Please note: Most of this information has been abridged and adapted from the Mystica site @ Indiaculture online. Likewise, most of the images are taken from their site. [Subject to permission.] - See their entire website by pressing [here].
The Rig-Veda (a holy book), divides ancient Indian society into four separate but interdependent castes or classes of people.
According to the Puranas (another holy book of Hindu religion), the Brahmins or priests were born of the mouth of Lord Brahma and can speak with and pray to the gods on behalf of mankind. The Kshatriyas or rulers and warriors were born of Lord Brahma's arms and were given the task of protecting society and using weapons. The Vaishyas (business people and originally farmers) were born of his thighs and took care of trade, business activities, and farming. The Shudras (or common laborers) were born of Brahma's feet and their only purpose was to serve the other three castes. They became almost like slaves. This group became the farmers and herders as the business class became richer and more powerful.
In addition to the four named castes, another category was later made. This category of people called the Chandalas. They were the outcastes or "untouchables" that were considered outside of the system. They did not live within the cities or villages, nor were they allowed to enter, except to scavenge and collect night soil (manure).
This "caste sytem" grew in the later days of Magadhan imperialism (i.e. after 500 B.C.E.). Buddhism and Jainism were both against this system and drew converts from all groups of people.
Caste based on race?
The three upper castes became known as 'svarna jati' or castes of 'good color' or 'golden color'. According to one theory (of "Aryan Invaders") the lighter skinned Aryans created a system of privilege for themselves. Caste itself devolved into a racial differentiation between the conquerors and the conquered, with color as the most visible distinction. From another point of view, the Aryans entered India that already had a class system. Darker skinned people were found in Southern India (with their skin color as a protection against the sun).
Reincarnation - Can one be reborn into a higher caste?
The Hindus believe that the caste that one is born into is based on the karma and dharma of one's previous birth. A good karma and dharma will ensure that one is born into a higher caste in one's next life. Otherwise, one could be punished by being born into a lower caste, or even as an animal!
|
Brahmin Class Brahmins were "created from the mouth of Brahma" (the chief god), so that they might instruct mankind. Since knowledge is the only thing that remains with a person throughout life, Brahmins, as teachers, were highly respected. The Brahmins conducted the daily rites, the purification ceremonies, sacrifices, and taught the Vedas. After childhood, their lives were divided into four stages. During the "student period" of adolescence they studied under a guru (or teacher). About age 20 they entered the "householder stage" by taking a wife and raising family. This was up to the age of 50. Then they began old age as "forest dwellers" up to the age of 70. They lived simply away from society in the forest, performed sacrifices, and prepared to renounce all worldly associations. Finally they renounced wealth and worldly pleasures. They were completely detached from the rest of the world giving up even family ties. Instead, they sought alms ("begged") from householders and spent their time meditating trying to achieve salvation. Since they were the teachers, preachers and priests they had to be skilled in sacred knowledge of the Vedas, or holy texts. They had to maintain a strict code of conduct and exemplify ideal behavior. They were to be kind and gentle. For this, they earned certain privileges and were treated almost like gods by commoners and kings alike. Only a priest could partake of the sacrifices and eat the remains of the sacrifices, for no one else was thought to be holy enough to eat the divine leftovers. At first, a person became a Brahmin because he knew the Vedas. In time, the Brahmins began interpreting laws to their own advantage to maintain their privileges. Because of their moral authority, they were unchecked. So only the Brahmins were allowed to read and teach the Vedas. They monopolized the privilege of priesthood in the later Vedic period. They also established that one was born into a caste, which could not be changed except to be outcaste, the lowest of the castes. This practice still survives until today. Brahmins spoke Sanskrit, the language of the holy books.
Women of the Brahmin class could marry the Brahmin men, and after raising the family, they might join the Brahmin men who went into the forest to withdraw from society. Marriage was compulsory for all the girls except for those opted for asceticism. Brahman girls were married between ages 8 and 10 from the sixth century onwards up to modern times.
To learn more about the Brahmin class, click [here]. |
 
|
|
The Kshatriyas were kings and warriors. They were said to have come from the arms of Brahma, meaning that their role in society was the protection of people and livestock. They were supposed to be brave and fearless, and to live and die by a code of honor and loyalty. They could eat meat and drink liquor. Their most exalted death was to die in battle. Young men of this caste also studied with a guru (teacher) to learn the holy texts and become "twice born", but their training included the use of weapons. Only men of this class could have such training. Certain weapons were also forbidden to the other classes. Men of this class also spoke Sanskrit, while the lower classes spoke the common language of the area. Women of this caste had little political power. Their families would often arrange their marriages to build alliances or to achieve other political or economic goals for the family. Polygamy (having more than one wife) was permitted to all who could afford and it was especially popular among Kshatriaysa for political reasons. Girls were married between ages 8 and 10. This class included the landowners. |
|
|
Vaishya - Traders and Merchants Third in the caste system, the Vaishya's duty was to ensure the community's prosperity through agriculture, cattle raising and trade. Later, the Shudras (or lower working class) took over agriculture and cattle rearing while the Vaishyas became traders and merchants. The Vaishya were said to have come from Braham's thighs. Young men of this caste also studied with a guru (teacher) to learn the holy texts and become "twice born". From the end of the 4th century BC, as the country became politically stable, trade routes to previously uncharted areas developed. The merchant community was the first to benefit. Artisans formed guilds (like a "trade union") and co-operatives in the urban areas. Guild leaders became important figures in society. Guilds also provided technical education, though formal education remained the monopoly of the Brahmins. As their economic power increased, they were expected to give alms (food and money) to Brahmins, throw feasts for them, and donate generously towards the building of temples and shrines. Even though they were educated about the holy texts and economically strong because they controlled commerce, Vaishyas were denied a high social status, for which they resented the upper castes. One expression of this resentment was their support of the anti-Brahminical sects that developed around the 6th century BC, like Buddhism and Jainism. Learn more about the Vaishyas by pressing [here]. |
|
|
The Shudras (or laborers) The Shudras took over the jobs of farming, herding, and manual labor for the higher classes. At times they were treated like slaves. Young men of this caste could not study with a guru (teacher) to learn the holy texts nor could they become "twice born". They could not get a formal education at all. Most of their lives were spent in hard labor. Both men and women were part of this caste. 
To learn more about the Shudras, press [here]. |
|
|
The Chandalas or "untouchables" The Chandalas were considered outside of the system of the other castes. They did not live within the cities or villages, nor were they allowed to enter during the day. At night they could enter to scavenge and collect night soil (manure). They had to move off the path if someone from a higher class approached because contact with such people was "contaminating". Hindu texts were interpretted as describing a class of people as foul and loathsome, and any physical contact with them was regarded as polluting. Indeed, the Untouchables' very shadows were considered polluting, and they were required to beat drums and make loud noises to announce their approach. Untouchables had to attach brooms to their backs to erase any evidence of their presence. Cups were tied around their necks to capture any spittle that might escape their lips and contaminate roads and streets. Their meals were taken from broken dishes. Their clothing was taking from corpses. They were forbidden to learn to read and write, and were prohibited from listening to any of the traditional Hindu texts. Untouchables were denied access to public wells. They cound not use ornaments and were not allowed to enter Hindu temples. They performed the jobs that no one else wanted to perform. The primary work of Untouchables included scavenging and street sweeping, emptying toilets, the public execution of criminals, the disposal of dead animals and human corpses, and the clean-up of cremation grounds. Surprisingly, musicians belonged to this class, too, but music was listened to by members of other castes. The daily life of the Untouchable was filled with degradation, deprivation and humiliation. [Some information for this section is from Caste and Race in India]
|
 |
For an excellent presentation of castes in modern India (with great photographs and explanations), see India's Caste System by two students at California State University at Chico.
See Sudheer's sites on Indian history:
Return to the Main Page