What is varnashramadharma?
Varna- social category. Ashrama- life stage. Dharma- religious duty. If you follow the duties of your life stage and complete your religious duties, you will have a better rebirth and will eventually reach moksha.
What are the four varnas?
- Brahmans- highest caste, teachers and scholars. 2. Kshatriyas- soldiers and warriors. 3. Vaishyas- merchants and professionals. 4. Sudras-lowest caste of laborers and servants.
Where did Varna originate?
In the vedas brought to India by the aryans, it comes from CH 10 of the rig veda from the purusha sutka hymn.
Describe the purusha sutka hymn
Purusha was a giant primeval man who was sacrificed, from his mouth came the Brahmins, from his arms came the Kshatriyas, from his thighs came the vaishyas, from his feet came the Sudras, the moon came from his mind and the sun from his eyes.
What do some scholars claim about the purusha sutka?
It was false and was added later, Manu also wrote rules about the varnas and the duties of the four varnas are also found in the Bhagavad Gita.
What did Gandhi say about varna?
Everyman is born in the world with certain natural tendencies…with definite limitations that he cannot overcome. From a careful observation of those limitations the law of varna was deduced.
Explain caste
Derived from the Portuguese ‘casta’ meaning color, it was thought that the aryans had lighter skin then the Drayus, so imposed the system to keep themselves separate. This theory has largely been rejected and it is thought it was more to do with the spiritual qualities associated with each varna.
What qualities and colors are associated with each varna?
Brahmins- Sattvas, purity and white. Kshatriyas- Rajas, passion and red. Vaishyas - Rajas and Tamas, nourishing and yellow. Sudras- Tamas, inertia and black.
What are the four ashramas?
- Brahmacharya, begins with the sacred thread ceremony and is all about study, learning the vedas and following a life of celibacy, applies to all castes bar the Sudras. 2. Grihasta, begins with marriage and is for all castes, you follow the four purushartas, raise a family and teach children. 3. Vanaprastha, begins with the birth of the first grandchild, you return to a celibate and more spiritual life and give up your position as head of the household, only for Kshatriyas and Brahmins. 4. Sannyasin- only for Brahmins, you leave home and wander around finding god, you have no possessions and focus totally on god.
What is the difference between Varna, caste and jati
Varna- social category based on spiritual purity. Jati/caste- words signifying one’s social position which is determined by occupation.
- How did varna develop?
Varna are social groupings you are born into, over the years different jatis evolved to fit into these groups, the skills of each group was guarded within families which led to occupations becoming exclusive and hereditary.
- How did caste develop?
A heircvahy of castes within the varna system started, but this was not uniform across India. Varna and jati are not the same, varna is a larger group made from smaller jati groups doing different jobs and maintaining tractions. Caste also applies to those who live outside of the system.
Explain the community of believers
Caste hierarchies are so linked to life in India that Hinduism is defined as less of a religion and more of a way of life based upon living according to varna.
What are the purposes of life?
Fulfill dharma, receive good karma, achieve moksha and be reunited with Brahman, breaking free from samsara.
What are the four purushartas?
- Kama- sensual pleasure. 2. Artha- lawfully making money. 3. Dharma- doing one’s duty. 4. Moksha- release from samsara.
Who are the Dalits?
People born outside of the caste system, live in slums and have the most menial jobs, they are seen as scum and expected to serve upper castes and accept their position.
What is life like for Dalits?
They are heavily discriminated against, some eat rats to survive, they are forbidden to draw water from the same well as other villages and have to have their own temple. They do the ‘polluting’ jobs such as disposing of animal carcasses.
How do many Dalits see their position?
They accept it as god’s intention, they believe they are being punished for sins in a previous life and that their next life will depend upon their attitude to this one.
Give an example of Dalit discrimination
Girdharilal maurya was born a Dalit, but did well for himself, so bought a path of land outside of the village and demanded to be allowed to use the village well. Villagers responded by burning his home, destroying his farming equipment and beating his family.
How was varnashramadharma transformed by Bhakti?
Bhakti opposed rigid caste practices, they initiate non caste Brahmanas from untouchables and accept female gurus. Bhakti sees itself as above varnashramadharma, the rules to do not apply and they can reach moksha regardless of varnashramadharma/gender. This idea is strongly opposed by caste conscious Brahmins.
Give four positives of varna
- Perfect way of organizing society. 2. Each caste has its own distinct role. 3. Based on the interests of the community, not individuals. 4. Kinship provides security and support for all members within a caste.
Give three more positives of varna
- Provides a wide support group. 6. Strong community identity promotes self respect within all groups in society. 7. Varna is the ultimate form of social justice as karma must be paid off.
Give six negatives of Varna
- No way out for Dalits. 2. Very discriminatory. 3. No free choice in areas like marriage. 4. Isolated from western advancements and modernity. 5. Impractical for western Hindus. 6. No sense of individual worth.
How can varna be seen as outdated?
In the west, many marriages are interracial and inter religious, going against the traditional idea of caste. Modernization had been instrumental in slowly eroding caste barriers.
