The Vedic Varnashram System

The Vedic Varnashram System

D.S.Balaji Arya

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Recently after a popular BJP spokesperson raised questions against the modern Caste system. Where, She objected to the birth-based caste system, very rightly denounced it as a Non-Vedic Practice. A Majority of sane educated minds came to her support. But, a very acute minority called her off. It was a bit worry some, as they don't represent Hinduism nor Vedic Teachings.

Todays modern Caste-System is a mutated form of The Genuine, Vedic Varashram System. Where it was solely based on one's qualities and choices made in a lifetime. Vedic Varna System was solely a hierarchy based upon merit. To classify people based on their qualities and assign them particular roles for better functioning of society.

Here, we shall discuss the difference between the Modern Caste System and The Authentic Varnashram System. From the very meaning of both the words - Caste/जाती and Varna/वर्ण.

Here we will be explaining the meaning of these words from an ancient Sanskrit thesaurus - Amarkosha, written by a great Scholar - Amarasimha, during the period of Adiguru Shankaracharya. The book is one of the basic and compulsory study material for all Sanskrit students all around the world.

Caste - The root of caste is the Latin castus, which means "chaste" or "pure, separated." The word arrived in English through the Portuguese casta, which means "race" or "lineage," and was first used in the 1700s in reference to Hinduism's system of social stratification.

जाती - According to Amarkosha, the dictionary meaning of word Jati/जाती is species. Snake is a Jati - सर्प जाती, Apes is Jati - वानर जाती, and Human is a Jati - मानव जाती.

With gurukuls being destroyed and Sanskrit, grammar, language education is totally rare. We have been misusing and misplacing these word for racial segregation. The word Varna is always used to describe PEOPLE/OBJECTS/ENTITIES having common guna/characters.

Varna/वर्ण - The Three dictionary meanings of Varna

(1). Colour - Example; कृष्णा - Black, सत, श्वेत - White

(2). Mentioning - किसी चीज का वर्णन करना

(3). Screening/Selecting Based Upon qualities - Which is later divided into four Sub-Division -

--(1).Brahmin/ब्राह्मण - ब्राह्मण:- ब्रह्म जानाति - Which means a person who has the knowledge (जानाति) Of Lord (ब्रह्म)

--(2). Kshatriya - क्षत त्रायत इति क्षत्र: तस्य अपत्यं क्षत्रिय: - Which means a person who defends.

--(3). Vaishya - विशन्ति, विश प्रवेशने- Which means a person who enters(प्रवेशन्ति) into trade (विश).

--(4). Shudra - शोचति शूद्र: शुच शोके - Which means a person who does the hard laborious work. The word शुच indicates hardship.

Nowhere there is a mention of the word - जन्म Or Birth anywhere around Varna. Hence, there is absolutely no question of Caste and Varna being the Same thing.

Other Scriptures support the same idea of a Merit-Based Hierarchical System -

Geeta -

चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः ।

तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम् ॥ (गीता.4.13)

- गुणकर्मविभागशः - (गुण + कर्म) NOT (जन्म)

Manusmriti -

“शूद्रो बा्रह्मणतामेति ब्राह्मणश्चेति शूद्रताम्।

क्षत्रियाज्जात्मेवन्तु विद्याद् वैश्यात्तथैव च।।

-A Person born in a Shudra family can attain Brahminhood through qualities. Similarly, a Brahmin can fall down to the level of Shudra and so on.

Varna is a merit-based Social Hierarchy. But, Caste is an unjust Moden concept of Birth Based Racial Segregation.

There have been uncountable incidents of great personalities having different Varnas, within one family. Many examples of Varna Parivartan -

(1). Atreya Rishi was a Das Putra, but rose the highest position of Brahmin and wrote Aitrey Upanishad.

(2). Ailush Rishi was a Das Putra, who researched Rig Ved and was invited to accept the Position of Acharya by Great Rishis of his time.

(3). Satyakam Jabala, born to a Prostitute rose the level of a Brahmin.

(4). Trishanku was a Kshatriya King but turned into a Rakshas by his qualities.

(5). Vishwamitra's both sons accepted Shudra Varna, Vishwamitra himself was Khastriya but attained Brahminhood.

(6). Vidur, A Dasi Putra, attained Brahminhood and was assigned a very important position of Rajya Mahamantri.

Even today, many different so-called Upper And Lower Castes have similar gotras. Thus, proving we share the same lineage, same ancestors. But, during the past 2000 years of chaos. Our traditions, principles and ideas were corrupted. Leading us towards a stupid, illogical Birth Based Caste system.

A failed, chaotic system which gave us worthless, illiterate birth based brahmins. Who failed to educate and serve the society in the right manner. A damning system providing weak, spineless, debauch rulers. Who compromised with the national security and lead us to damnation. Lazy, unskilled workers who failed to maintain and preserve the industries.

Let's get back to our Vedic Roots and throw out this birth based Caste System. It has no place in Vedas, no place in any ethical society.