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