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Do you believe in Caste-System ?

Madhuri

RF Goddess
Staff member
Premium Member
No I don't. Humans should have equal rights, full stop.
I can understand that some may have additional privileges such as if you are a king or the president or something but a privilege is distinct from a 'right'.
 

Sees

Dragonslayer
Not caste system - but I think it is natural/inevitable that some individuals, families, groups, etc. will have more resources and prestige than others.
 

Pegg

Jehovah our God is One
Do you believe that some humans have more human-rights than others due to their Caste ?

If No, Than its Okay.
If Yes, Than why ?

No. Caste is a terrible and animalistic standard to impose on a fellow being.

According to one Hindu writer, the Brahman “caste system was soon discovered to be a very effective instrument of domination and exploitation, for keeping the people ignorant in order to make them submissive, and for keeping them weak by increasing divisions among them.”—The Menace of Hindu Imperialism, Swami Dharm Theertha, 1946.
 

oldbadger

Skanky Old Mongrel!
Hi Chinu... :)

The caste system seems to be dreadful.
I read reports of low castes getting very bad treatment from police, etc.
I don't know how the caste system still exists.....
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
No I don't. But I do believe some people are more suited to do certain things than others. Individuals vary.

Also, caste isn't unique to Hinduism in India. It's practiced in most communities, and unfair treatment based on something illogical (age, gender, race, economic class, for example) is everywhere in varying degrees.
 

atanu

Member
Premium Member
Varna-asrama dharma is core of Hindu dharma, emanating from the Vedas and a Hindu should be able to explain it. Removing the concept of varna from Hinduism actually renders it an alien dharma.

Statement of a principle is not equal to evil implementation of that principle. Einstein should not be held responsible for dropping of nuclear bombs on Japan.

Understanding of varna entails understanding of Guna, Karma, and Reincarnation first. Guna is quality of Nature (mind) and Karma is work. Nature of Mind and the Works determine together the placement of one in society, including the circumstances of one's birth in a particular situation. Finally, varna is 'VEIL', created due to Mental nature and Karma.

The fundamental teaching of Hinduism is that the pure Mind is none other than the Brahman, the highest God. Yet, in nature, the purity is veiled due to preponderance of particular Guna-s and particular works.

The theory of Varna is not a description of static category system. But it is an explanation of why one is as one is and then it is prescription of how one can come out of the quagmire.

Hindu dharma recognises this as natural play and recommends most suitable paths for different kinds of people and that constitutes varna asrama dharma.


A summary and links for more detailed reading are given below:

Dharma

The Four Castes

In Purusha-Sukta of the Rig-Veda, there is reference to the division of Hindu society into the classes. It is described there that the Brahmanas came out of the face of the Lord the Creator, Kshatriyas from His arms, Vaisyas from His thighs, and the Sudras from His feet.

The division is according to the Guna and Karma. Guna (quality) and Karma (kind of work) determine the caste of a man. This is supported by Lord Krishna in the Gita, also. Lord Krishna says in the Gita: "The four castes were emanated by Me, by the different distribution of qualities and actions. Know Me to be the author of them, though the actionless and inexhaustible""(Ch.4-13).

There are three qualities or Gunas, viz., Sattva (purity), Rajas (passion), and Tamas (inertia). Sattva is white, Rajas is red and Tamas is black. These three qualities are found in man in various proportions. Sattva preponderates in some persons. They are Brahmanas. They are wise persons or thinkers. They are the priests, ministers or philosophers who guide kings or rulers. In some persons, Rajas is predominant. They are Kshatriyas and Vaisyas. The Kshatriyas are warriors or men of action. They fight with the enemies or invaders and defend the country. The Vaisyas are traders. They do business and agriculture and amass wealth. In some persons, Tamas is predominant. They are Sudras. Sudras are the servants. None of these qualities is highly developed in the Sudras. They serve the other three castes. In a broad sense, a Sattvic man, who is pious and virtuous and leads the divine life, is a Brahmana, a Rajasic man with heroic quality is a Kshatriya, a Rajasic man with business tendencies is a Vaisya and a Tamasic man is a Sudra.

Serenity, self-restraint, austerity, purity, forgiveness, and also, uprightness, knowledge, realisation and belief in God are the duties of the Brahmanas, born of their own nature. Prowess, splendour, firmness, dexterity, and also, not flying from battle, generosity and lordliness are the duties of the Kshatriyas, born of their own nature. Agriculture, cattle rearing and trade are the duties of the Vaisyas, born of their own nature. And action consisting of service is the duty of the Sudra, born of their own nature.

More can be read at:

Varna Ashrama Dharma - Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

I will welcome questions and will try my best to clarify doubts. It is my understanding that dharma does not prescribe evil. Dharma recognises the potential for evil acts and protects us by imparting wisdom.
 
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Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
There is race, and there is racism. There is caste, and there is casteism. One shouldn't confuse the two, in either case.
 

atanu

Member
Premium Member
There is race, and there is racism. There is caste, and there is casteism. One shouldn't confuse the two, in either case.

Yes. Racism is built upon hatred of the other.

I understand that OP is about caste system and not about casteism. Caste System, i suppose is varna system, in Hindu language. So, IMO, we should understand, guna, karma, and re-incarnation too.
 
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Thruve

Sheppard for the Die Hard
Yes, if it means we will eventually end up in a pure socialist society, which a caste system, Im assuming, wouldn't support.
 

Madhuri

RF Goddess
Staff member
Premium Member
I think it's wrong to apply the term 'caste' to the Varna system. The fact that Indian society has shifted the original system into a caste system does not mean that the Varna system is a caste system. Since caste is based on heredity or the marrying into a social class while Varna dictates that one's occupations in life are determined by his own nature/predispositions and not by what others say he must be.
 

atanu

Member
Premium Member
I think it's wrong to apply the term 'caste' to the Varna system. The fact that Indian society has shifted the original system into a caste system does not mean that the Varna system is a caste system. Since caste is based on heredity or the marrying into a social class while Varna dictates that one's occupations in life are determined by his own nature/predispositions and not by what others say he must be.

As expained above race system and racism are two different things. Similar caste system and casteism are different.

Actually word is Varna (veil), which is a product of Guna (mental quality) and Karma (works).
 

atanu

Member
Premium Member
Yes, if it means we will eventually end up in a pure socialist society, which a caste system, Im assuming, wouldn't support.

Actually this interpretation is not correct.

In Gita, Shri Krishna teaches that those who, despite the natural differences and apparent separateness, see sameness everywhere and also see all separate things as strung on a single thread, SEE.

Such Seers, it is said, attain the ultimate peace.

So, the teaching is not about highlighting the natural disparities but is about diving deeper and reaching the sameness.
 

atanu

Member
Premium Member
Do you believe that some humans have more human-rights than others due to their Caste ?

If No, Than its Okay.
If Yes, Than why ?

Actually, some humans, born in certain way, may have more responsibility than others.

Mis-use of a birth status is not taught in varna ashrama dharma.
 

atanu

Member
Premium Member
I believe that this factor works against all religions yet this also affords us an opportunity to clarify doubts ... At least for those who have peaceful minds. At least a few people will see.:)
 
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