Caste System
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- Category: History: Asian
- Date Submitted: 03/02/2015 07:18 PM
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Dominance of Caste System in India
Imagine being born into a life where you are destined to live into a situation where you cannot change your lifestyle no matter how intelligent you were or how brave you were. The caste system is dividing people separate social groups, beginning with Brahmans (teachers and priests) on the top, followed by Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (farmers and merchants), and Shudras (laborers) at the bottom. Untouchables, also known as Harijans or Dalits fall outside of the pyramid. Initially, this system was establish to benefit a well-balanced structure of society but corruption in system led to poverty and discrimination in India.
The ancestry of caste system has plenty of theories behind it. Some are religious and others are biological. Religious theory explained that according to the Rig Veda, which is the ancient Hindu book, the primal man, destroyed himself to create a human society and the different parts of his body created the four different groups of caste system. The Brahmins were from his head, the Kshatriyas from his hands, the Vaishyas from his thighs, and the Shudras from his feet (Daniel). As a result, Brahmans are considered the most intelligent and most powerful caste because of their education and are a representation of the brain. Likewise, Kshatriyas, considered the warrior caste created by arms, which represent strength.
Biological theory include the Varna/Guna System. Varna means different shades of texture or color and represents mental temper (Lahiri). Varna system is based upon ones Gunas, meaning their doing. There are three Gunas – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Sattva is white, Rajas is red, and Tamas is black. Sattva Guna implies to one who are pure, divine, and spiritual. Rajas Guna implies to one who are passionate and active. Rajas are responsible to protect Sattva and Tamas. Tamas Guna qualities include stupidity, lack of creativity, and selfish acts (Daniel). According to this theory, Brahmans...
Imagine being born into a life where you are destined to live into a situation where you cannot change your lifestyle no matter how intelligent you were or how brave you were. The caste system is dividing people separate social groups, beginning with Brahmans (teachers and priests) on the top, followed by Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (farmers and merchants), and Shudras (laborers) at the bottom. Untouchables, also known as Harijans or Dalits fall outside of the pyramid. Initially, this system was establish to benefit a well-balanced structure of society but corruption in system led to poverty and discrimination in India.
The ancestry of caste system has plenty of theories behind it. Some are religious and others are biological. Religious theory explained that according to the Rig Veda, which is the ancient Hindu book, the primal man, destroyed himself to create a human society and the different parts of his body created the four different groups of caste system. The Brahmins were from his head, the Kshatriyas from his hands, the Vaishyas from his thighs, and the Shudras from his feet (Daniel). As a result, Brahmans are considered the most intelligent and most powerful caste because of their education and are a representation of the brain. Likewise, Kshatriyas, considered the warrior caste created by arms, which represent strength.
Biological theory include the Varna/Guna System. Varna means different shades of texture or color and represents mental temper (Lahiri). Varna system is based upon ones Gunas, meaning their doing. There are three Gunas – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Sattva is white, Rajas is red, and Tamas is black. Sattva Guna implies to one who are pure, divine, and spiritual. Rajas Guna implies to one who are passionate and active. Rajas are responsible to protect Sattva and Tamas. Tamas Guna qualities include stupidity, lack of creativity, and selfish acts (Daniel). According to this theory, Brahmans...