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How did the creation of the four classes (varnavyastha) occur ?(
Part -1)Dear friends, Many hindus feel that the jati
vyavastha(caste system ) and varnavyastha are the same . But
this is not the truth. In this series of posting we will see the
spiritual dimension of varnavyastha and its importance. As I
had mentioned earlier that the foundation stone of Indian
culture was the varnashramvyavastha and we have seen the
various aspects of ashramvyavastha in earlier postings.
So in this series of posting we will know about the
varnavyastha. I need not to mention that the jati vyastha that
is prevalent today is totally different from the varnvyashta
which was prevalent in ancient times.
Lord Shrikrushna has said (Shrimadbhagvadgita 4:13) ‘चातुवरणयर ं मया
सृषटयं गुणकमरिवभागश: ।’. This means, ‘I have created the four classes
(varna) according to components (gun) and actions (karma)’ .
Qualities are more important than the birth
यसय यललकणं पोकतं पुंसो वणािभवयंजकम् ।
यदनयतािप दृशयेत ततेनैव िविनिदरशेत् ।। - शीमदागवत ७.२१.३५
Meaning: An individual should be classified in a particular class
(varna) irrespective of his birth if he possesses the decisive
characteristic of that class. One’s class should be decided
considering the holistic picture of the qualities of the class of
the person and those of the other classes. - Shrimadbhagvat
7.21.35
Its mentioned very clearly in our scriptures that ‘janmen
shudra’ and our karma make us Brahmin, kshtriya or vaishya
.To progress at a faster pace in spirituality we need to do
spiritual practice as per all the varnas . Even Purnavtar
Bhagwan Shri Krushna performed the actions as per all the
varnas so we need to understand the varnavyastha to progress
spiritually . We all must remember that the two great seers of
vedic dharma whom we consider as Maharushis (Valmiki and
Ved Vyas) were by shudras birth. The caste system prevalent
today is a curse on Indian society and to eradicate it we need
to understand the varnavyavastha . Our Indian society gave
prestigious postion to the people as per their capabilities,
merits and karmas . The reservation policies prevalent in many
public sectors and in many institutions today is the outcome of
vested interest of some selfish politicians and to remove them
and give importance to merit we need to understand the
dharma and its philosophies.

1. The three components, four aspects of Righteousness and

the yugs (eras)
A. The period preceding the Satyayug: During those days there
was only one class - the Hansa class, the four classes did not
exist then. Hansa also means the soul. All the people from that
period were engrossed in the spiritual experience of Self-
realisation. They were not even aware of the state of Self-
realisation. Even if they did descend from the nirvikalpa
superconscious state (samadhi) they would descend at the
most to the state where they harboured the spiritual emotion
that ‘He (God) is I (so’ham)’.
B. The Satyayug (Krutyug):
• Origin: As society regressed from the spiritual emotion of ‘He
is I (so’ham)’ to ‘I am distinct from Brahman (aham)’ the yugs
commenced and began changing.
• Features: Even in the Satyayug there was only the Hansa
class; but often they were aware of their state of supra
consciousness. God has preached Righteousness of two types -
materialistic and spiritual. Every being who was spiritually
inclined was aware that ‘I am not this body, I am the soul’. All
who followed the path of Spirituality (nivruttimarg) were in a
state of Self-realisation, that is had lost the spiritual emotion
that ‘He is I’. In other words their ignorance as well as spiritual
knowledge was totally destroyed. God established a link
between the two righteous factions by entrusting the
responsibility of providing for those following the path of
Spirituality to those following materialism (pravruttimarg). So
long as this link was not broken, man was happy. The
circumstances prevailing during that period were as described
below.
During this yug since all were sattvik (sattva predominant) in
nature they behaved righteously. Consequently there was
absolutely no need for a code of punishment (an administrative
system).
न वै राजयं न राजासीत् न दणडो न च दिणडक: ।
धमेणैव पजा: सवा: रकिनत सम परसपरम् ।।
Meaning: In an ideal state there were no criminals so there
were also no rulers to punish them. Since there was no king,
there was no state. Each one would follow the code of
Righteousness and protect the other.
• Spiritual practice: Righteousness in the Satyayug consisted of
the four aspects of 1. Spiritual knowledge (spiritual practice of
the Brahman class), 2. Penance (spiritual practice of the
Kshatriya class), 3. Offering (spiritual practice of the Vaishya
class) and 4. Truthfulness (spiritual practice of the Shudra
class). When these four aspects of Righteousness remain
secure, that is they are followed by the society, the Satyayug
reigns in its full glory. At that time the evolved and sattvik
(sattva predominant) intellect necessary for acquisition of
spiritual knowledge was present along with the potential to
perform austerities and the attitude of donating generously.
Besides all were truthful. All the people in the Satyayug had
knowledge of the Absolute Truth (soul principle), were
righteous, prudent and sattvik. That is why each one’s
existence proved conducive for the other. No one was
exploited. Thus it is automatically proved that only if everyone
remains righteous then harmonious living is assured.
To be continued …..
By: Tanuja Thakur