Q & A: caste system
From Vedics Mag: Volume1, Issue 2
http://vedics.net/magazine/index.html
Mukundan Pattangi
The truth about Varna (Occupation) and JAti (Caste)
Question: What is VEDICS view on Caste system? Is it true that the Vedic
religion divides people based on birth?
Answer: Popular misconceptions say that the Vedic religion encourages
division of human beings based on one's birth. As a result, some people
have abused these misconceptions and misinformation for personal
gains. Much of this misconception can be attributed to the use of the
words 'Varna' and 'JAti' interchangeably. A closer analysis will reveal
just how wrong these misconceptions are.
Question: What is Varna?
Answer: The root word for Varna is 'Vri' which means one's occupation. The
Varna system was hence originally based on division of labor. Those whose
duties were to protect the men, animals and properties were called as
'Kshatriyas', the warriors. Those who had skills in teaching and scholarly
thought were 'Brahmins' and so on.
The Varna system was solely based on the attitude of an individual and
his/her propensity for performing certain duties. The source of these
identified in the Srimad Bhagavad Gita as being the gunas, or inner
qualities, that were the result of the karmas of each individual from
previous lives. Those who had more of Sattva guna were Brahmins, those who
had Rajasic Guna were Kshatriyas and so on.
Question: Is that just your opinion or there is any proof for this?
Answer: To quote from Lord Krishna?s words in Chapter 4, Verse 13 of Sri
mad Bhagavad Gita:
catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah
tasya kartaram api mam viddhy akartaram avyayam
The Lord says that according to the three modes of material nature and the
work associated with them, He created the four divisions of human society.
Question: Are there any examples of great scholars who were not born in
Brahmin families?
Answer: We have instances from purAnas of many who were not born from
Brahmin parents actually teaching Brahmins and Kshatriyas. For example, Sri
Vedavyasa was the one who actually compiled 4 Vedas. But he was not born to
Brahmin parents
At some time, many many thousands of years ago, people had some right to
choose over their Varna based on their karmas and their
interests. However, over time, fathers began to expect their sons to take
over the duties of their specific calling. Due to the continual aspect of
the son taking over father's duties in the society, the 'work associated'
became a matter of birth and in later days, became identified as a birth
right.
Question: And what is jAti?
Answer: The root for jAti is 'jan', which means birth. It might have
happened that due to a continual devolution of one's father's duty to his
son over many years, Varna became confused with jAti and we know where we
are now.
Instead of having four divisions of labors, we now have several dozen
jAtis, each competing with one another for special rights, and each blaming
the other for the problems of society. So, even though two jAtis may
actually belong to one varna, they may see each other as being two
different castes. It is this which has led to the degradation of the varna
system and a general disrespect for the Vedas.
While it may not be possible to move completely away from the equating of
varna and jAti, we must recognize that when our pUrvacharyas referred to
Varna, they literally meant two things:
* One's attitude (Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasa Gunas)
* The duties the individual held in the society.
What is important to recognize that, in line with Vedic teachings, our
pUrvacharyas refused to acknowledge one Varna as being greater than
another, or one being lower than another. All people, irrespective of their
Varna are equal in their ability to do Good for this world, and in their
ability to obtain salvation through surrender to the Lotus Feet of Sriman
Narayana.
In many of the Sri Vaishnava works such as Sri Vachana Bhushanam, it is
clearly emphasized that a Sri Vaishnava , irrespective of race, caste, or
gender should be revered and respected as 'ThirumAl adiyAr' (a servant of
the Lord of Lakshmi)
Consequently, while we must respect and perform the duties and obligations
of our specific varna, we must not divide ourselves by jAti. We are all
one family bound together by Sriman Narayana and His Unconditional Love for
each and every one of us.
Question: In recent years are there examples of Non-Brahmin born Scholars
who in turn had Brahmin born students?
Answer: BCE 3102, about 5100 Years ago: Svami Satagopan (Nammazhvar) was
born into a family belonging to 4th Varna, Sudra. He is regarded to be
the greatest among the 10 Azhvars and is also the "most important" AchArya
of our lineage of teachers, who revealed the essence of the Vedas and
Upanishads to all of us. All Srivaishnvas including BRAHMINS OFFER PRAYERS
TO HIM DAILY.
Our Azhvars time periods are given below.
Mudal Azhvars: Dwapara: 8,62,900 same as BCE 4202
Thirumazhisai : Dwapara: 8,62,900 same as BCE 4202
Nammazhvar : Kali: 001 same as BCE 3102
Madhurakavi : similar time period as Nammazhvar.
Kulashekara : Kali 027 same as BCE 3075
PeriAzhvar : Kali 046 same as BCE 3056
Andal : Kali 097 same as BCE 3005
Thondaradipodi : Kali 288 same as BCE 2814
Thiruppan : Kali 342 same as BCE 2760
Thirumangai : Kali 397 same as BCE 2706
According to the Vedas, time is given in cycles of four yugas:
Krutha Yuga 17,28,000 years
Thretha Yuga 12,96,000 years
Dwapara Yuga 8,64,000 years
Kali Yuga 4,32,000 years
Most of the Azhvars are not born in Brahmin families, but we keep their
Vigraha in the temple and homes and worship them. This clearly shows that
in Sri Vaishnava tradition, caste is irrelevant; being a devotee of the
Lord is what matters. (Any living being is equally qualified to be His devotee)
Question: Are there any examples in the last few hundred years?
Answer: Yes, there are many examples in Sri Vaishnava Acharyas. The noted
scholar Sri Pillailokacharya lived in Srirangam throughout his life and was
a strong believer, preacher & propagator in equality of various varnas in
the eyes of God. One of his foremost disciples was a Harijan, called
vilAncolaippiLLai, who became very learned and, in his turn, had many
Brahmins as his disciples. In the eyes of the Lord all are same and
everyone has been given this blessed birth. This is an opportunity to fall
in love with God, and realize our true purpose of life, irrespective of
race, caste, or gender.
===================================================================
Please note
1=> Purvachayas taught Samskritha Vedas ONLY to Dwijas.
2=> They never appointed non-brahmins as archakas.
3=> They preached compassion to all beings at all time.
4=> They appointed many non-brahmins for other (non-archaka) services in
the temple for the LORD.
5=> They have had thousands of Non-brahmin sishyas and moved closely with them.
Caste is irrelavent for Sri Viashnavas,
but for Veidhika Karmas,
Vedas is needed and to learn and chant Vedas, its rules must be followed.
adiyens appeal to the followers of the religion not go against our
Purvacharyas ways, (1 and 2)
Purvacharyas have had the utmost intelligence and education, on top of the
being in HIS grace,
and have thought of everything possible and given the answers to everything
that we may ask.
Let us "never" ever think that we, with this very limited knowledge can ever
do better than them. Let us pray to the lord that all the believers stay in
this path and not try to create new rules and religions
under the guise of SriViashnvam.
I end this thread in the words of Mamunikal,
"MunnOr mozhinda muRai thappAmal kETTu
pinnOrndhu thAm adanaippEsAde * tham nenjil
thORRinadhE solli ? idu suddha upadEsavara
VARRadenbar ? mUrkarAvAr - (URM 71) "
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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