The caste system is grossly misunderstood
Pic courtesy of Dorling Kindersley
By Rajini Saudranrajan
CASTE is distinguished by relative degrees of ritual purity or pollution and of social status. This modern-day concocted caste system is practiced in today’s India and elsewhere, where there are a large population of people of Hindu Indian origins.
The caste system practiced today is grossly misunderstood from the original concept which is detailed in Bhagavat Gita and other Vedic scriptures. In some cases, it is a show-off of one’s social status and hereditary and nothing more.
The actual “caste” system is known as the Varnashrama system or the divisions of classes within the society. Here is the relevant Sloka from the Bhagavad Gita:
Bg. 4.13
cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ
guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ
tasya kartāram api māṁ
viddhy akartāram avyayam
According to the three modes of material nature and the work associated with them, the four divisions of human society are created by Me. And although I am the creator of this system, you should know that I am yet the non–doer, being unchangeable.
The ideal social system known as varnashrama, divides society into four varnas, or occupational groups, and four ashramas, or stages of life. The four varnas are brahmanas (priests and teachers), kshatriyas (rulers and warriors), vaishyas (farmers and merchants), and shudras (laborers and artisans).
The four ashramas are brahmacharya (student), grihastha (householder), vanaprastha (retired), and sannyasa (renounced).
The original varnashrama is the division of society into four varnas and four ashramas that cooperate to satisfy the Supreme Lord Krishna. One’s varna is determined by one’s character, qualities, training, and work.
The focus is spiritual advancement and spiritual satisfaction for each member of society. This kind of varnashrama is a spiritual institution, just as a temple or a church becomes spiritual when used to glorify the Supreme Lord.
The original varnashrama is sometimes referred to as daiva, or “divine,” varnashrama.
Another type of materialistic varnashrama is the formal division of society into four varnas and four ashramas primarily to control society and increase the material well- being of certain groups.
Typically, parentage and adherence to certain rituals determine varna, rather character and training. This hereditary caste system, is a perversion of the original varnashrama, known as the materialistic varnashrama.
Spontaneous varnashrama is a “default” society that results because by nature people tend to divide into classes (the four varnas). Spontaneous varnashrama is devoid of a connection with the Supreme Lord Krishna and does nothing to promote spiritual progress.
To help us understand the kind of varnashrama, let’s look at these types of varnashramas more closely, beginning with the least spiritual type.
In Bhagavad-gita [4.13] there is the statement catur-varnyam maya srishtam: this system was created by Vishnu [God]. So since varnashrama is a creation of the Supreme, it cannot be changed. It is prevalent everywhere. It is like the sun.
The sun is a creation of the Supreme. The sunshine is there in America, in Russia, and in India—everywhere. Similarly, this varnashrama system is prevalent everywhere in some form or another.
Take, for example, the brah-manas, the most intelligent class of men. They are the brains of the society. The kshatriyas are the administrative class; then the vaishyas are the productive class, and the shudras are the worker class.
These four classes of men are prevalent everywhere under different names. Because it is created by the original creator, so it is prevalent everywhere, varnashrama-dharma.
In the Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.8) Suta Gosvami criticizes what we would call materialistic varnashrama: “The occupational activities a man performs according to his own position are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Personality of Godhead.”
This verse applies to the caste system of modern India. Although the caste system has some basis in religious tradition, for most of its practitioners the primary motivation is respectable social standing and material enjoyment, either in this life or the next, rather than service to the Supreme Lord.
As a result, many adversities arise due to this type of caste system. It creates many resentments and even abuse of others based on this perverted type of caste system.
The so called “high-caste” tend to abuse and undermine others who may not belong to their same type of castes. This is a big problem and as it brings about other social ills including social unrests in some parts of the world.
The great sage Parashara Muni tells us how human society can satisfy the Supreme Lord Krishna, even though He is already full in all opulences:
varnashramacaravata
purushena parah puman
vishnur aradhyate pantha
nanyat tat-tosha-karanam
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vishnu, is worshiped by the proper execution of prescribed duties in the system of varna and ashrama. There is no other way to satisfy the Lord.” (Vishnu Purana 3.8.9)
Parashara Muni is referring to the original varnashrama system. Its essential feature is the deliberate organization of society so that the members of each class perform activities that help members of other classes in their spiritual advancement.
It is interesting to note that in the Vishnu Purana verse, everyone—brah-mana, kshatriya, vaishya, or shudra—is eligible to advance to the topmost spiritual platform by offering not just the fruits of activity but the very activity itself to the Lord in full Krishna consciousness. In the eighteenth chapter (verses 45-46).
Krishna tells Arjuna, “By following his qualities of work, every man can become perfect. Now please hear from Me how this can be done. By worship of the Lord, who is the source of all beings and who is all pervading, a man can attain perfection through performing his own work.”
So only daiva varnashrama—the original system created by the Lord Krishna—can satisfy the Lord, because everyone can make spiritual progress. The more materially attached can learn to renounce the fruits of their labor.
The more spiritually advanced can gain the highest spiritual ecstasy by offering their labor to the Lord in a spirit of loving devotion. The Lord is satisfied because He sees all His children advancing towards Him, each according to his highest capacity at the moment.
Should the original varnashrama system be practiced by all, only peace will prevail throughout human society, as there will no longer be any form of discrimination based on one’s birth into any particular type of varna or ashrama.
But the world is probably a long way before we see the return of the practice of this true varnashrama system as explained in the scriptures.
But with a proper understanding, one should not think he is greater simply because he is born into a particular type of caste that seemingly is higher than others.
It means nothing, unless one is alleviated to the platform of God consciousness and thereon adopts to practice the varnashrama system as foretold in the scriptures.
*Rajini Saudranrajan is a The Hindu Press reader.
*The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of The Hindu Press (THP)
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