Varna System: Gradual Withdrawal from the Ancient Varna Duties

 

Varna System: Gradual Withdrawal from the Ancient Varna Duties

1. The Varna system led to an organised community life. However, in the later years, the people of different varnas began ignoring their obligations.

2. On one hand, where Brahmins began to feel superior compared to other varnas, the Kshatriyas were in a different kind of competition with the Kings to display their own power in society. Also, they became reckless in their attitude and took to the practices of the Shudras.

Ancient Varna.

3. Vaishyas gained power from their ownership of lands. Wrong methods were being adopted by them to earn revenue. The Shudras were being oppressed by the dwija status varnas which made them disregard their own duties. Thus, the varna system declined in its virtues as all the varnas distanced themselves from their obligations.

4. Also, the mixing of the different varnas together ended up creating a larger single identity which subsumed all the varnas within itself.

5. The later period saw the rise of religions like Buddhism and Jainism that disapproved of the original beliefs of the people and modified the Varna system.

6. While these developments had a gradual impact on the varna system, the concepts of westernization, equality, freedom, sanskritization and brahmanisation too had subsequent effects, for eg, people from different varnas distanced themselves from their core obligations.