WIKIPEDIA: The Beginning of the caste system

 

WIKIPEDIA: The Beginning of the caste system

Caste System: The caste system in India is an important part of ancient Hindu tradition and dates back to 1200 BCE. The term caste was first used by Portuguese travelers who came to India in the 16th century. Caste comes from the Spanish and Portuguese word "casta". Many Indians use the term "jati". There are 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub castes in India, each related to a specific occupation. These different castes fall under four basic varnas: Brahmins--priests & teachers, Kshatryas--warriors & rulers, Vaishyas— farmers, traders & merchants,Shudras—laborers. 

Caste not only dictates one’s occupation, Members of a high caste enjoy more wealth and opportunities while members of a low caste perform boring jobs. Outside of the caste system are the Untouchables. Untouchable jobs, such as toilet cleaning and garbage removal, They are therefore considered polluted and not to be touched.

Theories : There are different theories about the establishment of the caste system. There are religious-mystical theories. There are biological theories. And there are socio-historical theories.

The religious theories: explain how the four Varnas were founded. According the Rig Veda, the ancient Hindu book, the primal man - Purush - destroyed himself to create a human society. The different Varnas were created from different parts of his body. The Brahmans were created from his head; the Kshatrias from his hands; the Vaishias from his thighs and the Sudras from his feet. Other religious theory claims that the Varnas were created from the body organs of Brahma, who is the creator of the world.

The biological theory: claims that all existing things, , inherent three qualities. Sattvic qualities include wisdom, intelligence, honesty, goodness and other positive qualities. Rajas include qualities like passion, pride, Tamas qualities include dullness, stupidity, lack of creativity and other negative qualities.

According to this theory the Brahmans inherent Sattva qualities. Kshatriyas and Vaisias inherent Rajas qualities. And the Sudra's inherent Tamas qualities.

Food also inherent different dosage of these qualities and it affects its eater's intelligence. The Brahmans and the Vaisia's have Sattvic diet which includes fruits, milk, honey, roots and vegetables. Most of the meats are considered to have Tamasic qualities. Many Sudra communities eat different kinds of meat (but not beef) and other Tamasic food. But the Kshatrias who had Rajasic diet eat some kinds of meat like deer meat which is considered to have Rajasic qualities The social historical theory : explains the creation of the Varnas, Jatis and of the untouchables. According to this theory, the caste system began with the arrival of the Aryans in India. The Aryans arrived in India around 1500 BC. The fair skinned Aryans arrived in India from south Europe and north Asia. Before the Aryans there were other communities in India of other origins. Among them Negrito, Mongoloid, Austroloid and Dravidian.

The Dravidians were the largest community in India. When the Aryans arrived in India their main contact was with the Dravidians and the Austroloids. The Aryans disregarded the local cultures. They began conquering and taking control over regions in north India.

The Aryans organized among themselves in three groups. The first group was of the warriors and they were called Rajayana, later they changed their name Rajayana to Kshatria. The second group was of the priests and they were called Brahmans. These two groups struggled politically for leadership among the Aryans. In this struggle the Brahmans got to be the

leaders of the Aryan society. The third group was of the farmers and craftsmen and they were called Vaisia. Vaisias who were the farmers and the craftsmen became the landlords and the businessmen of the society. The Aryans who occupied and took control over parts of north

India the locals and made them their servants. In order to secure their status the Aryans resolved some social and religious rules which, allowed only them to be the priests, warriors and the businessmen of the society.

Varna: The skin color was an important factor in the caste system. The meaning of the word "Varna" is not class or status but skin color. Between the outcasts and the three Aryan Varnas there is the Sudra Varna who are the simple workers of the society.