Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Competitive Exams - Main Features of Caste System Varna & Jati - Examrace PDF

    Uploaded by

    tarakesh17
    274 views1 page
    The document summarizes the key features of the caste system in India. It describes the four main varnas according to ancient Hindu scriptures - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. Below the varnas were thousands of endogamous jatis. Those outside the caste system were considered untouchables. The varna system was originally meant to be non-hereditary but became a social hierarchy over time. While Hindu scriptures mention the varna system, the modern Indian caste system is considered distinct. The origins of caste are debated but some scholars believe it developed from early agricultural societies in South India and was later influenced by Brahminical

    Original Description:

    Original Title

    Competitive Exams_ Main Features of Caste System Varna & Jati- Examrace.pdf

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    The document summarizes the key features of the caste system in India. It describes the four main varnas according to ancient Hindu scriptures - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. Below the varnas were thousands of endogamous jatis. Those outside the caste system were considered untouchables. The varna system was originally meant to be non-hereditary but became a social hierarchy over time. While Hindu scriptures mention the varna system, the modern Indian caste system is considered distinct. The origins of caste are debated but some scholars believe it developed from early agricultural societies in South India and was later influenced by Brahminical

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    274 views1 page

    Competitive Exams - Main Features of Caste System Varna & Jati - Examrace PDF

    Uploaded by

    tarakesh17
    The document summarizes the key features of the caste system in India. It describes the four main varnas according to ancient Hindu scriptures - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. Below the varnas were thousands of endogamous jatis. Those outside the caste system were considered untouchables. The varna system was originally meant to be non-hereditary but became a social hierarchy over time. While Hindu scriptures mention the varna system, the modern Indian caste system is considered distinct. The origins of caste are debated but some scholars believe it developed from early agricultural societies in South India and was later influenced by Brahminical

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 1

    2/2/2015

    CompetitiveExams:MainFeaturesofCasteSystemVarna&JatiExamrace

    VarnaandJati
    AccordingtotheancientHinduscriptures,therearefourvarnas.TheBhagavadGitasaysvarnasaredecidedbasedonGunaand
    Karma.Manusmritiandsomeothershastrasmentionfourvarnas:TheBrahmins(teachers,scholarsandpriests),theKshatriyas(kings
    andwarriors),theVaishyas(agriculturistsandtraders),andShudras(serviceprovidersandartisans).Thistheoreticalsystempostulated
    VarnacategoriesasidealsandexplainedawaytherealityofthousandsofendogamousJatisactuallyprevailinginthecountryasbeing
    thehistoricalproductsofintermarriageamongthepureVarnasVarnaSankara.Allthose,includingforeigners,tribalsandnomads,
    whodidnotsubscribetothenormsoftheHindusocietywerecontagiousanduntouchables.Anothergroupexcludedfromthemain
    societywascalledParjanyaorAntyaja.Thisgroupofformeruntouchables(selfdescribedasDalits)i.e.downtrodden,wasconsidered
    eitherthelowersectionofShudrasoroutsidethecastesystemaltogether.PassagesfromscripturessuchasManusmritiindicatethat
    thevarnasystemwasoriginallynonhereditary.
    SeveralcriticsofHinduismstatethatthecastesystemisrootedinthevarnasystemmentionedintheancientHinduscriptures.
    However,manygroups,suchasISKCON,considerthemodernIndiancastesystemandthevarnasystemastwodistinctconcepts.Many
    EuropeanscholarsfromthecolonialeraregardedtheManusmritiasthelawbookoftheHindus,andthusconcludedthatthecaste
    systemisapartofHinduism,anassertionthatisrejectedbymanyHinduscholars,whostatethatitisananachronisticsocialpractice,
    notareligiousone.
    AlthoughmanyHinduscripturescontainpassagesthatcanbeinterpretedtosanctionthecastesystem,theyalsocontainindications
    thatthecastesystemisnotanessentialpartofHinduism.TheVedasplaceverylittleimportanceonthecastesystem,mentioning
    casteonlyonce(inthePurushSukta)outoftensofthousandsofverses.B.R.Ambedkarbelievedthateventhisisamuchlater
    interpolationandgaveevidencetosupporthisconclusion.IntheVedicperiod,therewasnoprohibitionagainsttheShudraslisteningto
    theVedasorparticipatinginanyreligiousrite.
    InEarlyEvidenceforCasteinSouthIndia,GeorgeL.HartstatedthattheearliestTamiltextsshowtheexistenceofwhatseems
    definitelytobecaste,butwhichantedatestheBrahminsandtheHinduorthodoxyHebelievesthattheoriginsofthecastesystemcan
    beseeninthebeliefsystemthatdevelopedwiththeagriculturalcivilizationandwaslaterprofoundlyinfluencedbytheBrahminsand
    theBrahmanicalreligionTheseearlyTamiltextsalsooutlinetheconceptofequality.SaintValluvarhasstatedpirapokkumella
    uyirkkumwhichmeansallareequalatbirthLikewise,SaintAuvaiyaarhasstatedthatthereareonlytwocastesintheworld:Those
    whocontributepositivelyandthosewhocontributenegatively.Fromthese,itcanbeinferredthatthecastesystemismoreofasocio
    economicclasssystem.

    data:text/htmlcharset=utf8,%3Ch2%20id%3D%22VarnaandJati%22%20style%3D%22margin%3A%2010px%200px%200px%3B%20padding%3A%200px%200px%202px%3B%20verticalalign%3A%20baseline%3B%20fontsi

    1/1

    You might also like