who belonged to the lower caste. caste system

In none of the countries of the Ancient East was there such a clearly defined social division as in ancient India. Social origin determined not only the range of rights and obligations of a person, but also his character. According to the Laws of Manu, the population of India was divided into castes, or varnas (that is, destinies predetermined by the gods). Castes are large groups of people with certain rights and obligations that are inherited. In today's lesson, we will consider the rights and obligations of representatives of various castes, get acquainted with the most ancient Indian religions.

background

The Indians believed in the transmigration of souls (see lesson) and the practice of karmic retribution for deeds (that the nature of the new birth and the characteristics of existence depend on deeds). According to the beliefs of the ancient Indians, the principle of karmic retribution (karma) determines not only who you will be born in a future life (human or any animal), but also your place in the social hierarchy.

Events / Participants

There were four varnas (estates) in India:

• Brahmins (priests)
• kshatriyas (warriors and kings),
• Vaishyas (farmers)
• sudras (servants).

The Brahmins, according to the Indians, appeared from the mouth of Brahma, the Kshatriyas - from the hands of Brahma, the Vaishyas - from the thighs, and the Shudras - from the feet. Kshatriyas considered ancient kings and heroes to be their ancestors, for example, Rama, the hero of the Indian epic Ramayana.

Three periods of the life of a Brahmin:

• discipleship,
• family creation,
• hermitage.

Conclusion

In India, there was a rigid hierarchical system, communication between representatives of different castes was limited by strict rules. New ideas appeared within the framework of a new religion - Buddhism. Despite the rootless caste system in India, the Buddha taught that a person's personal merit is more important than origin.

The position of man in Indian society had a religious explanation. In the sacred books of ancient times (Vedas), the division of people into castes was considered original and established from above. It was argued that the first Brahmins (Fig. 1) came out of the mouth of the supreme god Brahma, and only they can know his will and influence him in the direction necessary for people. Killing a brahmin was considered a greater crime than killing any other person.

Rice. 1. Brahmins ()

Kshatriyas (warriors and kings), in turn, arose from the hands of the god Brahma, so they are characterized by strength and strength. The kings of the Indian states belonged to this caste, while the kshatriyas were at the head of the state administration, they controlled the army, they owned most of the military booty. People from the warrior caste believed that their ancestors were ancient kings and heroes such as Rama.

Vaishyas (Fig. 2) were formed from the thighs of Brahma, therefore, they got benefits and wealth. It was the most numerous caste. The position of the Vaishya Indians was very different: the wealthy merchants and artisans, the entire urban elite, no doubt, belonged to the ruling strata of society. Some Vaishyas even took a place in the civil service. But the bulk of the vai-shievs were pushed aside from state affairs and were engaged in agriculture and handicrafts, turning into the main tax payers. In fact, the spiritual and secular nobility looked down on the people of this caste.

The Shudra caste was replenished from among the conquered foreigners, as well as from immigrants who had broken away from their own clan and tribe. They were considered people of a lower order, who emerged from the soles of Brahma's feet and were therefore doomed to grovel in the dust. Therefore, they are destined for service and obedience. They were not allowed into the communities, they were removed from holding any positions. Even some religious ceremonies were not arranged for them. They were also forbidden to study the Vedas. Punishment for crimes against Shudras was usually lower than for the same deeds committed against Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas. At the same time, the Shudras still retained the position of free people and were not slaves.

At the lowest rung of ancient Indian society were the untouchables (pariahs) and slaves. The pariahs were assigned to fishing, hunting, trading in meat and killing animals, processing leather, etc. The untouchables were not allowed even to the wells, because they could allegedly defile clean water. They say that when two noble women went out into the street and accidentally saw the untouchables, they immediately returned back in order to cleanse their eyes of filth. However, the untouchables still formally remained free, while the slaves did not even have the right to their own identity.

The creators of these legal norms were Brahmins - priests. They were in a special position. In no country of the Ancient East did the priesthood achieve such a privileged position as in India. They were servants of the cult of the gods, headed by the supreme deity Brahma, and the state religion was called Brahmanism . The life of the Brahmins was divided into three periods: teaching, raising a family, hermitage. The priests needed to know with what words to address the gods, how to feed them and how to glorify them. Brahmins studied this diligently and for a long time. From the age of seven, the period of study began. When the boy was sixteen years old, the parents presented a cow as a gift to the teacher, and the son was looking for a bride. After the Brahmin learned and started a family, he himself could take disciples into the house, make sacrifices to the gods for himself and for others. In old age, a Brahmin could become a hermit. He refused the blessings of life and communication with people in order to achieve peace of mind. They believed that torment and deprivation would help them gain liberation from the endless chain of rebirths.

Around 500 BC e. in the north-east of India in the valley of the Ganges, the kingdom of Shagadha arose. There lived the sage Siddhartha Gautama, nicknamed Buddha (the Awakened One) (Fig. 3). He taught that a person is related to all living beings, so you can’t harm any of them: “If you don’t even kill flies, then after death you will become a more perfect person, and whoever does otherwise becomes an animal after death.” A person's actions affect the circumstances under which he will be reborn in his next life. A worthy person, passing through a series of reincarnations, reaches perfection.

Rice. 3. Siddhartha Gautama ()

Many Indians believe that, having died, the Buddha became the main of the gods. His teaching (Buddhism) spread widely in India. This religion does not recognize inviolable boundaries between castes and believes that all people are brothers, even if they believe in different gods.

Bibliography

1. A.A. Vigasin, G.I. Goder, I.S. Sventsitskaya. Ancient world history. Grade 5 - M .: Education, 2006.
2. Nemirovsky A.I. A book to read on the history of the ancient world. - M.: Enlightenment, 1991.

1. Religmir.narod.ru ()
2. Bharatiya.ru ()

Homework

1. What duties and rights did the Brahmins have in ancient Indian society?
2. What fate awaited a boy born in a Brahmin family?
3. Who are the pariahs, what caste did they belong to?
4. Representatives of what castes could achieve liberation from the endless chain of rebirths?
5. How did the origin of a person influence his destiny according to the teachings of the Buddha?

Four Indian varnas

Varnas and castes in our time

One and a half thousand years BC, Indian society was divided into 4 estates. They were called varnas. From Sanskrit it is translated as “color”, “quality” or “category”. According to the Rigveda, the varnas or castes emerged from the body of God Brahma.

In ancient India, there were originally such castes (varnas):

• Brahmins;
• Kshatriyas;
• Vaishya;
• Sudras.

According to legend, Brahma created 4 castes from parts of his body.

The emergence of castes in ancient India

There are many reasons for the emergence of varnas or the so-called Indian castes. For example, the Aryans (not to be confused with the pseudo-scientific “Aryans”), having conquered Indian land, decided to divide the local people according to skin color, origin and financial situation. This simplified social relationships and created a winning environment for government. The Aryans raised themselves, obviously, to the higher caste, and took only Brahmin girls as wives.

More detailed table of Indian castes with rights and duties

Casta, varna and jati - what's the difference?

Most people confuse the concept of "caste" and "varna", many consider them synonyms. But this is not the case, and this should be dealt with.

Every Indian, without the right to choose, was born in a closed group - in Varna. Sometimes they are called the Indian caste. However, the caste in India is a subgroup, a stratification in each varna, so there are countless castes today. Only in 1931, according to the census, data on 3,000 Indian castes were published. And the varn is always 4.

In fact, there are more than 3000 castes in India, and there are always four varnas.

Jati is the second name of the caste and podcast, and every inhabitant of India has a jati. Jati - belonging to a particular profession, to a religious community, it is also closed and endogamous. Each varna has its own jati.

You can draw a primitive analogue with our society. For example, there are children of rich parents. This is varna. They study in separate kindergartens, schools and universities, communicate mainly with each other. These children, growing up into teenagers, are divided into subcultures. Someone becomes a hipster, someone becomes an “elite” entrepreneur, others become a creative intelligentsia, and someone becomes a free traveler. This is jati or caste.

Castes in India can be divided by religion, profession and even interests.

They can be divided by, by interests, by chosen professions. However, oddly enough, people of this varna rarely “mix” with others, lower varnas and even castes, and always strive to communicate with those who are above them.

Four Indian varnas

Brahmins- the highest varna or caste in India. It included priests, clerics, sages, teachers, spiritual mentors and those people who connected other people with God. The Brahmins were vegetarians and could only eat food prepared by the people of their castes.

Brahmins are the highest and most respected caste in India.

Kshatriyas- this is an Indian caste or varna of warriors, defenders of their country, warriors, soldiers and, surprisingly, kings and rulers. The kshatriyas were the protectors of the brahmins, women, old people, children and cows. They were allowed to kill those who did not observe the dharma.

The most prominent representatives of the Kshatriya warrior caste are the Sikhs.

Vaishya- these are free community members, merchants, artisans, farmers, the working class. They did not like to engage in hard physical labor and were extremely scrupulous about food. Among them could be very prosperous and wealthy people - owners of enterprises and lands.

The vaishya caste are often wealthy merchants and landowners who do not like hard menial work.

Shudra- the lowest varna or caste of India. It included servants, laborers and laborers. All those who had neither a house nor land, and did the hardest physical work. The Shudras had no right to pray to the gods and become "twice-born".

Sudras are the lowest caste in India. They live in poverty and work very hard

The religious rite, which was held by the three upper varnas or castes of India, was called "upanayana". During the process of initiation, a consecrated thread was put on the boy's neck, corresponding to his varna, and from then on he became “dvija” or “twice-born”. He received a new name and was considered a brahmachari - a student.

Each caste has its own rites and initiations.

Hindus believe that a righteous life allows one to be born into a higher caste in the next life. And vice versa. And the Brahmins, who have already gone through a large cycle of rebirths on Earth, are waiting for incarnation on other, divine planets.

Untouchable caste - myth and reality

Special attention should be paid to the untouchables. The existence of 5 Indian castes is a myth. In fact, the untouchables are those people who did not fall into 4 varnas for some reason. According to Hinduism, they led an impious life in a past rebirth. The “caste” of untouchables in India is most often homeless, impoverished people who carry out the most humiliating and dirty work. They beg and steal. By their presence they defile the Indian Brahmin caste.

This is how the untouchable caste lives in India today

The Government of India protects the untouchables to some extent. It is criminally punishable to call such people untouchable or even non-caste. Social discrimination is prohibited.

Varnas and castes in India today

What are the castes in India today? - you ask. And there are thousands of castes in India. Some of them are not numerous, but there are also castes known throughout the country. For example, hijras. This is the Indian caste of untouchables, in India it includes transgenders, transsexuals, bisexuals, hermaphrodites, intersex and homosexuals. Their processions can be found on the streets of cities and towns, where they make offerings to the Mother Goddess. Thanks to multiple protests, the Indian Hijri caste has achieved official recognition of itself as a “third gender”.

People with non-traditional sexual orientation (Hijri) in India also belong to the untouchable caste

Varnas and castes in India in our time are considered some relic of the past, but in vain - the system remains. In large cities, the borders are somewhat erased, but in the villages the old way of life is still preserved. According to the Constitution of India, it is forbidden to discriminate people on the basis of varna or caste. There is even a Constitutional Table of Castes, in which, by the way, the term “community” is used instead of “Indian caste”. It states that every citizen of India has the right to receive an appropriate document that indicates belonging to a caste.

In India, anyone can get a document on belonging to a caste

So, the caste system in India has not only been preserved and has come down to our days, it works to this day. Moreover, other peoples are also divided into varnas and castes, they simply do not give this social division a name.

Hello, dear readers - seekers of knowledge and truth!

Many of us have heard about castes in India. This is not an exotic social order that is a relic of the past. This is the reality in which the inhabitants of India live even in our time. If you want to learn as much as possible about Indian castes, today's article is especially for you.

She will tell you how the concepts of “caste”, “varna” and “jati” correlate, why the caste division of society arose, how castes appeared, what they were in ancient times, and what they are now. You will also learn how many castes and varnas there are today, and also how to determine whether an Indian belongs to a caste.

Caste and Varna

In world history, the concept of "caste" originally referred to the Latin American colonies, which were divided into groups. But now, in the minds of people, castes are strongly associated with Indian society.

Scientists - Indologists, Orientalists - have been studying this unique phenomenon for many years, which does not lose strength after more than one thousand years, they write scientific papers about it. The first thing they talk about is that there is a caste and there is a varna, and these are not synonymous concepts.

There are only four Varnas, and thousands of castes. Each varna is divided into many castes, or, in other words, "jati".

The last census, which took place in the first half of the last century, in 1931, counted more than three thousand castes throughout India. Experts say that every year their number is growing, but they cannot give an exact figure.

The concept of "varna" is rooted in Sanskrit and is translated as "quality" or "color" - according to a certain color of clothing worn by representatives of each varna. Varna is a broader term that defines a position in society, and caste or “jati” is a subgroup of varna, which indicates belonging to a religious community, occupation by inheritance.

You can draw a simple and understandable analogy. For example, take a fairly wealthy segment of the population. People, growing up in such families, do not become the same in terms of occupation and interests, but occupy approximately the same status in material terms.

They can become successful businessmen, representatives of the cultural elite, philanthropists, travelers or artists - these are the so-called castes, passed through the prism of Western sociology.

From the very beginning to the present day, the Indians were divided into only four varnas:

• brahmins - priests, priests; top layer;
• kshatriyas - warriors who guarded the state, participated in battles, battles;
• vaishya - farmers, cattle breeders and merchants;
• sudras - workers, servants; the bottom layer.

Each varna, in turn, was divided into countless castes. For example, among the kshatriyas there could be rulers, rajas, generals, vigilantes, policemen, and the list goes on.

There are members of society who cannot be included in any of the varnas - this is the so-called untouchable caste. However, they can also be divided into subgroups. This means that a resident of India may not belong to any varna, but to a caste - for sure.

Varnas and castes unite people according to their religion, occupation, profession, which are inherited - a kind of strictly regulated division of labor. These groups are closed to members of the lower castes. An unequal marriage in Indian is a marriage between members of different castes.

One of the reasons why castesystemso strong is the belief of the Indians in rebirth. They are convinced that by strictly observing all the prescriptions within their caste, in the next birth they can incarnate into a representative of a higher caste. The Brahmins, on the other hand, have already gone through the entire life cycle and will certainly incarnate on one of the divine planets.

Cast characteristics

All castes follow certain rules:

• one religious affiliation;
• one profession;
• certain property they may possess;
• regulated list of rights;
• endogamy - marriages can only take place within a caste;
• heredity - belonging to a caste is determined from birth and is inherited from parents, it is impossible to move to a higher caste;
• the impossibility of physical contact, joint eating with representatives of lower castes;
• allowed food: meat or vegetarian, raw or cooked;
• clothing color;
• the color of bindi and tilak are dots on the forehead.

Historical digression

The Varna system was fixed in the Laws of Manu. Hindus believe that we all descended from Manu, because it was he who was saved from flooding thanks to the god Vishnu, while the rest of the people died. Believers claim that this happened about thirty thousand years ago, but skeptical scientists give a different date - the 2nd century BC.

In the laws of Manu, with amazing accuracy and prudence, all the rules of life are painted to the smallest detail: from how to swaddle newborns, ending with how to properly cultivate rice fields. It also speaks of the division of people into 4 classes, already known to us.

Vedic literature, including the Rigveda, also tells that all the inhabitants of ancient India were divided back in the 15th-12th centuries BC into 4 groups that emerged from the body of the god Brahma:

• brahmanas - from the lips;
• kṣatriya—from the palms;
• vaishya - from the thighs;
• sudras - from the legs.

Clothing of the ancient Indians

There were several reasons for this division. One of them is the fact that the Aryans who came to Indian soil considered themselves to be a superior race and wanted to be among people like themselves, abstracting from the ignorant poor who did the “dirty” work, in their opinion.

Even the Aryans married exclusively to women of the Brahmin family. They divided the rest hierarchically according to skin color, profession, class - this is how the name "Varna" appeared.

In the Middle Ages, when Buddhism weakened in the Indian expanses and Hinduism spread everywhere, an even greater fragmentation took place within each varna, and castes were born from here, they are also jati.

So the rigid social structure was entrenched in India even more. No historical upheavals, no Muslim raids and the resulting Mughal Empire, nor English expansion could prevent it.

How to distinguish people of different varnas

Brahmins

This is the highest varna, the class of priests, clergymen. With the development of spirituality, the spread of religion, their role only increased.

The rules in society prescribed to honor the Brahmins, to give them generous gifts. The rulers chose them as their closest advisers and judges, appointing high ranks. At the present time, brahmins are servants in temples, teachers, spiritual mentors.

TodayBrahmins occupy about three-quarters of all government posts. For the murder of a representative of Brahmanism, both then and now, a terrible death penalty invariably followed.

Brahmins are forbidden:

• engage in agriculture and housework (but Brahmin women can do housework);
• to marry representatives of other classes;
• eat what a person from another group has prepared;
• eat animal products.

Kshatriyas

In translation, this varna means "people of power, nobility." They are engaged in military affairs, govern the state, protect the Brahmins, who are higher in the hierarchy, and subjects: children, women, old people, cows - the country as a whole.

Today, the kshatriya class consists of warriors, soldiers, guards, police, as well as leadership positions. Modern Kshatriyas can also include the Jat caste, which includes the famous ones - these long-bearded men with a turban on their heads are found not only in their native state of Punjab, but throughout India.

A kshatriya can marry a woman from a lower varna, but girls cannot choose a husband of lower rank.

Vaishya

Vaishyas - a group of landowners, cattle breeders, merchants. They also traded in crafts and everything connected with profit - for this, the Vaishyas earned the respect of the whole society.

Now they are also engaged in analytics, business, banking and financial side of life, trade. This is also the main layer of the population that works in offices.

Vaishyas never liked hard physical labor and dirty work - for this they have sudras. In addition, they are very picky about cooking and cooking.

Shudra

In other words, these are people who did the most low-class jobs and were often below the poverty line. They serve other classes, work in the land, sometimes performing the function of almost slaves.

Shudras did not have the right to accumulate property, so they did not have their own housing and allotments. They could not pray, much less become "twice-born", that is, "dvija", like the brahmins, kshatriyas and vaishyas. But the Shudras can marry even a divorced girl.

Dvija - men who went through the upanyan initiation rite in childhood. After him, a person can perform religious rituals, so upanyan is considered a second birth. Women and sudras are not allowed to it.

Untouchables

A separate caste, which cannot be attributed to any of the four varnas, is the untouchables. For a long time they experienced all kinds of persecution and even hatred from other Indians. And all because, in the view of Hinduism, the untouchables in a past life led an unrighteous, sinful lifestyle, for which they were punished.

They are somewhere beyond this world and are not even considered people in the full sense of the word. Basically, these are beggars who live on the streets, in slums and isolated ghettos, rummaging through garbage dumps. At best, they are engaged in the dirtiest work: they clean toilets, sewage, animal corpses, work as gravediggers, tanners, and burn dead animals.

At the same time, the number of untouchables reaches 15-17 percent of the entire population of the country, that is, approximately one in six Indians is untouchable.

Caste "outside society" was forbidden to appear in public places: in schools, hospitals, transport, temples, shops. They were not allowed not only to approach others, but also to step on their shadows. And the Brahmins were offended by the mere presence of the untouchable in their field of vision.

The term "dalit" is applied to the untouchables, which means "oppression".

Fortunately, in modern India, everything is changing - discrimination against the untouchables is prohibited at the legislative level, now they can appear everywhere, receive education and medical care.

Worse than being born untouchable, it can only be born a pariah - another subgroup of people who are completely excluded from public life. They are the children of pariahs and intercaste spouses, but there were times when just touching a pariah made a person the same.

Modernity

Some in the Western world may think that the caste system in India is a thing of the past, but this is far from the truth. The number of castes is increasing, and this is the cornerstone among the representatives of the authorities and the common people.

The variety of castes can sometimes surprise, for example:

• jinvar - carry water;
• bhatra - brahmins who earn by alms;
• bhangi - clean up the garbage in the streets;
• darzi - sew clothes.

Many are inclined to believe that castes are evil, because they discriminate against entire groups of people, infringe on their rights. In the election campaign, many politicians use this trick - they declare the fight against caste inequality as the main direction of their activity.

Of course, the division into castes is gradually losing its significance for people as citizens of the state, but it still plays a significant role in interpersonal and religious relations, for example, in matters of marriage or cooperation in business.

The government of India does a lot for the equality of all castes: they are legally equal, and absolutely all citizens are endowed with the right to vote. Now the career of an Indian, especially in large cities, may depend not only on his origin, but also on personal merits, knowledge, and experience.

Even Dalits have the opportunity to build a brilliant career, including in the state apparatus. An excellent example of this is President Kocheril Raman Narayanan, an untouchable who was elected in 1997. Another confirmation of this is the untouchable Bhim Rao Ambedkar, who received a law degree in England and subsequently created the 1950 Constitution.

It contains a special Table of Castes, and every citizen, if desired, can receive a certificate indicating his caste in accordance with this table. The constitution prescribes that state institutions do not have the right to ask what caste a person belongs to if he himself does not want to talk about it.

Conclusion

Thank you very much for your attention, dear readers! I would like to believe that the answers to your questions about the Indian castes turned out to be exhaustive, and the article told you a lot of new things.

See you soon!

On September 24, 1932, in India, the right to participate in elections was granted to the untouchable caste. the site decided to tell its readers how the Indian caste system was formed and how it exists in the modern world.

Indian society is divided into estates called castes. Such a division occurred many thousands of years ago and has survived to this day. Hindus believe that, following the rules established in their caste, in the next life you can be born a representative of a slightly higher and more revered caste, take a much better position in society.

Leaving the Indus Valley, Indian arias conquered the country along the Ganges and founded many states here, whose population consisted of two classes, differing in legal and material status. The new Aryan settlers, the victors, took over India and land, and honor, and power, and the defeated non-Indo-European natives were plunged into contempt and humiliation, turned into slavery or into a dependent state, or, pushed into the forests and mountains, led there in inaction of thought a meager life without any culture. This result of the Aryan conquest gave rise to the origin of the four main Indian castes (varnas).

Those original inhabitants of India who were subdued by the power of the sword suffered the fate of captives and became mere slaves. The Indians, who voluntarily submitted, renounced their paternal gods, adopted the language, laws and customs of the conquerors, retained personal freedom, but lost all land property and had to live as workers on the estates of the Aryans, servants and porters, in the homes of rich people. From them came the caste sudra . "Shudra" is not a Sanskrit word. Before becoming the name of one of the Indian castes, it was probably the name of some people. The Aryans considered it below their dignity to enter into marriage alliances with representatives of the Shudra caste. The Shudra women were only concubines among the Aryans.

Over time, sharp differences in fortunes and professions formed between the Aryan conquerors of India themselves. But in relation to the lower caste - the dark-skinned, subjugated native population - they all remained a privileged class. Only the Aryans had the right to read the sacred books; only they were consecrated by a solemn ceremony: a sacred cord was placed on the Aryan, making him “reborn” (or “twice born”, dvija). This rite served as a symbolic distinction of all Aryans from the Shudra caste and the despised native tribes driven into the forests. The consecration was performed by laying on a cord, which is worn placed on the right shoulder and descending obliquely across the chest. Among the Brahmin caste, a cord could be placed on a boy from 8 to 15 years old, and it is made of cotton yarn; among the Kshatriya caste, who received it no earlier than the 11th year, it was made from kushi (Indian spinnery), and among the Vaishya caste, who received it no earlier than the 12th year, it was made of wool.

Indian society was divided into castes many thousands of years ago.

The "twice-born" Aryans over time divided according to differences in occupation and origin into three estates or castes, which have some similarities with the three estates of medieval Europe: the clergy, the nobility and the middle urban class. The embryos of caste systems among the Aryans existed even in those times when they lived only in the Indus basin: there, from the mass of the agricultural and pastoral population, warlike tribal princes, surrounded by people skilled in military affairs, as well as priests who performed sacrificial rites, already stood out.

During the resettlement of the Aryan tribes further deep into India, to the country of the Ganges, the warlike energy increased in bloody wars with the exterminated natives, and then in a fierce struggle between the Aryan tribes. Until the conquests were completed, all the people were engaged in military affairs. Only when the peaceful possession of the conquered country began, it became possible to develop a variety of occupations, it became possible to choose between different professions, and a new stage in the origin of castes began. The fertility of the Indian land aroused the desire for the peaceful obtaining of means of subsistence. From this quickly developed an innate Aryan tendency, according to which it was more pleasant for them to work quietly and enjoy the fruits of their labor than to make heavy military efforts. Therefore, a significant part of the settlers ("Vish") turned to agriculture, which gave abundant harvests, leaving the fight against enemies and the protection of the country to the princes of the tribes and the military nobility formed during the period of conquests. This estate, which was engaged in arable farming and partly in shepherding, soon grew so much that among the Aryans, as in Western Europe, they formed the vast majority of the population. Because the title vaishya "settler", originally designating all Aryan inhabitants in new areas, began to designate only people of the third, working Indian caste, and warriors, kshatriyas and priests, brahmins ("prayers"), who over time became privileged classes, made the names of their professions the names of the two upper castes.

The four above-mentioned Indian estates became completely closed castes (varnas) only when the ancient worship of Indra and other gods of nature rose above brahminism, - a new religious doctrine about Brahma , the soul of the universe, the source of life from which all beings originated and to which all beings will return. This reformed creed gave religious holiness to the division of the Indian nation into castes, especially the priestly caste. It said that in the cycle of life forms passed by all that exist on earth, Brahman is the highest form of being. According to the dogma of the rebirth and transmigration of souls, a being born in a human form must go through all four castes in turn: to be a sudra, a vaishya, a kshatriya, and finally a brahmin; having passed through these forms of existence, it is reunited with Brahma. The only way to achieve this goal is for a person, constantly striving for a deity, to exactly fulfill everything commanded by the Brahmins, honor them, please them with gifts and signs of respect. Offenses against the Brahmins, severely punished on earth, subject the wicked to the most terrible torments of hell and rebirth in the forms of despised animals.

According to the dogma of the transmigration of souls, a person must go through all four castes

Belief in the dependence of the future life on the present was the main pillar of the Indian caste division and the dominion of the priests. The more resolutely the Brahminical clergy placed the dogma of the transmigration of souls at the center of all moral teaching, the more successfully they filled the imagination of the people with terrible pictures of hellish torments, the more honor and influence they gained. Representatives of the highest caste of the Brahmins are close to the gods; they know the path leading to Brahma; their prayers, sacrifices, holy feats of their asceticism have magical power over the gods, the gods have to fulfill their will; bliss and suffering in the Hereafter depend on them. It is not surprising that with the development of religiosity among the Indians, the power of the Brahmin caste increased, tirelessly praising in their holy teachings respect and generosity to the Brahmins as the surest ways to obtain bliss, suggesting to the kings that the ruler is obliged to have his advisers and make judges of the Brahmins, is obliged to reward their service with rich content. and pious gifts.

So that the lower Indian castes would not envy the privileged position of the Brahmins and would not encroach on it, the doctrine was developed and vigorously preached that the forms of life for all beings are predetermined by Brahma, and that the progress through the degrees of human rebirths is made only by a calm, peaceful life in a given position, true performance of duties. So, in one of the oldest parts of the Mahabharata it says: “When Brahma created creatures, he gave them their occupations, each caste had a special activity: for the brahmins - the study of the high Vedas, for the warriors - heroism, for the vaishyas - the art of labor, for the shudras - humility before other colors: therefore ignorant brahmins, infamous warriors, unskillful vaisyas and disobedient sudras are reprehensible."

This dogma, which attributed to every caste, every profession, a divine origin, consoled the humiliated and despised in the insults and deprivations of their present life with the hope of improving their fate in the future existence. He gave the Indian caste hierarchy religious consecration. The division of people into four classes, unequal in their rights, was from this point of view an eternal, unchanging law, the violation of which is the most criminal sin. People have no right to overthrow the caste barriers established between them by God himself; they can achieve the improvement of their lot only by patient obedience.

Mutual relations between the Indian castes were clearly characterized by teaching; that Brahma produced Brahmins from his mouth (or the first man Purusha), Kshatriyas from his hands, Vaishyas from his thighs, Shudras from mud-stained feet, therefore the essence of nature among the Brahmins is “holiness and wisdom”, among the Kshatriyas - “power and strength”, among the Vaishyas - “wealth and profit”, among the Shudras - “service and humility”. The doctrine of the origin of castes from different parts of the highest being is expounded in one of the hymns of the latest, most recent book of the Rig Veda. There are no caste concepts in the older songs of the Rig Veda. The Brahmins attach great importance to this hymn, and every truly believing Brahmin recites it every morning after bathing. This hymn is the diploma by which the Brahmins legitimized their privileges, their dominion.

Some Brahmins should not eat meat

Thus, the Indian people were led by their history, their inclinations and customs to fall under the yoke of a hierarchy of castes, which turned classes and professions into tribes alien to each other, drowned out all human aspirations, all the inclinations of humanity.

The main characteristics of castes

Each Indian caste has its own characteristics and unique characteristics, rules of existence and behavior.

Brahmins are the highest caste

Brahmins in India are priests and priests in temples. Their position in society has always been considered the highest, even higher than the position of the ruler. At present, representatives of the Brahmin caste are also engaged in the spiritual development of the people: they teach various practices, look after temples, and work as teachers.

Brahmins have a lot of prohibitions:

Men are not allowed to work in the fields and do any manual labor, but women can do various household chores.

A representative of the priestly caste can only marry his own kind, but as an exception, a marriage to a Brahmin from another community is allowed.

A brahmin cannot eat what a person of another caste has prepared: a brahmin would rather starve than accept forbidden food. But he can feed a representative of absolutely any caste.

Some Brahmins are not allowed to eat meat.

Kshatriyas - warrior caste

Representatives of the kshatriyas have always performed the duties of soldiers, guards and policemen.

At present, nothing has changed - kshatriyas are engaged in military affairs or go to administrative work. They can marry not only in their own caste: a man can marry a girl from a lower caste, but a woman is forbidden to marry a man from a lower caste. Kshatriyas are allowed to eat animal products, but they also avoid forbidden food.

Vaishyas, like no one else, monitor the correct preparation of food.

Vaishya

Vaishyas have always been a working class: they were engaged in agriculture, raised cattle, traded.

Now representatives of the Vaishyas are engaged in economic and financial affairs, various trade, banking. Probably, this caste is the most scrupulous in matters related to food intake: vaishyas, like no one else, monitor the correct preparation of food and will never accept defiled dishes.

Sudras are the lowest caste.

The Shudra caste has always existed in the role of peasants or even slaves: they were engaged in the dirtiest and hardest work. Even in our time, this social stratum is the poorest and often lives below the poverty line. Shudras can marry even divorced women.

Untouchables

The untouchable caste stands out separately: such people are excluded from all social relations. They do the dirtiest jobs: cleaning the streets and toilets, burning dead animals, dressing the skin.

Amazingly, the representatives of this caste could not even step on the shadows of representatives of the higher classes. And only recently they were allowed to enter temples and approach people of other classes.

Cast Unique Features

Having a brahmin in the neighborhood, you can give him a lot of gifts, but you should not expect a response. Brahmins never give gifts: they accept but do not give.

In terms of land ownership, sudras can be even more influential than vaishyas.

Untouchables could not step on the shadows of people from the upper classes

The Shudras of the lowest stratum practically do not use money: they are paid for their work with food and household items.You can move to a lower caste, but it is impossible to get a higher caste.

Castes and Modernity

Today, Indian castes have become even more structured, with many different sub-groups called jati.

During the last census of representatives of various castes, there were more than 3 thousand jati. True, this census took place more than 80 years ago.

Many foreigners consider the caste system a relic of the past and believe that the caste system no longer works in modern India. In fact, everything is completely different. Even the Indian government could not come to a consensus regarding such a stratification of society. Politicians are actively working on dividing society into layers during elections, adding to their election promises the protection of the rights of a particular caste.

In modern India, more than 20 percent of the population belongs to the untouchable caste: they have to live in their own separate ghettos or outside the settlement. Such people should not go to shops, government and medical institutions, and even use public transport.

In modern India, more than 20% of the population belongs to the untouchable caste.

There is a completely unique subgroup in the untouchable caste: the attitude of society towards it is rather contradictory. This includes homosexuals, transvestites and eunuchs who make a living by prostitution and begging tourists for coins. But what a paradox: the presence of such a person at a holiday is considered a very good sign.

Another amazing podcast of the untouchables is a pariah. These are people who are completely expelled from society - marginalized. Previously, it was possible to become a pariah even by touching such a person, but now the situation has changed a little: a pariah becomes either born from an inter-caste marriage or from pariah parents.

Sources

1. http://indianochka.ru/kultura/obshhestvo/kasty.html

Sometimes it seems that we are so accustomed to the 21st century with its equality, civil society, and the development of modern technologies that the existence of strict social strata in society is perceived with surprise.

But in India, people have been living like this, belonging to a certain caste (which determines the scope of rights and obligations), since the times that existed before our era.

Varna

Initially, the Indian people were divided into four estates, which were called "varnas"; and this division appeared as a result of the decomposition of the primitive communal stratum and the development of property inequality.

Belonging to each of the estates was determined solely by birth. Even in the Indian Laws of Manu, one can find mention of the following Indian varnas, which exist to this day:

• . The Brahmins have always been the highest stratum in the caste system, the honorary caste; now these people are mostly spiritual dignitaries, officials, teachers;
• Kshatriyas are warriors. The main task of the Kshatriyas was to protect the country. Now, in addition to serving in the army, representatives of this caste can hold various administrative positions;
• Vaishyas are farmers. They were engaged in cattle breeding and trade. Basically, these are finances, banking, since the Vaishyas preferred not to participate in the cultivation of the land directly;
• Shudras are disadvantaged members of society who do not have full rights; the peasant layer, which was originally subordinate to other higher castes.

State administration was concentrated in the hands of the first two varnas. It was strictly forbidden to move from one varna to another; there were also restrictions on intermarriage. You can learn more about this from the article "".

castes

Gradually, a caste system is being formed in India. Varnas begin to be divided into castes, and each caste is characterized by a certain profession. Thus, the caste division reflected the social division of labor. Until now, India has a very strong belief that, observing all the rules of the caste and not violating the prohibitions, a person in the next life will move to a higher caste (and those who violate the requirements will be demoted on the social ladder).

Castes in modern India

Caste, as a social organization in society, exists throughout India, but in each region it can be different. Moreover, each caste contains many podcasts (jatis), which makes their number truly countless.

All this even led to the fact that in the population censuses they no longer take into account belonging to the caste, because every year their number is increasing more and more.

For example, there are castes of tailors (Darzi), water carriers (Jhinwar), scavengers (Bhangi), and even a caste of brahmins who live on charity (Bhatra).

Of course, the caste system in modern India has long ceased to have the importance that it was given in ancient times. Now there is a tendency to reduce the influence of castes, social strata on the life of the country's inhabitants.

If earlier almost everything was determined by social origin, now, for example, promotion in the service is possible due to individual characteristics, skills and abilities of a person, and not just because of birth.