Sunil, 15^th August 2011

Respected Devotees and Disciples

Please accept my humble obeisances

I am not sure if you are aware and know about the caste system prevalent in India

If you do know then please answer the question:

Is the caste system which is prevalent in India, based on the four divisions of human society – as mentioned in Vedic Scriptures?

Sunil

jagannatha dasa, 15^th August 2011

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

The term caste is an english word.  In this context it is intended to refer to the concept of varna, or social divisions of society.  It is one half of varnasrama, the other consisting of spiritual orders of life.

According to Bhagavad-gita, 4.13

catur-varnyam maya srstam

guna-karma-vibhagasah

tasya kartaram api mam

viddhy akartaram 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 nondoer, being unchangeable.”

Guna and karma are very significant here.  Guna is your qualities and karma, your work.  There is no mention of janma, or birth, therefore the caste system as it is sometimes known today, being based on birth alone is a deviation from Krishna’s arrangement.

Varnas are distinguished by quality of work and situation with regard to the modes of nature (gunas). The brahmanas are the intellectual class and their occupation is hearing Vedic literature, teaching Vedic literature, learning deity worship and teaching deity worship, receiving charity and giving charity.

Ksatriya are warriors, inclined to fight and lead others. They form the administrative or protective occupation according to the system of four social and spiritual orders.

Vaisya (Vaishyas) are members of the mercantile or agricultural class.

Sudras are member of the labourer class. They are meant to render service to the three higher classes, namely the brahmanas, the ksatriyas, and the vaisyas.

Your servant,

-Jagannatha dasa

Gopal Krishna Goswami, is a “Sannyasi” or renunciate monk. Monks like him adopt the entire world as their family

ashutosh pandey, 15^th August 2011

Hare krsna!

All glories to Srila Prabhupad

In addition to above reply,

caste was divided scientifically as HG Tirthraj Pr mentions the slokas as they appear..but in this kaliyug everybody is like sudra….as there activity and work resemble to the class of sudra..

Also now a days in INDIA (or anywhere else if applicable) the caste system is no more according to the Vedic philosophy. It has become hierarchical which is not acceptable at all and has become the reason of differences in material context which is again the cause of sufferings. Hence Scriptures cannot be held responsible for problems as some think.

So Srila Prabhupad said that in ISKCON we are making Brahmanas who could work as the brains of this society…

hare Krsna

YS

Ashutosh

Manian VB, 15/08/2011

All glories to Srila Prabhupad

my obeisances to all devotees.

I regret to say that caste system prevalent in India is not based on vedic sysems. But a number of institutions in India teach and practice vedic system of Guruklam ( not caste system) and students grow up as very good citizens. All the political parties in our Country are afraid of taking the name : VEDA. But a small village in Karnataka ( Southern state of India) speak Sanskrit fluently and observe Vedic Rules. I am happy to say that Sanskrit (Vedic language) is spoken fluently in three villages in India, one in karnataka, Madhyapradesh and Uttar Pradesh where it is a spoken language amongst muslims also. You can go to the sites sankrit speaking villages in india and know about it.

your servant
Manian VB

Indresh and Kishori are in the “Grishastha Ashram” – they co-operate to raise children in Krishna conscious together, but still engage in missionary activities such as encouraging others to look into genuine spiritual life. With the results of their hard work, they support various spiritual projects around the world.

Tirtharaja Dasa, 18^th August 2011

Hare Krishna Prabhu, kindly accept my humble obeisances. All glories

to Srila Prabhupada.

The caste system as practiced in India today has nothing to do with the four divisions of human society but is merely a pale shadow of the varna side of varnashrama dharma based on the bodily concept of jata. It is noteworthy to know that the four human divisions though divided according to qualification, quality, value and works have a literal representation of the complete human body in that the Brahmana’s represent the head, the Ksatriya’s the arms, the Vaisya’s the belly and Sudra’s the legs thus stressing that one part of society within the complete body of society cannot exist seperately and independently thus the head does not look down on the arms and the rest of the body nor vice-versa as inferior though each has a distinct function separate from other parts but are still inter-related and

interdependant. This is a systematic way of body and human society liberation both

individualy and collectively.

Hare Krsna.

Yls

Tirtharaja Dasa.

Radhika Raman Das and his wife Meenakshi are also Grihasthas, they work, maintain a household, dressed here in traditional clothing, also out on the street encouraging passersby to look into genuine spiritual life

Sunil, 19^th August 2011

Respected Devotees and Disciples

Please accept my humble obeisances

I read all the answers and felt satisfied and clarified

Thankyou and Regards,

Sunil
Uttamananda Das is a Brahmachari, a celibate monk who dedicates all his time and energy to serving Krishna, serving in the temple of Krishna, and studying spiritual knowledge very carefully. Monks like Uttamananda follow a strict regimented lifestyle that frees up a lot of time and energy for spiritual pursuits.

 

All photos by Rathin Mandal