What are varnas in ancient India? What is varna, how to define it? Highest caste: Brahmins.

"Let it be bad to fulfill your duty personally is much more important than someone else's super-excellent"

Bhagavad Gita

Varnas are a natural formation, which is divided according to the levels of development of human consciousness and determines its position in society.

It is worth emphasizing that the division into varnas (castes) in the original and deep understanding is not a division by level material wealth, but the designation of the evolutionary spiritual level of people, the characteristics of people based on the level of their awareness, worldview, worldview, their understanding of their place in society, their relationship to the family, homeland.

Initially, varnas (castes) served precisely for this designation. Later, with an increase in the level of degradation of people and a narrowing of their understanding of the laws of the universe and the world order, varnas (castes) began to be used to denote financial situation man, the division of society into the rich, the middle class and the poor. Initially, people knew that by engaging in self-improvement and self-knowledge, following the path of evolutionary spiritual development in the course of life, a person can move from one caste to another (and both rise one step higher and go down one step lower). The varna system is also closely related to the understanding of the law of karma.

The distribution of people by varnas (castes) was among our ancestors for long history the existence of our people. The Slavs brought the tradition of distributing people according to varnas (castes) to India along with other traditions and knowledge that the Indians have preserved to this day, although they brought some changes and additions to them according to their worldview.

Now in India, the caste (varna) system has been preserved. In India, it is accepted that belonging to a varna (caste) is inherited, by family, that is, if a person was born in a family of brahmins (magi, in charge), then he is referred to the Brahmin caste, if a person was born in a Shudra family, then he is referred to sudra caste, such a person, even if he is talented person and has any ability, it is almost impossible to get out of the prejudice about him that he is a sudra and achieve something in activities other than that which is customary for sudras. That is, in India it is now customary to look not at the abilities and the real spiritual evolutionary level that a person manifests from birth, relating him to a particular caste, but stereotypically classifying a person to a caste according to the type of his birth. This approach is erroneous, based on the loss of a deep understanding of the essence and reasons for the division into varnas (castes).

When a person determines which caste he belongs to, this is just a statement of the fact at what spiritual evolutionary level he is now and during our life we ​​can pass and be in each.

There are 4 conditional varnas (levels), the transition to which is carried out in accordance with the development of human consciousness:

Smerdy (in Indian tradition- Shudras)

The life tasks of a sudra are only to survive and multiply. Shudras are often born, reborn from an animal state into a human, so their thinking often does not go further than instinctive motivations.

The experience gained at this level is the ability to survive, to work with the physical world, to produce viable offspring, to serve and obey, to be industrious, the ability to discipline and purposefully perform work. Shudra is characterized by repetitive actions, well known in his labor activity, V colloquial speech, in the manifestation of feelings, in the way of thinking. He feels calm only in a familiar environment and work. Conservatism and categoricalness in all its manifestations are very pronounced. As long as conservatism is highly developed in a person, the consciousness of lower Varna cannot come up with something new for society, therefore it adapts to the conditions that exist, and having adapted, it fights to ensure that they do not change, because if something changes, it will have to be again adapt to new conditions. Therefore, a sudra is by nature conservative and does not like change.

Shudra loves physical work, and permanent job with the same cycles. It is better and easier for him to swing a hammer than to repair a small object, like wrist watch. A Shudra can be very proud of the fact that he has worked as a turner for thirty years in one factory, and proudly say: “I am a working man,” because this is a great achievement for him.

He has no desire for education, for knowledge and self-change. He needs self-affirmation all the time. In actions, tendencies of drives are predominantly present, therefore he does not have will in the sense of a regulator of his behavior. Sudra thinking is stimulated mainly when a problem situation arises.

Shudra is not able to lead other people - he definitely needs a leader and a master to organize the work. He works for the owner, who tells him what to do, how to do it, when and why. Shudra is a hired worker, regardless of profession, education. For example, a computer engineer, a worker with a shovel are both sudras if they simply do the will of the owner, without any initiative or creativity. Shudra lives for himself with the inner slogan "Everything is ours, everything is mine." It works quite limitedly, without any creativity: they said to dig - digs (presses the keys), they said not to dig - does not dig (does not press). There is no interest in the work, the main thing is that the money is then paid. Just a performer. However, if a person manifests high level skill and creativity, he begins to go beyond the level of sudra. A master of his craft will no longer be a sudra. The activity of the master is always a creative process.

The completed level of a sudra is a person who stands firmly on his feet, physically developed, hardy, loving physical work possessing excellent health, both physical and mental, with a well-developed maternal or paternal instinct, a faithful servant and an indispensable assistant in many matters. He loves nature, the earth, he has the most developed instinctive thinking, he is closer than all other people to the earth, cultivates it, protects it, feeds other people with the fruits of his labors.

Vesi (in Indian tradition - vaishyas)

This is the next step in the development of human consciousness in society. A person who has learned to earn his living, build a house, and now he wants to create some kind of comfort and coziness for himself, there is a craving for money, aesthetics, a sense of beauty. In vaishyus, one can observe an increased desire for comfort. This is the owner, whose personal interest is higher than the public one. The people of this varna participate in the creation of the material and technical base of the society. They organize the turnover necessary for people's lives, create jobs, satisfy people's needs for food, clothing, housing.

Vaishyas also distribute goods and cash among people.

Having grown out of a sudra in his development, a person begins to increase his production, hires people, organizes his small business. His turnover has grown so much that he is no longer able to cope with it alone, and there is a need for hired workers. Vaishya is a small owner, he manages his money, working for the owner, or has his own business. The pieceworker or private traders are more often vaishyus, as are many individual craftsmen.

If a sudra creates something durable, then a vaishya is already striving to create something beautiful and elegant out of it, that is, not a rough object, but a more subtle one.

A representative of this varna develops a sense of will, increases control over his impulses. It becomes characterized by more complex volitional acts. He has the ability to get down to business well and easily on his own initiative, without waiting for stimulation from the outside, the initial organizational skills are formed. A Vaishya can make a decision that concerns the scope of his activities. He perceives obligations at the level of a contract and knows how to negotiate with the people he needs on mutually beneficial terms.

The main motivation of vaishyas is the passion for hoarding and getting pleasure in any way. Benefit is also considered only from the point of view of the final enjoyment. Wherever you place a vaishya, he will find many ways to enjoy it, even through suffering. If you deprive a Vaishya of getting pleasure, he often loses the meaning of life, life is over for him.

A sudra lives by instinctive feelings (cold, hunger, etc.), and therefore he seeks to satisfy his senses, i.e. live by them. To do this, he creates his own house so as not to live in the cold, and earns money for food in order to eat well. Vaishyu already has a more subtle spectrum of senses, and, in addition to hearty food, he loves food that is beautiful and delicious. Housing requirements are higher than those of the Shudra, they love luxury, but at the same time the passion for hoarding is so strong that in a situation where a Vaishya can earn quite a large amount money, he forgets about any conveniences and comforts, and even about food - he can starve for several weeks, just not to miss his jackpot. A sudra cannot do that.

The vaishyu worldview is based on the fact that everything can be bought and everything can be sold - "money can do everything", "money is power." Unlike the Shudras, they seek power not only for the purpose of survival, but also for the purpose of obtaining pleasure.

They show the ability to be a “broad nature”, to which “nothing human is alien”; ability to hard work, creative anxiety. Sexuality is built on the same principle and is not entirely clear to them, although they satisfy it with a rather ardent desire.

Knights (in Indian tradition - kshatriyas)

When a vaishya works out the qualities inherent in his varna, he moves into the varna of the kshatriyas (Skt. “domination, power, strength, power, warrior”). With changes in worldview, new motivations appear. A kshatriya is characterized by such qualities as honor, conscience, justice, leadership, nobility, honesty, etc.

A kshatriya is a noble warrior. A true kshatriya is noble and honest, he knows the value of his word. If a person of the varna sudra or vaishya does not disdain lying and does not consider it shameful to receive any thing with the help of deceit, then the kshatriya considers this behavior to be lower dignity. Vaishyas and Shudras, having given their word, easily break it, and a true Kshatriya is a man of his word in all respects, he will never betray his friend and enemy either, many examples of this can be seen in various novels, stories, etc.

Many cannot understand how this is so, a kshatriya does not deceive, because in war all methods are good. But it should be noted that in the battle between the kshatriyas there is a military strategy, and not deceit and betrayal.

A kshatriya knows how to quickly bring himself into a state of readiness, internal mobilization of his forces. A person of this varna learns all the planes of material reality and the laws of their interaction through the ways of controlling himself and people, which is why the structure of the army in most cases is built on such people.

A kshatriya has a well-developed will power, control over one's desires, needs, and interests increases. It is characterized by such volitional acts that include the stages of goal setting, discussion and struggle of motives, decision making and execution. At the stage of the struggle, motives take over highest values– ethical and moral standards, socially significant is personally significant. For a kshatriya, such a form of behavior as an act is characteristic.

Intellectual activity lies at the heart of his interests. cognitive process goes through service. The level of thinking is growing - the distribution of attention is increasing, abstract-theoretical thinking is developing. Self-esteem in a kshatriya is conditioned by worldview, sense of duty, morality and ideology.

Each kshatriya has his own motivation. A kshatriya is a fighter, for him life is a struggle with his enemies inside and outside himself. But some go against the system, thereby forcing it to improve and move in the direction necessary for its development, while others, on the contrary, establish order within the already established system. But at the same time, one must understand that a kshatriya is not a fighter with fists (sudra). He will not fight for the sake of stretching his bones or "throwing show-offs." These are all defects of the sudra level. Aggression is also inherent in a sudra, not a warrior. A warrior, on the other hand, is characterized by strength of mind, composure, developed will and clear discipline. A kshatriya not only forces others to obey the law, but he himself always observes it. This is a man of the system, the state.

At the level of a kshatriya, a person conquered the most important fear - the fear of death. Shudra and Vaishya are not able to overcome this fear and many other fears. For a kshatriya, valor and honor are greater than death. Required quality for a kshatriya, heroism. There is such famous expression- "Madness sing to the brave we are songs. But one should not consider a kshatriya a fool, he will not commit stupid deeds - his heroism is reasonable. He will not strive for heroism in order to brag to others.

After all, what looks like heroism from the outside can be done by representatives of the two lower varnas, for example, pull out a jewelry box and so on from a collapsing house and get a considerable profit from it.

A novice kshatriya strives for combat, for protection, comprehends the art of combat to perfection. As he grows, the warrior begins to think about the structure of the world, and he has a desire to know it in ways that are still unknown to him. Thus, a sorcerer is born (brahmin, magician, researcher of life, scientist).

Magi, sorcerers, ascetics (in the Indian tradition - brahmins)

In Sanskrit, the word is Brahman ("reverence; world soul; God the creator"). In the first case, the stress is on the first "a", in the second - on the second "a". In the neuter gender, this word denotes the highest philosophical principle of Existence - Consciousness or Nirvana. IN masculine it represents prayers, holy scripture and bearers of the Scripture - brahmins / brahmins.

Brahmins are sages, philosophers, scientists, researchers, priests, teachers, rulers, yogis, magicians, shamans, mystics, sorcerers - all those for whom knowledge of oneself and the Universe is most important in life.

Anyone who carries some kind of new idea, which is firmly fixed in the world, who generates the "new" - morality, ideas, theories, worldview, which determine the direction of evolution in a certain historical period. For example, new culture, a way of versification, a trend in art, etc.
Brahman has much more free will than people of the lower varnas: his mind, and not the mind, controls the formation of thoughts. The main task of Brahman is to help in the disclosure and mentorship of those who turn to him.

A person of this varna is the unity of the student and the Teacher, he becomes an Individuality, which he knows, manifests and helps others in this. His hallmark is the service of evolution, the constant striving for harmony, search and accumulation life wisdom. Brahman is always honest. First of all, this concerns honesty towards oneself, and from this follows honesty towards the World, towards everything that is in the World, towards every particle of it, towards every person that he meets on his Path. Morality is in the blood of a Brahmin. If a person of the lower varnas needs to be taught and instilled in what is “moral” and “immoral”, what is “good” and what is “bad”, based on the laws of the society in which he is, then for a Brahmin there is no morality as such - it always in him and with him, it only needs to be correctly opened and fully awakened during the first half of life.

According to the Laws of Manu, a person cannot be called a Brahmin if he has the qualities inherent in the lower varnas. This means that he has not developed some skills of the lower varnas. We will call such a person a brahmin who has flaws in the lower varnas, because he has every opportunity to refine these qualities throughout his life; but only then can he be called a true Brahmin. As soon as a brahmana manages to work out at least one lower varna completely, his energy increases, which allows him to work with many times increased strength, because. he stops wasting his energy.

In this case, you need to understand that a brahmana can be with shortcomings in the kshatriya varna, but a kshatriya can have a brahmin experience only to a very small extent, because. the outlook of the varna above is not clear to a person of the varna below, and in order to cognize it, one must go to this varna.

Having gone through all the stages of knowing a kshatriya, a person becomes a full brahmin. Brahman is closer to the Creator, the Creator, he himself is the creator of correct figurative thinking in his part of the world, wherever he is. But, in turn, he does not lose the skills that he received in the varnas below. That Brahman is bad who is not able to feed himself, provide him with the means he needs, and manage the world. He can do the work of a sudra, vaishya, kshatriya, but he will approach it creatively, inventing new methods, work techniques, etc.

Brahmins are always distinguished from others by their education - this is from the word " creative thinking", and not be intellectually larded with various information, and this does not always have to mean any technical or humanitarian education. Considering the shudra varna, having received higher education a person is still a sudra. It should be noted that not all brahmins have a higher education by modern standards, but they will always be wise by nature and at the same time they have very highly developed creativity, they create new visions and approaches, new trends in all spheres of society, scientific discoveries that develops society. Also, brahmins can be called those artists, poets, writers, composers who create something new in their field - write poetry, music, books, etc. They are able to bring a new stream into the development of mankind. But it must be taken into account that only a very small part of those working in such places are brahmins.

The Brahman is patient, he can wait for years if necessary, but at the same time he knows the value of time and will not waste it. If it seems to you that a brahmana is wasting his time, perhaps you have not understood his activities. Let us recall how the Buddha was considered lazy, while his work took place on completely different planes, inaccessible to others. He comprehended his spirit, and ordinary people they thought that he simply did not want to work and wasted his time.

Brahman is not bored. Even if he is closed for a long time alone in some room, he will always find something to do. If a person of the lower varnas cannot live without society, without the presence of other people, then the brahmana is more free and enjoys this.

Four main estates ancient Indian society over the millennia of life have practically not changed their life rules and moral foundations, while maintaining a huge gap of alienation between the varnas: the social strata of the population. What are varnas in and what effect do they have on a person? Is knowing one's place the secret of the Indian nation? After all, it is known that India is the most peaceful country that has never attacked other nationalities.

What are varnas?

This concept in ancient India was formed back in the 2nd century BC, when the basic law of Manu, the progenitor of mankind according to Hinduism, was formulated. This code of laws contained 2685 shlokas, that is, couplets, in which the essence of social (caste law), legal and legal legislation was conveyed.

The estate of a society, accommodating a certain group of people, the social stratum of the population (Varna in Ancient India), was determined by birth, it could not be bought or donated. Marriages between different varnas were categorically forbidden, which was scrupulously pursued. Moreover, if a person violated the class division and created an unequal marriage, he was declared a sinner who violated the age-old foundations: his children “inherited” this sin and were persecuted by society.

There are four main varnas: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras, but there was also an unspoken caste of untouchables. Later, the word "varna", meaning "color" (skin?), Was renamed "caste" (from the Portuguese "genus") at the suggestion of the Portuguese, who visited India for the first time in the 16th century, although, according to some sources, it is believed that Varna and caste is all the same different concepts: varna is an estate by birth, and caste is by type of activity.

If the first three estates could interact at the level of work, housekeeping or other social issues, then contacts with the Shudras were extremely undesirable. For each varna, a special charter of behavior and morality was drawn up, which was forbidden to be violated:

• The Brahmins studied the Vedas from the age of 8, and came of age at the age of 16.
• Kshatriyas studied scriptures from the age of 11, reached the age of majority at 22.
• Vaishyas studied Vedic wisdom from the age of 12, and came of age from the age of 24.
• The Shudras were forbidden to study the ancient Vedic texts.

The story of the emergence of varnas

"Vedas" - ancient Indian books of wisdom, transmitted for many centuries as the main property indian culture. According to the Vedas, the supreme creator material world Brahma from his mouth gave birth to the varna of the brahmins, endowing them with holiness, the highest spiritual knowledge and the wisdom of truth, from his hands he recreated the varna of the kshatriyas, therefore they are characterized by power, strength and activity. From his hips he created vaishyas - people with a market mindset who could create wealth or at least a non-poor existence out of nothing. The last varna - the shudras - was created from the feet of Brahma, so it was destined for her kind to obey and serve all the rest of the higher ones.

Moreover, varnas are a division into classes according to the level of consciousness, motives of behavior and the inner spiritual world, which is determined by the environment, and primarily by parents. That is why, from birth, a child is jealously protected from communication with other estates, so as not to distort his one-pointedness of mind.

The essence of the idea - in one word

Some teachers have a rather simple explanation of how to designate varna in one word:

• Sudra - "I'm afraid." The lower class, living in constant base fears: hunger, cold, insecurity from people and the elements.
• Vaishya - I ask. It is easy for people from this varna to ask, they often achieve everything through "thick skin" in promoting their interest.
• Kshatriya - "I believe." People of strong faith, often not based on any solid facts.
• Brahman - I know. An estate whose life is based on true knowledge.

Highest caste: Brahmins

Priests and scientists-thinkers, spiritual mentors who thoroughly know the sacred "Vedas" and religious figures, teachers - they all belong to the varna of the Brahmins, the highest and most revered among the estates that participate in the fate of the city (governance, courts), are engaged in scientific activity. They are ascetic and balanced, merciful and highly spiritual.

Even if a Brahmin was engaged in activities unworthy for his lineage - agriculture or weaving, this was due to the fact that he comprehends the nature of this action, that is, he conducts philosophical observations and reflections. It was believed that White color- this is exclusively for brahmins.

Only in particularly severe cases is a violation of the law allowed (which is extremely rare and is considered very shameful). To harm a brahmana is a very heavy karma that haunts for years the one who dared to transgress centuries-old traditions.

Average human level

They are called kshatriyas: warriors, rulers, military leaders, public and administrative figures. In ancient times, they were considered the descendants of the Aryans, aristocrats by birth and special warriors who achieved this position with their exploits: they are full of heroism and fortitude, patience and generosity.

The political power of a city or region was concentrated in their hands, quite often they possessed vast estates and lands, therefore, in fact, they had a double income: from land and a salary from the state for military operations (if any). Kshatriyas were even allowed to kill in the name of justice and protection of honor those who could not stand up for themselves - women, children. The red color is belonging to the kshatriyas.

Trader class

People who closely deal with money are merchants, farmers and artisans - vaishyas (vaishyas). Their mindset was strikingly different from the Brahmin or Dalit: the vein of the entrepreneur was in the blood, and already from early childhood representatives of this varna knew how to earn a living.

This does not mean that such a person necessarily lived in prosperity, being a speculator or usurer, no, but the vaishyu definitely owned a worthy craft that maintained a level of being sufficient for that time. With all this, the Vaishya belonged yellow, was considered a commoner and did not have a significant voice in society, but he was not persecuted like a sudra.

Lower level: Shudras

Hired workers, servants, and in general the entire population living below the poverty line, both material and spiritual, are called sudras. Communication with them of the higher castes was considered unworthy, on the verge of lifelong shame.

Of all the varnas, it was the Shudras who suffered the most severe oppression from the state: they paid a large tax, they were judged especially severely for misconduct and were not allowed to conduct religious rites, which is considered a rather significant sign. Shudra could be bought and sold, his property could be taken away from him without fear of punishment: there was only one explanation - he was born to serve, which means he cannot grumble after the fact. The color of a sudra is naturally black.

Dalits (untouchables) or pariahs

Twenty percent of the entire population of India are precisely Dalits who do not have any social and legal rights: it is forbidden to communicate with them, they are not allowed to enter the temple or courtyard to a person from another varna or caste, and if they dare to take water from a common well , which are full on the territory of India, then they are simply torn to pieces by an offended crowd.

Historians believe that this varna arose in ancient India from the local population conquered by the Aryans, who settled their settlements on their territory and used the natives as slaves for the most dirty and hard work. At the present time, nothing has changed: the untouchables clean the toilets, kill animals for food and dress the skin, remove dead animals and garbage from the streets, wash clothes (dhobi laundresses). Such a varna that the stigma on its kind is forever: since the attitude towards varna is inherited, Dalits have no chance to break this vicious circle, unless the government changes the ancient code of laws and abolishes the obsolete system that violates human rights, for which for a long time fought Mahatma Gandhi.

Analogues in Slavic culture

To understand what varnas are, let's turn to the tradition of the Slavic peoples, which also had its own generic differences:

• Magi, or sorcerers, are Brahmins in Hinduism, in Ancient Rus' were also the keepers of spiritual knowledge, carrying them through the centuries of generations.
• Knights - kshatriyas, warriors and defenders of the fatherland, as well as rulers: princes, kings and governors.
• Vesi - vaishyas, merchants, farmers and artisans are the main stratum of society in any country.
• Smerdas - Shudras, also exist to serve the other three estates, since they do not have a penchant for mental or philosophical activity, and also have low level spirituality. It is enough for them to eat and sleep, to copulate - their consciousness does not require more, unlike higher classes.

For the first time four varnas are mentioned in "Purusha-sukte""Rig Veda", which describes the origin of people from parts of the body of the first man Purusha:

Later monuments repeat both the idea of ​​four varnas and the motif of their origin from a certain demiurge or cultural hero, the ancestor of the tradition. One of the most famous versions of the plot of the transformation of a divine character or first person into elements social structure(in this case, in varnas) is contained in the Laws of Manu (where the varna structure of society received its codification):

It should be noted that Brahman had the right to receive alms (in essence - to take ownership of any property that he wanted). Kshatriya had the right to pardon anyone. When initiated as a student, the boy received a cord made of different material for representatives of different varnas, which was obliged to wear until the end of life.

Already in ancient India, stratification began within the varnas, which led to the formation of numerous castes.

Brahmins

In a typical countryside upper layer The caste hierarchy is formed by members of one or more Brahmin castes, constituting from 5 to 10% of the population. Among these Brahmins there are a number of landowners, a few village clerks and bookkeepers or accountants, a small group of clergy who perform ritual functions in local shrines and temples. Members of each Brahmin caste marry only within their circle, although it is possible to marry a bride from a family belonging to a similar sub-caste from a neighboring area. Brahmins are not supposed to plow or do certain types of manual work; women from their midst can serve in the house, and landowners can cultivate allotments, but only not plow. Brahmins are also allowed to work as cooks or domestic servants.

A Brahman is not entitled to eat food prepared outside his caste, but members of all other castes may eat from the hands of Brahmins. In choosing food, a Brahmin observes many prohibitions. Members of the Vaishnava caste (who worship the god Vishnu) have been vegetarian since the 4th century, when it became widespread; some other castes of Shiva-worshipping Brahmins (Shaiva Brahmins) do not in principle renounce meat dishes, but abstain from the meat of animals included in the diet of the lower castes.

Brahmins serve as spiritual guides in the families of most high or middle status castes, with the exception of those considered "impure". Brahmin priests, as well as members of a number of religious orders, are often recognized by "caste signs" - patterns painted on the forehead with white, yellow or red paint. But such marks only indicate belonging to the main sect and characterize this person as a worshiper of, for example, Vishnu or Shiva, and not as a member of a particular caste or sub-caste.

Brahmins, to a greater extent than others, adhere to the occupations and professions that were provided for by their varna. For many centuries, scribes, scribes, clergymen, scientists, teachers and officials came out of their midst. Back in the first half of the 20th century. in some areas, brahmins occupied up to 75% of all more or less important government posts.

In dealing with the rest of the population, the Brahmins do not allow reciprocity; thus, they accept money or gifts from members of other castes, but they themselves never make gifts of a ritual or ceremonial nature. Among the Brahmin castes there is no complete equality, but even the lowest of them stands above the rest of the highest castes.

Kshatriyas

Following the Brahmins, the most prominent hierarchical place is occupied by the Kshatriya castes. In rural areas they include, for example, landlords, possibly associated with former ruling houses (eg Rajput princes in North India). Traditional occupations in such castes are the work of managers on estates and service in various administrative positions and in the army, but now these castes no longer enjoy their former power and authority. In ritual terms, kshatriyas are immediately behind the brahmins and also observe strict caste endogamy, although they allow marriage with a girl from a lower podcast (a union called hypergamy), but in no case can a woman marry a man of a podcast below her own. Most kshatriyas eat meat; they have the right to take food from the Brahmins, but not from representatives of any other castes.

Vaishya

The untouchables are divided according to traditional types activities of their representatives, as well as the area of ​​their residence. The most common categories of untouchables are chamars (tanners), dhobi (washerwomen), pariahs.

Current position

Despite the fact that varnas arose about 2-3 thousand years ago, they continue to exist in modern India, although their role and importance in the life of society is steadily declining. In the countryside, varnas play comparatively more important role than in cities. In many firms and corporations, as well as in public institutions, the belonging of a person to one or another varna officially does not play any role, although cases of discrimination on this basis are quite frequent.

see also

Notes

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See what "Varna" is in other dictionaries:

- (Skt. lit. quality, color), 4 main estates in Dr. India. The dominant position in society was occupied by brahmins and kshatriyas. The working population was included in the Vaishya and Shudra varnas, the position of the latter was humiliated. The most oppressed and ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Sanskrit, literally quality, color), 4 main estates (castes) in Ancient India: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras ... Modern Encyclopedia

In ancient India, there were four main classes of caste. Members of the first three varnas - brahmins (priests), kshatriyas (military nobility), vaishyas (community members) in childhood underwent an initiation ceremony, which was considered a second birth, therefore they were called twice born. Marriages… … Historical dictionary

Varna- (Sanskrit, literally quality, color), 4 main estates (castes) in Ancient India: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras. … Illustrated encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Sanskrit, literally quality, color), four main estates in ancient India: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras. * * * VARNA VARNA (Sanskrit, lit. quality, color), four estates of Ancient India. Representatives of the highest varna to the brahmins (see ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

varnas- an abscess ... Concise Dictionary anagram

Varna Indian castes Varna West Slavic tribe near the Varnov River List of meanings of a word or phrase with reference ... Wikipedia

Varna - the level of evolutionary development of a person in society ("var" - paint, i.e. the color of the etheric body).

According to the book "Inglistic Dictionary"

The great legislator Manu teaches: people are divided by natural evolutionary development into four varnas - sorcerers, knights, weighty smerds.
VEDUNAS - those who have wisdom, that is, are able to control the mind and feelings, have tolerance and simplicity, purity, knowledge, truthfulness, faith in Vedic wisdom, devotion to the Progenitor, etc. They teach Vedic knowledge, are priests, perform ceremonies and rituals.

VITYAZI - those who have virtue, strength, determination, courage in battle, nobility and the ability to lead. Although they study the Vedic scriptures, they never act as preachers and teachers. Their duty is to fight for justice.
VESI - those who are engaged in agriculture, trade, raising cows. The cow is considered one of the mothers of man, as she feeds him with her milk. Therefore, according to the laws of the Slavs, the killing of these animals is considered a crime. As the king is obliged to protect his subjects, so the visi must protect the cows. When an animal dies a violent death, its development stops. He will have to be born again in the same body and live his whole life to the natural end, acquiring full experience this incarnation. In addition, the killer and his victim at the level of nature are one organism, so they are inseparable from each other. They can be compared to different beings inside the human body. For example, if a lymphocyte harms a red body (erythrocyte), then it harms the whole organism, and hence itself. If the development of the victim slows down, then, naturally, the development of all nature slows down, and hence the development of the killer. And according to the law of cause-and-effect relationship, all sinful responsibility for the committed actions falls on him, creating his fate both in this and in the next life.
Vedic society does not need industrial development and urbanization. The Slavs knew from ancient times that it is possible to live happily, having land, growing grain and cows on it. For it is not muscle labor that enriches the country, but the sale of grain abroad, which is the purest gift of Nature. But if non-ferrous metals, oil and other raw materials are sold in order to buy bread, the state not only does not enrich itself, but leads its people to impoverishment and harnesses them to the colonial yoke of other countries that provide bread. Therefore, the wealth of the villages is not money, but cows, grain, milk and butter. But, nevertheless, they do not refuse to wear jewelry, beautiful clothes and even gold, receiving them in exchange for their agricultural products.
SMERDS are those who serve the other three varnas, because they do not have a penchant for mental, military and commercial activities and, as a result, are satisfied with their position. They are content with what they eat, sleep, defend and copulate. The duty of all four varnas is harmlessness, truthfulness, purity and self-control. Inclusion in one of the varnas depends on the individual natural abilities and inclinations of a person, clearly seen in that life purpose which he puts in front of him.
Such a goal could be:
 lust - uncontrolled activity of vital feelings. This is the state of death.
 benefit - consciously controlled fulfillment of desires. This is the state of weight.
 Responsibility - the correctness of actions. This is the state of the knight.
 self-improvement - a life of spirituality and the preaching of a creed. This is the state of the witch.
Each of the varnas has its own correspondence with the qualities of nature (ignorance, passion and virtue) and reflects the following:
 SMERDS - darkness, ignorance, immobility, unmanifested possibilities.
VESI - a combination of ignorance, passion and enhanced action.
 VITYAZI - a combination of passion and justice.
 VEDUNAS - enlightenment, peace, balance.
That's why:
 smerds live in fear, despondency and worries;
 Vesi - in grief, joy and work;
 knights - in anger, fury and battle;
 sorcerers - in peace, tranquility and prayer.
Names are given according to the varna. If a person has the priestly varna, then his name should consist of words meaning goodness, glorification of the Almighty, joy, love, knowledge. If the varna is a warrior, then the name should contain words meaning order, power, protection, struggle, military strength. The name of artisans and peasants should mean wealth, creation, housekeeping, type of activity; and for servants - service, a character trait, an external sign.
Based on the materials of the book by A.V. Trekhlebov "SLAVIC NAMELOCKER"

VARNA is an evolutionary stage of human development in society. It is determined by the color of his Fire-body (“heat” - fire, flame, light, color; “var” - paint, brew) and by the life goal that a person sets for himself. If he desires only food, rest, copulation, rest and entertainment, then he is a smerd; if he takes possession of wealth and family well-being, then - weigh; if he serves his people and protects them, then he is a hero; if he improves himself and spiritualizes, then he is a sorcerer.
Mother nature is reasonable and expedient. She endows some people with good physical strength, to be warriors and plowmen, others - dexterity, third - a special ability to perform subtle and painstaking work, fourth - wisdom, that is, that magnificent inequality, without which it is impossible to create any culture. In accordance with these natural features of people, the Vedic social structure of the Slavic-Aryans has three varnas: sorcerers, knights and vesi.
Veduns (magicians, brahmins, rahmans) are the soul of society, bearers of the Truth and the Verb of the law. They live in luminous groves, deserts (from the word "let" - in spiritual world, and not from the word "desert").
Knights (warriors, fighters, kshatriyas - from the words "ksha" - a thunderstorm and "three" - three, or rajas - from the old Russian "ryadche" - king) are the heart of society, conductors of the power of the law of Truth. Previously, they lived in Kremlins, citadels, outposts, moved along the borders of Russia and balanced the two extreme forces of society - the clergy and the laity.
Vesi (villages, firemen, that is, taxable population; remember famous saying- "cities and villages") are the flesh of society, the receptacle of the law of social life and ritual charter. In addition to these three varnas, there is also the varna sudra - from the word "judgment", that is, condemned. They are also called smerds - from the words "death", "stink", that is, having a fetid body odor due to an incorrect lifestyle. These are those people who do not want to fulfill the natural laws of nature set forth in the Vedas. Previously, all smerds were rejected from society for crimes, now they live in it.
Greek researchers also divide the Scythians, that is, the Slavic-Aryans, into varnas: priestly shepherds, military swordsmen and farmers. But these three varnas (in Sanskrit - "varna" literally means "color", that is, it means the color of a person's biofield, his Fire-body, depending on the level of spiritual development) are under the names various peoples, namely: Volokhov-Alan, Getov and Rugov. Let's consider varnas in more detail.
Varna of priests - sorcerers, brahmins (Volga residents still call the uppermost mast sail "bramtop", i.e. king-sail, the highest sail), rahmans, who in the spiritualized society of the ancient Slavic-Aryans occupied a leading position and who are called " Royal Scythians”, were the Volokhi – Magi and Alans. The mention of the righteous life of the Brahmins or Rahmans is found in the chronicle of Nestor with reference to the chronicle of Georgy Amartol (IX century) and in the collection of the Elder of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery Euphrosyn (XV century). The rahmans as exemplary Christians are also described in the apocryphal scripture "Zosima's Journey to the Rahmans".
Varna and the emergence of pagan tribes and peoples
The Sanskrit name of smerds "padja" contains three meanings: "pad" - heel, trace, foot, foot; "pad" - a stain, stain, prohibition, sentence and "stalemate" - a fall, a crime. The breed of padaja or smerds was in anticipation of creation, and “Brahma completed the creation with the incarnation of dharma (law), the king of kings. Law is truth, and truth is law, and there is nothing higher than it; for by means of it justice prevails over force.”
According to this law, the national order is actually three branches of a single root of the clan: veduny as the verb of the law; knights as ramen, the force of law; weigh as a container of the law. The fourth estate - “turiya-varna”, which originated from the people of the first three varnas cast out by the law, is called “sudra” or “smerds”.
Manu, the progenitor of mankind, in the 1st book on the creation of the world (sloka 2nd) speaks of the laws relating to the original people and peoples that appeared from their mixing. At the same time, smerds, as outcasts by law, were deprived of all rights: “There is no ritual for a smerd, he is free to fulfill and not fulfill the duties of piety and Faith. And if he fulfills the duties of movement (twice-born - in the flesh and in the spirit), that is, the first three estates, then he will be delivered from dishonor and exalted both in this life and in the next.
It is clear that the law only on the basis of repentance (change of consciousness) recognized the varna of smerds in the general way of society - as an exception to the rules, marriages with smerds were forbidden to the estates of arias (noble ones). These marriages were likened to a combination of good and evil, and according to the degrees of mixing of blood, they reached an extreme violation. human nature in the breed "Chandala" (literally - dog-eaters), that is, scum or the most contemptible of people - smerds.
For example: from the union of a knight with the daughter of a smerd, an ugra was born (hence - an urka, a bandit), combining both the virtues of a knight (strength, courage, courage, etc.) and the low feelings of a smerd (malice, arrogance, selfishness, ignorance, etc. .). It combined the courage of the first and the cruelty of the second.
Mixed breeds and languages ​​\u200b\u200bwere called “mlechzha” (from “chalk” - mixing, congregation), that is, pagans, hence: “other peoples, other languages”. Everyone deprived of rights and citizenship, excluded or expelled from the Vedic society, was called "dasyus", which means servant, thief, lawbreaker, enemy. This name also meant apostasy from the Law (“Dasyuha” is the name of the demon Bali, the head of the titans) and, in general, the impure and hostile power of the spirits of darkness.
Therefore, in the prayers of the Rig Veda, we often find an appeal to the deity to protect believers from dasyus (demons):
"Indra! help the faithful (ariyas) who offer prayers to you, and punish the disbelievers (dasyu).
- Bring dishonor to the wicked (dasir)!
— Indra! strike the evildoers (dasyun) and protect the pious.
“Protect the faithful from the unbelievers (dasyavo), punish the godless and give victory over them to those who pray to You.”
In addition to the nickname "dasyus", the tribes of mixing also bore the name "pariah" familiar to Europeans, which means violators, opponents of the law, exiles, outcasts. The names of the three indigenous legal estates - the Aryans and the outcast tribes of the fourth - the Turians, were preserved in Persian legends, reflected in the names of the Iranian and Turanian tribes (hence Russian word“Turned”, i.e. silly). Manu lists the ancestral breeds or tribes of the Turian Smerds, of which some already spoke the Mlechzha language, or mixture, while others still used the Slavic-Aryan language:
“For violation of the law and the rites of the Faith, the following breeds of smerds or dasyus (outcastes) gradually formed from the excommunicated knights:

Based on the materials of the book by A.V. Trekhlebov "The blasphemers of FINIST"

From this article you will learn what varnas are. How are they related to castes and do they exist in modern times?

Almost all countries of antiquity were divided into estates. In the 15-16 centuries. BC. in ancient India, this division was especially pronounced as a result of the strong organization of communities and the remnants of tribal life that were not inferior to them in stamina.

The class principle determines the essence of the varna system. Let's figure out what varna is.

Historically, Ancient India began to take shape as a slave state. With its final formation, the division of all the free into four varnas was declared the only legal one and sanctified by religion.

Closed estates

The meaning of the term "varna" is defined in Sanskrit as "color, light", "kind", "category" of people.

Two variants of what varna is are recognized.

• Varna - "color, light" - is used to refer to the Aryans. They possessed blue eyes And fair skin. The local tribes had black skin.
• Varnas are interpreted as closed groups that were formed as a result of the division of labor.

Varnas in Ancient India:

• brahmins (priests);
• kshatriyas (warriors);
• vaishyas (traders, farmers, herdsmen);
• sudras (servants).

The supreme varna is the Brahmins. They acted as priests. Studied sacred books, Vedic hymns. Participated in the administration of the state, developing laws and instructions.

The next most important varna is the kshatriyas. This included the professional military. The varna system determined their duties and powers. The kshatriyas were the collectors of taxes and duties. They received at their disposal war booty and captured slaves.

The third varna is the vaishyas. These are farmers, artisans, peasants and merchants. They were full members of the community.

The fourth varna is the sudras. These are ruined peasants outside the community, former slaves, strangers. They were meant to serve.

castes

What are varnas, castes, classes in Ancient India? This is still a topic of discussion among Orientalists.

Over time, each varna was stratified into rich and poor. But the strong ties of the family, the community supported the law and religion. This hindered the emergence of classes.

Despite the fact that the ancient Indian state was a slave-owning state, the laws do not oppose slaves and free people. Castes have practically supplanted classes.

Castes are ethnic groups, and communities by profession, and military clans, and religious communities.

Varnas and castes are reflected in the state constitution of India. Depending on which varna a person belongs to, his rights and obligations depend. Caste is reflected in family law.

The occupations of people did not always correspond to their castes. Therefore, the castes were divided into many podcasts.

Castes today

In official censuses, which are held every ten years, the column on caste has been removed. Last time a census containing this item was taken in 1931. Then they counted about 3000 castes. It is not necessary that all existing podcasts have been taken into account.

The constitution of India is the largest in the world. Mahatma Gandhi, during the transition of India to independence, could not abolish the system left by the ancestors.

The Constitution retained laws on caste and tribe, although caste discrimination was abolished.

Universal suffrage only strengthened the collective spirit and cohesion of the castes.

Politicians use caste interests to win the support of the electorate.