CASTE SYSTEM: ORIGIN OF THE CASTE SYSTEM

 

CASTE SYSTEM: ORIGIN OF THE CASTE SYSTEM  

The exact origin of caste system cannot be traced. The system is said to have originated in India. The records of the Indo - Arycon culture contain the first mention and a continous history of the factors that make up caste. The people, who are known as Indo - aryans belong linguistically to the larger family of peoples designated either as Indo - europeans or as Indo - germans. They comprised the Angle - saxons, the celts, the romans the Spanish, the Portuguese and Iranian among others. One of the branches of these peoples which reached India about 2,500 BC is called Indo - Aryans.

Wikipedia Caste knowledge

(i) Racial Theory :

Caste system took its birth after the arrival of aryans in India. In order to maintain their separate existence the Indo Aryans used for certain groups and orders of people the favourite word 'varna', 'colour'.

Thus they spoke if the 'Dasa Varna' , or more property the Dasaa people, rigvedve literature stresses very significantly the differences between the Arya and Dasa,

not only in their colour but also in their spech, religious practices, and physical features. The three classes Brahma, Kahatra and Visare frequently mentioned

in the Rig Veda. The name of the fourth class, the sudra, occurs only one in the Rig Veda. The first two classes i.e., Brahma and Kshatra represented broadly the two professions of the post-priest and the warrir - chief vis comprised all the common people. The sudra class represented domestic servants approximating very nearly to the position of slaves. On the relations subsisting between the four classes the Rig. veda has little to say. However, the Brahman is definitely said to be superior to the kshatriya. 

(ii) Political Theory : 

According to this theory, caste system is a clever device invented by the Brahmans in order to place themselves on the highest ladder of social hierarchy. 

Dr. Ghuryo states, caste is a Brahminic child of Indo. aryan culture craded in the land of the Ganges and thence transferred to other parts of India. The Brahmanie literature of the post-vedie period mentions certain mixed classes (Sankara Jatio) and also a group of outcaste classes (Antyavasasayin) Among the four varnas, the old distinction of arya and sudra now appears as Dvija and Sudra. The first three classes are called dvija (twice born) because they have to go through the initiation cenemony which is symbols of rebirth "The Sudra was called "Ekjatai" (once born). The word "Jati" is henceforward employed to mean the

numerous sub division of a "Varna". However, this democraction is not rigidly maintained. The word "Jati" is sometimes used for "Varma" In the Brahman period the position of the Brahmans increased manifold. The three lower classes are orderd to live according to the teaching of the Brahman, who shall declare their duties, while the King also is exhorted to regulate his conduct accordingly. 

The pre-eminencie of the Brahman had

secured him many social privileges sanetioned by the law givers. The statement that God created the sudra to be the slave of all is repeated he is given the name of

"padaja. 

(iii) Occupational Theory : 

The origin of caste system can be found in the nature and quality of social work performed by the various groups of people. Those professions which were regarded as better and respectable made the persons who performed them superior to those who were engaged in dirty professions. According to newsfieed, "function

and function alone is responsible for the origin of caste structure in India" with functional differentiation there come in occupational differentiation and nutnberous sub-castes such as Lahor, Sonar, Chamar, Bhangi, Barhai Patwa, Tele, Hai, Dhunia,Tamboli, Kahar, Godaria, Mali etc come into existence.