Caste system origin
Origin in the Rig Veda X.90 (title)
Purushasukta = supreme being; the 4 classes of people originated from his limbs
how did hindu's tackle the problem of having so many cultures
assimilation, resulting in a composite of hindu society
dominant qualifications in each caste
brahmin- sattva kshatriyas- rajas vaishas- tamas sudras- none (not even considered human)
touchables/untouchables today
caste system still exists today but untouchability is abolished (though the idea is hard to get rid of)
main idea of the varna theory
castes were based on the color of one's skin
title of the second origin story
functional theory
caste began as a professional division, but later became...
heredity; once born into a class you cannot change it
what caused various cultures and civilizations to arise in india
migrators mingles with natives of varying skin color
main idea of the functional theory
one chooses a way of life based on aptitude and attitude
caste system in reality
one group of people dominating over another
division of labor is based on
one's disposition
plato's divisions of labor
philosopher's state, warrior state, masses state
occupational division of clans breakdown
priests- brahmins military/political- kshatriyas artisans- vaishas non-aryans- sudras
qualifications of man
sattva- principle of goodness rajas- principle of dynamism/passion tamas- principle of darkness
varna no longer refers to the color of one's skin, but...
the color of one's character
in the rig veda, the castes are nothing but...
the divided body of brahman
what is the duty of the sudras in relation to the other castes
they are to serve the other castes without depreciating their worth
third origin story title
varna (color)
what does each limb of brahman correspond to in the rig veda
- Brahmin- mouth: men of learning (priests, teachers), where the mouth is the vehicle for knowledge - Kshatriyas- arms: warriors, where arms yield weapons - Vaishas- thighs: traders, where legs are needed to move from place to place - Sudras- feet: servants