26 Caste System in Puranas

Rani Sadasiva Murty

INTRODUCTION

The word CASTE in the ancient Indian literature was synonymized with VARNA. Puranas have belief in the Divine Origin of VARNAS or CASTES. Almost in all the Puranas Castes were said to have been created in the beginning of the CREATION by BRAHMA. There is clear distribution of activities to all the Castes keeping in view the needs of the society. People of all castes are instructed respect each other in an appropriate manner. Ultimately finding the Divine Consciousness in every being is said to be the highest responsibility of all. The details are as follows:

ACCOUNTS OF CASTE SYSTEM IN VARIOUS PURANAS

Puranas give a due importance to the CASTES in structuring a strong, ideal and progressive society having distributed different activities to all the CASTES and not to encourage building partition walls among all the castes to develop enmity and hatred. The following are the puranas in which a wide reference to the CASTES is available.

Agni Purana, Kurma Purana, Garuda Purana, Devi Bhagavatgam,Narada Purana, Padma Purana, Brahma Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Bhagavata Purana, ,BhavishyaPurana, Markandeya Purana, Vayu Purana,Vayu Purana, Vishnu Purana and Skanda Purana.

ORIGIN OF CASTE SYSTEM

The Puranas support the thought of VARNA system evolved from the famous PURUSHA SUKTA in the Rgveda according to which The Pure Castes Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Suras are metaphorically said to have been emerged from the Mouth, Shoulders, Thighs and Feet respectively of Virat Purusha. The social hierarchy of the Castes also supported in the Puranas giving topmost priority to the Bramins’ caste at the topmost pinnacle (As they are expected to always think of the wellbeing of the society and social good), then to the Kshatriyas (To always be alert to protect the society from all troubles with their physical energy and the intellectual advice of Brahmins), then to the Vaishyas (To do business for attending all living needs of the society) and then Shudras (to serve the society for an ultimate comfort).

Thus the Vedic concept of Varna has its elaborated expression in the Puranic Texts. The first three Brahma, Kshatriya and Vaisya are called Dvijas (Twice Born) because of their Upanayana Samskara. People of all these three castes are eligible to perform similar religious rites and sacraments. They are allowed to recite their respective portions of the Vedas. Along with these Four major Castes in the Puranas like Srimad Bhagavatam there are Mixed Castes of different kinds and combinations. There are two types of Mixed Castes majorly belonging to a) Pratilomajas (Girl of Higher caste if married to a boy of lower caste) and b) Anulomajas (Boy of Higher caste if marries a girl of lower caste). A Good number of mixed caste combinations are found under these Pratilomaja and Anulomaja kinds.

SOCIAL IMPORTANCE OF CASTE SYSTEM

The Caste System is set for the distribution of the social functions. Just as in a family different duties are distributed among all the family members the requirements of a society are distributed among various classes of castes and sub-castes in the society. This is similar to that of the classification of duties in an organizational system. In a corporate organizational system every one doesn’t do the same kind of duty. Some are of Managerial cadre and are meant for planning intellectually. Similar was the state of Brahmins in ancient times to plan for the welfare of the nation. They are not permitted to accumulate wealth for their own sake. Their survival is the responsibility of the society. The next class is of executives and sectional heads and superintendents. The number of these people is very less. All these including the managerial class are under the command of CEO who is like the King of a state. Similarly all those who guard the interests of the organization are like Kshatriyas. Their number is always very less but because of them only every organization survives. Similarly Society was protected by the people of Kshatriya Class. The third section in an office is of the Marketing class. They are meant for marketing the products of the organization. Similarly Vaisyas are marketing class in the society. They produce all kinds of things and market them at an appropriate price to meet the needs of the people. The fourth section of an organization is meant for offering all kinds of services related to the basic needs of the organization. It is the working classes. In the absence of which the production activity won’t get progress. The Sudra class in a society is like this. In their absence the production necessary for society won’t be there. Similar is the state of Pratilomajas and Anulomajas. They are people of different skills and trades like Gold smiths, Black smiths etc.

Thus the Varna system in the puranic period attained the official sanction of the state. The people of those dates used to respect this. People of each of the castes used to adhere to their respective special duties.

Here is a brief narration of the duties of various castes as found in the Bhagavata Purana.

DUTIES OF BRAHMINS

संस्कारायदविवछिन्ना: स विजोऽजो जगाद यम्।इज्याध्यनदानावन विवितावन विजन्मनाम्॥

जन्मकमाािदातानांक्रियाश्चाश्रमचोक्रदता:।

विप्रस्याध्यनादीवन

िातााविवचत्रा शालीनयायािरवशलोञ्िनम्। विप्रिृविस्चतुर्धेयंश्रेयसीचोिरोिरा ॥सिािेदमयोविप्र: सिादेिमयो नृप:॥

शमो दमस्तप: शौचंसंतोष: क्षावन्तराजािम्।ज्ञानंदयाछयुतात्मत्िंसत्यंच ब्रह्मलक्षणम्॥

If the essential Samskaras are performed without any break he is Dvija. Performing Sacrifices, Studying Vedas and Charity are prescribed as their duties. All the consecrations and deeds follow the Ashrama system. Study of the Vedas is specially recommended for the Brahmins

DUTIES OF KSHATRIYAS

षडन्यस्याप्रवतग्रि:।

राज्ञो िृवि: प्रजागोप्तुरविप्राद्िा कराक्रदवि:। ऋतेराजन्यमापत्सुसिेषामवपसिाश:॥

ऋतामृताभयांजीिेतमृतेनप्रमृतेनिा। सिादेिमयोनृप:॥

शौयंिीयंर्धृवत: तेज: त्याग आत्मजय: क्षमा। ब्रह्मण्यता प्रसादश्च रक्षा च क्षत्रलक्षणम्॥

The king is expected to collect one-sixth of the total earnings of his subjects except from brahmins. A king should survive on four aspects. Ritam, Amritam, Mritam, Pramritam . A King is the human manifestation of all Gods. Valour, Potency, Stability, Splendor, Sacrifice, Self control, Forbearance, Brilliance, Pleasantness and Protecting nature are the characteristics of a ruler of Royal race.

DUTIES OF VAISYAS

िैश्यस्तुिाताािृवि:वनत्यंब्रह्मकु लानुग:। देिगुिाछयुतेिविवििगापररपोषणम्। आवस्तक्यमुद्यमोवनत्यंनैपुणंिैश्यलक्षणम्॥

A person of Vaisya clan should live upon Agriculture, Animal Breeding and other kinds of business. He always should save Brahmins. He should have staunch devotion towards Gods, Preceptors and Acyuta. He should concentrate on Dharma, Artha and Kama. He should believe in the Vedas. Expertise in business is his special quality.

DUTIES OF SUDRAS

शूद्रस्यसंनवत: शौचंसेिास्िावमन्यमायया-। मन्त्रयज्ञो ह्यस्तेयंसत्यंगोविप्ररक्षणम्॥

A person of Sudra varna should always be obedient and should have purity of thought, speech and deed. Service to the king is prime duty. He should perform Yajnas which don’t need Mantras. He should not be a thief. He should always speak truth and should protect cows and brahmins.

SOME ESSENTIAL DEFINITIONS

िातााविवचत्रा शालीनयायािरवशलोञ्िनम्। विप्रिृविस्चतुर्धेयंश्रेयसीचोिरोिरा ॥

जघन्यो नोिमांिृविमनापक्रदिजेन्नर:। ऋतेराजन्यमापत्सुसिेषामवप सिाश:॥

ऋतामृताभयांजीिेतमृतेनप्रमृतेनिा। सत्यानृताभयांजीिेतन श्विृत्त्याकथंचन॥

ऋतमुञ्िवशलंप्रोिमम्मृतंयदयावचतम्॥

मृतंतुवनत्ययाछञा स्यात्प्रमृतंकषाणंस्मृतम्।

सत्यानृतंतुिावणज्यंश्विृविनीचसेिनम्।

िजायेतां्सदा विप्रो राजन्यश्च जुगुवससतम्॥

Four more ways of living are prescribed for a brahmin. 1. Agriculture or Breeding cattle,, 2. Accepting what so ever comes to his way, 3. Begging food grains daily and 4. Collecting the paddy grains that fall on the ground while its owner reaps the paddy – Of these four each succeeding one is preferred to the earlier one. The Merchants’ class should not accept the profession s of higher classes. If there is no king all the people will meet with troubles. They should live on Ritam or Amritam . Or other wise on Mritam or Pramritam. Or they can even surive on Satyam and Anritam. But never on service. Here the definitions of some words should be known:Ritam = Begging ; Amritam = Which comes without being begged for. Mritam = Begging everyday . Pramritam = Tillage Satyanritam = business Svavritti = serving the subordinates. These should be shunned by Brahmins and Kings.

DUTIES OF PRATILOMAJAS AND VILOMAJAS

िृवि: संकरजातीनांतित्कु लकृ ताििेत्। अचोराणामपापानामन्त्यजान्तेऽिसावयनाम्॥

प्रायस्ििािविवितो नॄणांर्धमो युगेयुगे॥िेददृवभि:स्मृतोराजऩ्प्रेत्यचेिच शमाकृ त्॥

िृत्त्यास्िििकृ तयाितामान: स्िकमाकृ त्। वित्िा स्ििािजंकमाशनैर्नागुाणतावमयात्॥

The Professions of the Mixed caste-born should be according to their racial professions. Those who are not thieves, who are not sinful and those who dwell in the outskirts to guard the city can be permitted to serve the society. The Vedic scholars should always advice the king in ruling and they should not have any greed for wealth. If any of the castes ignore their racial professions the social order will be disturbed and the quality of life will be lost.

COMMON QUALITIES OF ALL CASTES

सत्यंदया तप: शौचंवतवतक्षॆक्षाशमो दम:। अहिंसाब्रह्मचयंच त्याग: स्िाध्याय: आजािम्॥

संतोष: समदृक्सेिामौनमात्मविमशानम्॥ अन्नादादे: संवििागोिूतेभयश्चयथािात:। तेष्िात्मदेिताबुवि:सुतरांनृषुपाण्डि॥

श्रिणंकीताण्चास्य स्मरणंमितांगते:। सेिेज्यािनवतदाास्यंसख्यमात्मसमपाणम्॥

नृणामयंपरो र्धमा: सिेषांसमुदाहृत:। हत्रंशल्लक्षणिान्राजन्सिाात्मायेनतुष्यवत॥

The following 30 qualities are expected to be the common qualities of the people of all castes in the society.

Speaking Truth – Speaking Truth is a social standard. It helps to estimate the values of a society. Indian society since the beginning of the human history is known for its truth speaking nature.

Kindness – Kindness is the next prominent quality of a society as well as of every individual too. Kindness towards people, animals, birds, insects, creatures and even towards trees and creepers is a great virtuous mark of Indian society.

Purity – Purity is not an external quality. Even the mind, intellect and ego should be pure. The deeds should be pure, speech should be pure and thought also should be pure. Besides all these things the earnings of the people also should be pure. This is called true nature of purity.

Penance – Penance is not merely an austerity observed by any lonely persons. It is the process of burning the inner impurities through the heat produced through acquiring knowledge. This can be a collective virtue also.

Patience – In the Mahabharta as said by Yudhisthira no other virtue is as valuable as having patience in adverse conditions. Because of this virtue only our Indian society could adjust with even foreign rulers through two millennia.

Vision – Vision is not merely having good eyesight. It is the ability of assessing future very perfectly from the ongoing events. This is also a rare quality but can be a quality to be seen collectively too.

Control of Mind – Though senses are controlled, if mind is weak such people become fickle. If the same people have good control over their mind their senses are naturally will be under control and such society cannot so easily be defeated by enemies. Because of this virtue only Bharat is well honored even when it was under constant attack of foreign rule.

Control of senses – Control of senses lead to have concentration to a required extent. It makes the society a value based society. So this can be a social quality too.

Non violence – No other virtue is stronger than Non violence. Hence Patanjala Yoga Sutras say that the place where non-violence is stable all the animals and other beings will quit their natural enmity. There are several proved instances throughout Indian history as a result of which even the strongest enemies are forced to bend down the practitioners of non-violence.

Celibacy – Celibacy is called Brahmacharya in Sanskrit. It is not just pre-marriage state. It is a state in which individuals control all their physical desires and sacrifice all their personal comforts for the sake of the social well-being.

Sacrificing nature – Sacrificing one’s own benefits for the sake of world is a great quality. Upanishads promote this virtue as the greatest. Upanishads say that one can become noble and immortal just because of the sacrificing nature.

Self Study – Study of the sacred literature recommended for all the social beings if studied properly that helps for the flourishing of the society in a very natural manner. Hence it is recommended for everyone. In the ancient Indian culture Svadhyaya is a highlighted virtue for all.

Straightforwardness – Every individual of the ancient Indian were all straight forward by behavior, speech and in keeping up their promise. Hence Indian society is always praised for its virtues.

Contentment – Indian economics itself is contentment based. Hence the great teachers used to advise to quit greed and develop contentment. If mind is contended who is rich and who is poor? This is the notion of all.

Equality – Equality before law is a common principle of modern Indian society. Equality before Dharma is a moral binding in ancient Indian society. This makes one to surrender to the social order voluntarily.

Service – Service to the society, service to the God, service to parents, service to one’s own brothers and sisters, service to friends, service to the king, service to the teachers – like this service is a kind of devotion and love of a man to the fellow human beings in different ways. This is found in the blood of all Indians hence are respected by the world. This serving attitude is the result of the teachings of Puranas.

Silence – Silence is the secret of one’s longevity . if any person wants to live longer he should speak less. Silence makes a man respected by all. Silence make one a sage. Silence makes one noble and adorable to all. The texts on ethics give preference to Silence. A person should know many things but speak less. Unless his opinion is much necessary in a situation one should not open his mouth. This is a source of social good also.

Introspection – At the end of the day before going to bed during night time one should make it a habit of introspect into the days happenings and his share of deeds all through the day. The good and bad of his deeds should be evaluated and in the next occurrence of similar incident he should try to avoid repetition of same kind of unwanted behavior. This is necessary even for a society. Having analyzed the History of their predecessors the people should try to avoid to repeat the mistakes done by the predecessors.

Sharing happiness with others – One may get happiness due to many reasons. Such happiness if shared with others the social strength of such person will increase. The entire society also will be happy. Happiness is a kind of strength of both an individual and society. Because of such happiness the mind also will be free from all kinds of stress. A stress free individual or society can be a source of creativity and energy. It will be free from all kinds of illness. So sharing happiness is a social quality to be developed as recommended by Bhagavata.

Being compassionate towards all beings – This is taught everywhere in all ancient Indian texts. Compassion helps one to have the feel of empathy. Empathy is always a better quality than sympathy. For this sake we need to be compassionate towards all beings. Then we can remove even the inferiority in others. This makes a society very strong.

Treating all the human beings as one’s own gods – Treating all human beings as gods will be possible when a person starts finding the divinity in others. Entire world is said to be the reflection of the Universal Divine Self in it. Say when that divinity can be traced out there won’t be any enemy at all in the world. The whole world will become a single family.

Listening to the stories of great people – Human life is an imitation of the deeds of great men. So it will give enough inspiration in our life if one can develop interest to listen to the great deeds of great men. Then the social pride will strengthen the social bondage. For this purpose also listening to the stories of great people should become a regular habit of the society.

Praising their deeds and contemplating upon them

After listening to the stories of them one should start appreciating their deeds. After that a kind of contemplating upon the virtues of those great people should be developed. Ultimately the listeners also can grow great and do great.

Serving them, worshipping them, showing respect for them

Serving the great people in the contemporary society, worshipping them and showing respect for them also gives a great opportunity to become great. Hence this is also essential.

Friendship

This is even a Vedic instruction. A man should see the world through the eyes of friend. So friendship is an enlivening factor in the society and recommended to be among all the Varnas.

Offering one’s own possessions –

In the absence of the society one cannot possess anything. One cannot survive well. All the comforts one enjoy are not one’s own. All the possessions are also not one’s own. So one should always be ready to offer one’s own possessions for social good. Then society will consider that person as its own.

All these should be common qualities of all the castes.

Summary

In this manner A SOCIAL ETHICAL Caste system was designed in the Puranas for universal well being. The other criterion considered in the Caste classification in the Puranas was the role of Purusharathas in human life. Accordingly in the Puranas the seers recommended Brahmins to live only for Dharma or Moksha. Artha and Kama Purusharthas should be out of the option of a brahmin. A brahmin should live only for Social Good performing all his Dharmas. Hence a king should not collect any taxes from a Brahmin. A Kshatriya should live for protecting Dharma. In this process he should take the help of Artha and Kama. A Vaisya should give preference to Artha. Dharma and Artha should be secondary to him. Moksha is optional. For a Sudra Artha and Kama should be the objects of his life. He can respect Dharma and help the three upper classes in protecting Dharma. Moksha is out of his view. All the caste wise duties are assigned to all the people according to their abilities and hereditary efficiency.

There has been a gradual negligence among all the people regarding their duties and a kind of social barriers are developed on the basis of their castes against the expectations of Puranic order.

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Bibliography

Bhagavata Purana, Gita Press, Gorakhpur
Garuda Purana, Gita Press, Gorakhpur
Sanskritasahityetihasa, Acarya Ramachandra Misra, Chowkhamba, Varanasi, 2003.
Vishnu Purana, Gita Press, Gorakhpur
Naradiya Purana, Gita Press, Gorakhpur