhi: Discovery House, 2004. Print.
Reich, David. "Study Reveals Origin of India's Caste System." The Times Of India. 11 Aug. 2013. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.
Subbiah, Malathi. "Caste System and Caste Related Violence in Indian Culture." Indian Journal of Arts 2.6 (2013): 16-20. Print.
Trivedi, Divya. "Indian Society Needs to Examine Why Caste Discrimination Still Takes Place: Desmond Tutu." The Hindu. N.p., 08 Nov. 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.
Thousands of years ago, Indian society developed into a complex system based on different classes. This system is known as the Caste System. It separated Indians into different castes based on what class they were born into. As thousands of years went by, this system grew larger and became further complex (Wadley 189). This system caused frustration for the Indian citizens because they were receiving inequality.
A few upper caste youths, hiding behind parapet of the building in an opposite auction place, stoned the pot. “C-r-a-ash” a sound Teeha heard. The youths struck Methi’s pot and her whole body became drenched completely. It is her caste that is her flaw. By the time, Teeha moved towards Methi as soon as the pot shattered. Methi’s companions stood at some distance from them. Mathi was wet from head to feet. She stood rooted to the ground. The upper caste youths’ eyes roved over Methi’s breast and navel visible through her wet clothes, because the woman was an untouchable’s community in that village. So the upper caste youths wanted to humiliate her in public place. Look at this caste that became a weak and means of under-estimation. Teeha, a Dalit and an outsider, has openly hit a Patel youth that is a burning issue. But a low-caste girl was assaulted which is considered as sign of upper caste
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.
There are four main castes and one in which they consider to be the outcastes. The four main castes are the Brahmin, the next is the Kshatriya, the third is the Vaishya, and the fourth is the Shudra. The outcastes are in the group called Dalits. Each caste has a purpose in life, the Brahmin are considered to be the priestly caste in which they are teach the Veda, and are to “sacrifice for others and receive alms” (Institutes of Vishnu 5-10, pg. 44). The Kshatriya is considered the warriors or the ruler caste, they have constant practice in battles, and they are to protect the world from harm. The Vaishya are to be the merchants and the farmers, they tend to the cattle, they, “engage in farming, keeps cows, trades, lends money at interest, and grows seeds” (Institutes of Vishnu 5-10, pg. 44). The Shudra are the manual laborers who according to the Institutes of Vishnu under the Four Castes, are to serve the twice born men who are to sacrifice and to study the Veda, the Shudra also engage in all the different duties of craftsmanship (5-10, pg.44). In case of a crisis, each caste is allowed to follow the occupation of the caste that is below them in rank. The duties in which all four of these castes, whatever gender or stage of life, are to follow and hav...
The literature does provide evidence for my hypothesis and also provides a clearer picture as to how frequent and to what extent the interbreeding is believed to occur. Examining these articles will introduce the new findin...
Indian society was patriarchal, centered on villages and extended families dominated by males (Connections, Pg. 4). The villages, in which most people lived, were admini...
...mans, Khastriyas, and the Vaishyas are the upper class. Nobody under them gets any recognition. The Shudras and the Untouchables are the lower class. They mainly don’t exist in society. Hindu’s have some sacred objects such as cows and the Gangas River. The Gangas River is believed to wash away all evil.
The Hindu Caste System At first appearance, the Hindu class structure and the social laws pertaining to religious rights based on one's class seem to be prejudicial, demeaning and exclusive to the point of abuse. The lowest Varna, the Shudra, is not even allowed to hear or study the Vedas based solely on their inescapable station in life as servants to the higher three classes. However, when one looks at their class system from a purely religious standpoint, you discover that the class system is not abusive in itself, and that the abuse that may take place comes from aspects of humanity outside their religious practices. Sanatanadharma breaks down society into four classes: Varnas and the untouchables. The highest class is the Brahmans, the priestly class.
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...
In The Laws of Manu the caste system is described in great detail. It explains everything one must do to be a part of their caste. In Hinduism each social class (varna) has its own dharma, or social law. The concept of dharma regulates all parts of life for Hindu’s and outlines their duties. However, there are different levels of dharma for people in the twice-born varnas, which includes the Brahmin, Ksatriya, and Vaisya. The different levels of dharma are based on the stage of life that an individual is at. The four stages an individual can be at are a student, a householder, a forest-dweller, or a sannyasin. A sannyasin is the lowest stage one can be in and one reaches that stage when they have cut all of their ties to society. In the text from The Laws of Manu it is stated that a householder may “never, for the sake of subsistence, follow the ways of the world: let him live the pure straightforward, honest life of a Brahmin” (Smart & Hecht 214). The Hindus believed in living a very simple life and being very honorable. The Laws of Manu states that no Brahmin should “attach himself to any sensual pleasures” (214) and also to “avoid all (means of acquiring) wealth which impede the study of the Veda” (214). In The Laws of Manu the idea of final liberation is brought up very frequently. Final liberation is the goal of all Brahmins. A Brahmin lives his whole life striving to reach final liberation and he does so by following dharma. He does not challenge dharma at all and believes that if he follows it, he will reach final liberation.
The Portuguese word casta means race, or breed, and Hindus have traditionally interpreted this as different levels of society, known as the caste system used in India (“India caste system”). The caste placements are commonly associated with a specific occupation, for example, a priest is a member of the Brahmin caste, and a merchant is a member of the Vaishya caste (“BBC - The caste system”). A Hindu is born into the caste that their parents are ‘members’ of, and as a member of that caste, they must marry in the caste, perform the expected occupation of that caste and eventually die as a member of said caste. The lowest caste of the system are the Dalit, or ‘untouchables’ as they are more commonly known. Members of this caste are also born into it, but because of their extreme conditions of living in poverty, they were too despicable to be considered a part of the caste system. These ‘untouchables’ were usually found begging on the streets and did not have a job that fell into the categories of the caste system, therefore were severely looked down upon by all othe...
Their placement in caste system serves as their status in the society and they cannot merit a higher status until death. Unless they became a good follower of their religion then through reincarnation, they can attain a higher status. The caste system being part of their culture, forbids intermamarriages between castes. These principles clearly represent how religion plays a definitive role in their country. It also reflects the interactions of the four aims of human coduct.
Pandey, T. N., 2014. Lecture 1/9/14: Culture of India: Aryan and Indigenous Population. Cultures of India. U.C. Santa Cruz.
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.
The caste system in India is elaborately structured to have an Indian touch to it, clearly distinguishing it from social structures worldwide. Caste is a word often used to describe a cluster of people who have a specific rank in the society. Each caste system is elaborately crafted to suit the needs of the society and they vary from group to group; each has its own rules and customs. Different chaste systems are planned in a hierarchical manner to become part of any of the four basic colors; varnas (a Sanskrit word for color). These include; the varna of Brahmans, identified with the learned class and priests; varna of Kshatriyas, which is encompasses warriors, rulers and property owners, the varna of Vaishyas, which attracts traders ; and lastly the varna of Shudras, who are servile laborers (Bayly, 1999).