1. Note from the Editor

Dear Bhagavatas,
We wish you all a very Happy Pongal and Makara Sankraanti and a Happy New year. We present excerpts from Chapter 14 of Hinduism Rediscovered -on "Varnashrama Dharma" as it seems to be a hot subject being debated. We would invite your valuable opinions AFTER READING the complete postings on the subject, to modify the draft, if necessary, to present a correct final edition.

Thanks.
Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy

2. Excerpts from Chapter 14 of Hinduism Rediscovered

VARNA DHARMA AND ASHRAMA DHARMA
(CASTE SYSTEM AND STAGE OF LIFE SYSTEM)

SECTION 1 : VARNA DHARMA ( CASTE SYSTEM)

1.1 THE VARIOUS CATEGORIES- HOW THEY AROSE?
Apart from the 'Samanya Sanantana Dharma' we considered so far, there is what is known as 'Varnasrama Dharma' the division of society into Varnas and Ashramas, a natural process of evolution over time immemorial.

The 'Varna' popularly known as the 'Caste system' is perhaps the most explosive topics in Hinduism, which so often gives handle to Non-Hindus to bash Hinduism. But, a closer look at the genesis and the present status would convince that the concept is not only logical but also universal though it has lost much of its sharpness to render it ineffective, if not irrelevant to the modern times.

The word "Varna" is derived from the root 'VR' to screen, veil, covering, external appearance' - Varna also means color . Varna was used to denote groups having different skin coloration. The Aryans were fair skinned and the Dravidians black skinned. Thus, white or fair complexion was considered as belonging to Brahmins( priestly), red to Kshatriyas ( princely) , yellow to Vaisyas ( commercial) and black to Sudras ( serving).
But color is only one of the many aspects of the term. Varna also denotes species, kind, character and nature. Racial, tribal and familial solidarity had also a part to play in the origin of the 'Varna' system. The divisions may have been made on the basis of religious beliefs, cult practices and even eating habits.

Above all, there is the theory that the Varnas derived their basis from the Purushasukta (Rig Veda 10.90) in dividing mankind into four socially separate interdependent categories - and this was incorporated in the-- Manu Dharma Sastra. But, it is seen that even the Purusha Sukta did not lay down clearly the differentiation. All that it did was to explain the origin of all the living creatures.

"It is primarily a creation myth, and intended to establish the essential unity and interdependence of mankind and all living creatures and to define in a general sense the occupations regarded as the basis of Vedic society. In this context, skin - color has no relevance" - 1

Manu Dharma Sastra, however, expressed and reinforced the 'Varna' division giving to each a psychological basis. According to Manu Dharma Sastra -

The Brahmin is quiet and studious; the Kshatriya energetic, the Vaisya impelled by desire and the Sudra and those outside the Varna system as they were too undeveloped and too much swayed by momentary impulses. The Brahmins being intellectual were held to wield 'spiritual power'; the Kshatriyas being active held executive 'secular power'; the Vaisyas being shrewd and hawkish held 'economic power' and the Sudras being dependent and submissive held 'labor power'. Paradoxical as it might appear the caste system was the product of tolerance and mutual trust not of hostility or mutual incrimination. Looked at more closely, we would find that the system was based on the principle of 'Division of Labor' and the suitability of the different groups for the different categories of occupations

As in every community, there is a naturally elite segment representing the ideals, emotions and aspirations of the entire population. They set an example for the entire community. The equanimity of the philosopher, the bravery of the soldier, the rectitude of the merchant and the untiring energy of the laborer each with its own brand of perfection contributes to the social fabric.

Hinduism explains how this 'suitability' was discovered in the first place thus :
We have seen that the mental and moral inclinations acquired during past lives find expression in suitable environments in subsequent lives and the new sets of tendencies acquired during current life would similarly find expression in suitable surroundings in future lives - And, this chain reaction goes on incessantly.

All men are not equally wise or equally intelligent. Each one is trying to grapple with problems of life with whatever degree of wisdom each possesses. Hinduism provides for the highly evolved as well as those not so evolved or least evolved and even those not at all evolved in distinct categories of Brahimn, Kshatriya , Vaisya and Sudra with distinct Svadharma suited to their individual state of evolution.

The Hindu social system seeks to synthesize differences in human personality types and in the process seeks to provide duties and privileges for all categories - demanding of each that in which he excels, supplying for each what he really needs. And this makes for compatibility and a stable social fabric.

Dr.S.RADHAKRISHNAN described caste as " indeed a system for harmonizing the races and occupational groups who have lived together in India" -2

Just as the body functions with a heart, head, the blood stream, the nervous system etc.,. Society also has this inbuilt functions arising in the form of Varna classification. It is only a division of labor and no one is superior to the rest. All are integral parts of the same society.

Hinduism is the only religion that has dared to assign labels to each one of these functionaries. Such labeling does not detract from the essential features and functions of the various sections of society.

Hinduism boldly declares that inequalities result from man's own doing. not from actions of God. One is born into this life into a higher or lower caste (if at all, any one is higher or lower in fact) or even into a non-human form - as one has lived in a past life; one will be reborn into a future life as one behaves in this one. Thus, though the so called higher castes have greater privileges, their status imposes greater responsibilities.

"Varna is determined by Karma . Birth into a Varna is not an accident. It is the natural result of karmic causes. One is born where one belongs by reason of his acts over many incarnations.

If reincarnation is taken seriously, the injustice, if any, of the Varna system vanishes "- 3

Expressed in modern economic terms, the division can be likened to the four factors of production viz Land, Labour, Capital and Entrepreneur. Though not fully, at least approximately, they can be said to correspond to the labor force of the Sudras, those providing the basic land force of the Vaisyas, the capitalist force of Kshatriyas and the intellectual entrepreneur force of Brahmins. It is only an effective interaction of these four factors that could make society bloom into a productive possibility. Each one is important in its own way, none superior and none inferior to the rest.

"We with our democratic ideals may not like to admit there are people by nature who are better off and actually happier working for others than being on their own. The Hindu replies - What you would like people to be is not the point. The question is what they are. There remain many who are convinced that to the problem no country has as yet solved, the problem of how society ought to be ordered so as to insure to the maximum the virtues of both fair play and creativity, the basic thesis of caste still have something to contribute to modern thought" - .4

1.1.1. BRAHMANA ( PRIESTLY)
The status of Brahmins so evolved over several lives bestows on them the privilege and duty of educating and enlightening the rest of the society. This is an onerous responsibility laid on them, but due to their being so evolved, they are charged with this task in society and to set an example by conducting themselves with strictest discipline in behavior in order to maintain their level of evolution. This segment of society wield 'spiritual power'. It is said that when the wick is ablaze at the tip, the whole lamp is said to be burning.

Lord Krishna also describes the essential qualities of a Brahmin in the Bhagavad Gita thus-
''Control of senses, endurance in observing austerities, purity, forbearance, rectitude, forgiveness, knowledge and belief in the Vedas and the scriptures- all these constitute the natural and innate disposition of a Brahmin" 5

The scriptures declare that a person becomes a 'Brahmin' not by birth alone but by his actions. A Brahmin would forfeit his right to be a Brahmin if he does one or more of the following. The list , however, is not exhaustive.

1. Does not perform his nitya-karma-anushtana or daily rites of sandhya vandanam'  ( observance of prayers at morn, noon and eve)etc.
2. Sells his knowledge
3. Indulges in giving or taking bribes
4. urinates like an animal, while standing
5. indulges in sex (even with his legally married wife) without desiring a progeny.

The praxis observed scrupulously was that any transgression of the code of conduct would visit a Brahmin with a punishment of exemplary severity while the Kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudra would face much milder punishment in the descending order. In fact, the Sudra is considered a child from whom nothing much can be expected with reference to adherence to codes of conduct.

It may be noted that the highest caste charged with the preservation of the spiritual heritage was kept in constant penury.. They wielded neither power nor pelf. In fact, they were expected to eke out a hand to mouth existence by begging alms (Uncha Vrithi). The conscience keepers of society really earned only the sympathy and may be the munifesance of the rest of the society by their sheer simplicity.

It has also been emphasized that though one is born in a caste, it is not birth alone that entitles one to belong to that caste. It is the conduct, character and intellectual evolution that would fit one into his caste. Great Rishis worshipped by the high caste Brahmins have been born in lower castes (eg.) VASISHTA was the son of a prostitute; VYASA was born of a fisher woman; PARASARA's mother was a chandala; NAMMALWAR was a Sudra. These go to prove that even the so called high class Brahmins acknowledged the intellectual and spiritual superiority of these giants 6.

1.1.2. KSHATRIYAS ( PRINCELY CLASS)
Some others are ' born leaders' who wield secular or 'Executive power'. They are Administrators who organize, govern, rule, fight for a cause and even are prepared to die for it. These are the 'Kshatriyas'- the princely ruling class of society.
Due to the operation of the inevitable law of Karma, some are born intellectually superior. Their 'Dharma' is not the same as those of Brahmins'. Lord Krishna differentiates the duties of the two categories as follows :

Brahmins' are by nature responsible for being serene, self restrained, austere, pure, forgiving, upright, knowledgeable and for realizing and believing God. 'Kshatriyas' are known to be brave, vigorous, constant, resourceful, prompt, courageous in face of enemy, generous, lordly and were truly men of action.

1.1.3. VAISYAS ( COMMERCIAL CLASS)
Then, another category in society comprises of 'technocrats', who are highly skilled engaged in a trade or in a profession and with specialized skills in its own chosen line of activity. They are called 'Vaisyas' who represent the arms and feet of society and without whom society could not function. They hold the 'economic power' in society as the producers, craftsmen, artisans, farmers, skillful in creating material things on which life depends.

1.1.4. SUDRAS ( SERVING CLASS)
The last category consists of the rest of the people who constitute the 'task-force', the toiling millions, the followers, the working classes, as it were, who form the foundations of society wielding one of the most important tools of society - the 'labor force' though unskilled. These were called the 'Sudras'.

SECTION 1.2. CASTE SYSTEM IN THE ABODE OF GODS TOO?
By the way, the caste dispensation is not limited to Human society and in India alone. Even Gods were classified according to the benefits they provided - moral, military or economic. We pray for righteousness, victory and prosperity. Surya and Savitr confer spiritual benefits; Indra is the war god; Aswins grant us health and food. In Roman mythology, Jupiter confers spiritual benefits; Mars is the Wargod; and Quirinus is the god of plenty. In Indo- European society, the three functions are assigned to three different groups - the men of learning and virtue, the men of courage and valor, and the men who provide the economic needs. Luther opines that the class distinction is ordained by God - the teaching class, the defenders, and the workers.

SECTION 1.3: CASTE SYSTEM AS PRACTICED IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES SANS SUCH LABELLING
Now, let us take a look at the world around us : Man - Woman, Day-Night, Depth-Height, Black-White, Light-Shade, Drought-Rains, Beast - Human, the ruler - ruled - are some of the binary concepts we encounter in almost all aspects of life. It looks as if this polarity, this binary system is nature-intended. In any society, this great divide has always been there - where the ruling and intellectual classes have been found to be on top strata of societal status while the conglomeration of the ruled consisting as it does from the lay workers at the bottom right up to leaders of industry are hurled together in sharp contrast in point of privileges and opportunities. The constant struggle of the ruler to hold on to power and the ruled to seize the power has resulted only in role reversals.

In France, if a Marie Antoinette could prove herself to be so insensitive and impervious to the pangs of the commoners as to ask "If they don't have bread, why not they eat cakes ?" when the hungry masses stormed her palace for food - the leaders of the French Revolution were nonetheless insensitive and inhuman in inventing the guillotine and putting to merciless death even innocent members of the aristocracy.

In Soviet Union, If the Czar was tyrannical, the tyranny of the 'proletariat' was much worse. The sprawling communist tree would not suffer any rivals and it is history how all opposition of the labor force was smothered and silenced. When Mr.Nikita Krushchev was addressing a gathering denouncing Stalinism, someone from the crowd asked what he was doing when Stalin was alive. Kruschev asked the questioner to stand and show himself up. Naturally, he didn't. And, Kruschev replied that he was also doing precisely what the questioner was doing - keeping quiet for fear of instant death. This proves again the poignancy and the intensity of the fear psychosis instilled in the minds of the masses by the rulers of Soviet union.

In Africa, we condemn the 'Apartheid' - the segregation and ill treatment of the blacks by the white rulers. We know how Mahatma Gandhi fought against racism in South Africa, but to this day, it has not abated fully. .

In Britain, we hear of 'Skin-heads' harassing and indulging in mugging the non-white populations even now.

In China, we know how the revolt by young students against the tyranny of the rulers was ruthlessly quelled recently in the infamous Tiannamen Square incident.

In America itself, claimed to be most liberal, the most advanced, the most enlightened country in the world, it has its own version of 'Apartheid'. In spite of all the loud proclamations of "Equal opportunity" and "Affirmative Action" and so on, the blacks and women folk do not get parity in treatment with whites and men respectively in Jobs or politics. Until recently women, for example, had no voting rights. Cases are being fought in courts on the question of 'comparable worth of women" and this in spite of the vibrant "Women's lib" movement! And, what about the 'Dot-buster hoodlums' of the New York and other major cities who indulge in persecution of the defenseless? Is this not racialism, though not officially blessed but tolerated? - a racism perhaps characteristic of a 'developed, civilized, cultured' country in contrast to the less developed or undeveloped South African variety? In fact, in the whole history of the USA, there has not been a single black president or a single woman president. If this is not racism, if this is not discrimination --what else it is?.

The great racial divide that has become evident after the black Rodney King was beaten mercilessly by the white police force and the acquittal of black football superstar O. J. Simpson by a predominantly black jury in the case against him for the murder of his ex-wife white Nichole Simpson and her white friend Ronald Goldman in what is known as the' trial of the century 'only underscore the stark fact of the racial rancor that is poisoning the society in the USA.

In fact, Westerners have been practicing their own brand of casteism by promoting social and economic policies which denied benefits to masses of people. It is a relevant question that remains unanswered to this day, how the so called holocaust, the massacre of millions of Jews and other minorities by the German dictator, Hitler passed off without even the lifting of a little finger of protest on the part of the Christians.

" ...part of the answer lies in the built in segregation policy and hostile attitude towards the Jews-a caste overtone of a class by itself." says John Haught - 7

The oppression, suppression and depression of the teeming millions who constitute the work-force by the privileged few of the powers that be - whether you call it Monarchy, Aristocracy, Oligarchy, or Plutocracy or even Democracy is a matter of fact and surely constitute Casteism or Classism or Racism or Apartheid - all belong to the same psychological syndrome, though not ' labeled' as such.

In India, at least, in spite of the much railed 'Caste system' - We have leaders in industry, science, literature, military, religion, politics, in Government - in fact, every sphere of activity who cut across the caste and sex barriers. We have had Brahmin Agriculturists, Sikhs and Muslims as Presidents and Prime Ministers, a Harijan President in K.R.NARAYANAN, and a woman Prime Minister in Mrs.INDIRA GANDHI. We don't mean that a solitary example was going to make any great difference. But, definitely, it points to the trend in general. And, even these solitary instances are significantly absent in other nations, even in the so called advanced nations.

Today, the educated women of India occupy both at the national and international levels positions of public power which even the vociferous 'Womens 'lib" protagonists in the West could only envy finding themselves unceremoniously marginalized by their overbearing male counterparts.

Compared to the kind of casteism prevalent in other parts of the world, (of course, without such labeling) the one that is assailed in India has never been so acute. Even though the division originated on ideological grounds and degenerated into antagonism, its potency had been almost neutralized and nullified by both the social and political reformers of the country..

SECTION 1. 3 : KULA, GOTRA, JATI AND PRAVARA
Reverting to the Caste system in India, it was noticed that the vocational variations greatly determined the social status of individuals in the community. But, this was not found enough to differentiate the classes. It therefore became necessary to introduce several other factors like primary lineage (Gotra) variously called as (Santati) or (Anvaya), family lineage (Kula) birth (Janana) and descent (Abhijana) so that occupation was no longer the chief criterion of social status.

'Kula' denotes the home or family. Kula like Jati and Gotra refer to the name of the originator of the family and their descendants by birth and determined a person's position in the social fabric.

" 'Gotra' is an exogamous (septs) patrilineal sibship - whose members trace their descent to a common ancestor" - 8

The original meaning of Gotra is a cow-shed probably shared by a number of joint families. or a herd of cows. In the Atharva veda, it referred to a clan. All Brahmins are believed to have descended from the Rishis who lent their names to the various Gotras. The Gotra became significant in connection with marriage which was forbidden to persons of the same Gotra.

'Jati' was perhaps derived from 'Jata' (Race), maybe signifying the parallel (Jata) development of the different segments of society each endeavoring to excel the others in serving society in its own sphere of profession and vocation. In India, the word 'Jati' is now used to denote subclasses based on occupational differences. The number of Jatis is said to be over 25,000.

The word 'Caste' - scholars say is derived from Latin castis 'pure' (Note: the word incest which means soiled, impure.). Based on the concept of degrees of impurity, several Jatis falling beyond the pale of caste system had developed (e.g.) Jatiha (Outcaste ), Chandala ( those who handle Corpses), Nishada ( Hunters ), Kaivarta (Fishermen ), Karavara ( Leather workers ) etc. Mahatma Gandhi grouped all of those who were considered 'untouchables' and called them 'Harijans' meaning 'Children of God'

The concepts of purity and impurity occur every where in almost every action in religions throughout the world. As for Hinduism, we may say that purity is the essential keynote and most of its religious practices hinge on this concept of purification which assumes infinite variety (egg) the practice of commonality (partaking of food within a group only)

Unlike, in Christianity, wages of sin is not death but suffering. The process of purification is through purgatory. Sin arises out of our not exercising our freedom to make the best use of what we are endowed with - our parentage. our nature, our stage of spiritual evolution.

"The orthodox Hindu is strict about personal cleanliness to the point of fanaticism. Thus for example, although he may be seen with a green leaf as his plate, eating food with his fingers, the rules about the uses to which the right and left hand may be put, and the washing of hands before and after meals are all prescribed with a strictness quite unknown to the 'sanitary west'. More than this, the daily care of the mouth, teeth and tongue usually with the help of the twigs of the medicinal neem tree goes on so long with such assiduity that it might well shame any television tooth paste commercial."9

Taboos on pollution forbids any food touched or eaten by specified others. Such left over food is called 'Echil in Tamil, Enjalu' in Kannada (both meaning Saliva) and is shunned.

PRAVARA
A further complication was introduced by Pravara. In the Brahmins daily worship he mentions not only the name of the specific founder of his Gotra, but also the names of certain other Rishis who were believed to constitute a Triumvirate or Pentagon or Septagon group of remote ancestors of his family. The Pravara set up a further ban on marriages of families carrying one or more of the names of the ancestors constituting the Pravara. This greatly reduced matrimonial choices.

Sl.No.          PRAVARAM                                No. of Rishis   Gotram
1.      ANGIRASA-BARHASPATYA-BARADWAJA  			3       BARADWAJA
2.      ANGIRASA-BOWRUKUTSA-TRASTASYA   			3       SHADAMARSHANA
3.      AATREYA -AARCHANANASA-SYAAVASASVA			3       ATREYA
4.      BARGAVA-VAITHAHAVYA-SAAVEDASA   			3       VADOOLA
5.      BARGAVA-SYAAVANA-AAPNAVANA-OURVA-JAAMADAGNYA            5       SRIVATSA
6.      VISVAMITRA-AGAMARSHANA-KOUSIKA  			3       KOUSIKA
7.      VISVAMITRA-DEVARATHA - OUTHALA  			3       VISVAMITRA
8.      VAASISHTA-MAITRAAVARUNA-KOUNDINYA			3       KOUNDINYA
9.      AANGIRASA-AMBARISHA-YUVANASAVA  			3       HARITHA
10.     AANGIRSA-PARMYASVA-MOUDGALYA (OR)DAARKSHYA- 		3       MOUDGALYA
	BARMYASVA-MOUDGALA (OR)ANGIRASA-DHAAVYA MOUDGALAYA
11.     KASYAPA-AAVATSARA-CHANDILYA (OR)KASYAPA-AAVATSARA - 	3       CHANDILYA
	DAIVALA	 
12.     KASYAPA-AAVATSARA-NAITRUVA      			3       NAITRUVAKAASYAPA
13.     AANGIRASA-MAANDATRA-KAUTSA              		3       KUTSA
14.     AANGIRASA-AJAMIDA-KAANVA (OR)AANGIRASA-KAURA-KAANVA     3       KANVA
15.     VASISHTA-SAAKTYA-PAARASARYA             		3       PARASARA
16.     AGASTYA-DARTYACHYUTA-SOUMAVAHA  			3       AGASTYA
17.     ANGIRASA-BARHASPATYA-BARADWAIA- ORAANGIRASA 		3       GARGI
	-SAINYA- GARGYA
18.     KAASYAPA-AAVATSARA-DAIVALA              		3       KAASYAPA
19.     AANGIRASA-PARSHADASVA-RATHEETARA        		3       BADARAYANA
20.     AANGIRASA-GOWRAVITA-SAANKRUTYA (OR)SAADHYA-   		3       SANKRITI
	GOWRAVITA- SAANKRUTYA