Those who fall out of this system because of their grievous sins are ostracised as outcastes untouchables and considered outside the varna system. Similarly childish is the defence of the bhagvat gita of the dogma of chaturvarnya. This book presents a new competent edition of the translation of the bhagavad gita an ancient hindu monument of spiritual literature. For example, although the warriors had great wealth and power, they were expected to be first into battle. So if ones qualities are the same qualities as krishna lists for a vaisya in the 18th chapter of bhagavadgita and if he works as a vaisya then he is a vaisya.
The fourfold caste system in the bhagavadgita hinduwebsite. He leaves little to interpretation when he tells us to make no distinction between the priest, the dog, and the outcaste who eats the dog. Pdf the coverup of the mentions to the castes in bhagavad gita. The bhagavad gita is often preserved and studied on its own, as an independent text with its chapters renumbered from 1 to 18. So i took the liberty of starting a new thread in order to refute the claims. Let us bring that trust to krishna and go on further with this book of yoga that deals with what has always been there sanatan. The varna system was based upon a transcendent ideal of human unity in the divine, not an effort to give power and domination to one section of society. Lord krishna teaches in the bhagavadgita that whether a persons work is spiritual or material depends mainly on his consciousness. Making gita a national book is paying lip service rediff. According to the three modes of material nature and the work ascribed to them, the four divisions of human society were created by me. The four varna system is first clearly explained in the famous purusha sukta of the rigveda x. One who, at the time of death, fixes his life air between the eyebrows and, by the strength of yoga, with an undeviating mind, engages himself in remembering the supreme lord in full devotion, will certainly attain to the supreme personality of godhead.
Buddhi yoga a system of methods for development of human. Having said that, caste or jaati is a relatively modern phenomenon that only bears a very tenuous link to the ancient system of varna. The caste system, as we currently know it, is a degradation of the original system mentioned in the bhagavad gita by lord krishna. How did the bhagavad gita reinforce the system of varnas or castes. How did the bhagavad gita reinforce the system of varnas. The bhagavad gita or, in translation from sanskrit, the song of god is the most important part of the indian epic poem mahabharata. The post will show that like many other hindu scriptures, bhagavad gita too is an inherently casteist scripture that supports and justifies the caste system and seeks to maintain the dominance of the hindu upper castes.
Untouchables are shudras who refuse to accept the varna system. Jun 27, 2019 out of this vedic contemplation of nature, the vedic idea of a social order arose as the four varna system. A principal book of hinduism, inspiration to gandhi and overall mustread for any big thinking seeker, if you havent read it yet, i highly recommend you add it to your list. Though i am the author of this system of division of labor, one should know that i do nothing directly, and i am eternal. It includes also commentaries of the one who not just read and studied the bhagavad gita but also fulfilled the precepts contained in it. Lord krishna speaks to arjuna as he clarifies the origin and purpose of the caste system in sanaatana dharma bhagavad gita, chapter 4, shloka. Caste as varna degenerated into it is not intrinsic to the hindu tradition and the social compact in hinduism is constantly evolving and many hindu reformers are working to overcome caste. The word nityatam can refer to eternal, regular or even daily.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. If the vedas are hinduisms roots, then the bhagavad gita is its flowering. The purpose of this post is therefore to contest the claims of hindu apologists that gita preaches equality and egalitarianism. The battlefield is a perfect backdrop, but the gitas subject is the war within, the struggle for selfmastery that every human being must wage to live a life that is meaningful, fulfilling, and worthwhile. The book can be helpful for everyone aspiring to spiritual perfection. Steve rosen asked the following question on the risa religions in south asia, part of aar discussion group. The bhagavad gita the song of god 1, often referred to as the gita, is a 700verse hindu scripture in sanskrit that is part of the hindu epic mahabharata chapters 2340 of the 6th book of mahabharata. Ambedkar, gita was written to blunt the buddhist attack on the varna system and its refusal to submit to the authority of vedas. Which means if a person does not study he has no option but to become a petty laborer. The context of four varnas in the gita practical philosophy and. Actions merely connected to prakriti or the material nature are a persistent inheritance from ones past activities in the unknown past. Bhagavad gita and caste, varna and birth, varna and duty, varna and nature. Glossary of sanskrit terms atman the main essence of beings. A summary of each chapter of the bhagavad gita is also included.
Another dogma to which the bhagvat gita comes forward to offer a philosophic defence is chaturvarnya. Sep 08, 2019 the purpose of this post is therefore to contest the claims of hindu apologists that gita preaches equality and egalitarianism. But it is fixed according to his innate, inborn qualities. The bhagavad gita is believed to have been written between the 5th and 2nd centuries bce and its 700 verses are part of the. An essay on the fourfold division of human beings and caste system according to their gunas. Since the vedas remain an unraveled mystery even today due to the archaic sanskrit in which they were composed, much of the ancient social history is derived from the extrapolation from the later history of indian society. According to the three modes of material nature and the work associated with them, the four divisions of human society are created by me. From this context, when a person says, the goal of life is to eat, sleep and make merry, it is the same as he saying, i am a shudra. Caste discrimination by birth, thought to be one of the fundamental characteristics of hinduism, is absent from the vedic scriptures, the essence of which is the bhagavad gita. This paper concludes by stating that varna system first had flexibility in the rigvedic period which allowed individuals to change their varnas, but later its flexibility diminished. Arguments or assertionsexplanations are advanced on both sides. Dharma is not a matter of dogma, but of doing the best possible in any given. Westerners exaggerate rigidness dharma specific dutiesopportunities to be. Bhagavad gita verse 41, chapter 1 a simple, modern.
The varna system in dharmashastras divides society into four varnas brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishya and shudras. In bhagavadgita krishna describes the varnasrama system, which is where the idea of the indian caste system came from, and he says catur varnam maya srstam guna karma vibhagasa, i have created these four varnas or castes and everyone belongs to one of these castes according to his guna qualities and his karma work. And although i am the creator of this system, you should know that i am yet the nondoer, being unchangeable. Next we turn our attention to the much celebrated second chapter of the gita. A simple, modern translation and explanation of the bhagavad gita with shloka verse meaning gita journey is a straightforward, modern, contemporary, basic explanation and commentary of the bhagawat gita, with sanskrit to english word meanings. The gita has 21 direct or oblique references to varna in as many verses, which clearly suggest that the varna system was very much prevalent at the time of its composition. The gita clearly states that 4 fold varna system has been created based on innate qualities of humans and their actions. The bhagavad gita describe the professions, duties and qualities of members of. The presentday caste system is a degradation of varnashramadharma, the original social system described by lord krishna himself in the bhagavad gita 4. Is caste system mentioned in hindu sastras and bhagwad gita. Every ancient hindu scriptures books degrades other than brahmins. And, although i am the creator of this system, you should know that i am yet the nondoer, being unchangeable. Bhagavad gita on caste an analysis kothapet updates. Another support for the caste system in the bhagavad gita is the fact that its central point is that by focusing on ones sacred duties, one can escape from the cycle of rebirth.
So the system that krishna recommends in the bhagavad gita is. Aug, 2017 this is the first reference to varna in the bhagavad gita, in which duryodhana calls drona as the greatest among the twice born classes. The primary book of this message is the bhagwat geeta. The lowest of the mankind from bhagavadgita back to. This is an acknowledgment of the existence of the varna system, but is a superficial reference without implying any hierarchy. One of the worlds most valued scriptures, the bhagavad gita is a hindu scripture which is a part of the indian epic mahabharata.
Varna system, wrongly interpreted, caste system, birth to karma, introduction the concept of the varna system dawns in the most ancient text of the world the rigveda. Rohit dhankar it is often claims with forceful assertions that the chatur varna vyavastha cvv that is mentioned in the gita is based on the qualities of persons and not on their birth. A justification of the caste system bhagavad gita religion essay. Most of us have heard about the horrible caste system which is now current in india. Varna system is extensively discussed in dharmashastras. That is the definition krishna gives in the bhagavadgita. The gita is the goto book for living a meaningful life, taught by the charismatic avatar krishna. Does the bhagavad gita declare that caste is based on birth.
How does the bhagavad gita fit with the system of varnas. Right of education in india had only with brahmins and. The moderator can remove this thread if it violates any rules since the thread being referred is. This audio recording is a complete and unabridged reading of eknath easwarans book the bhagavad gita. The varna system is discussed in hindu texts, and understood as idealised. An introduction to the bhagavad gita along with study resources can also be found here. How did the bhagavad gita reinforce the system of varnas or. Bhagavad gita assigns different castes, different responsibilities, which are not different from the four varna duties assigned by the other brahminical scriptures such as read purusha sukta 10. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read bhagavadgita and polytheism. My answer is that the bhagvat gita is neither a book of religion nor a treatise on. Though i am the author, know me as nondoer and eternal. Bhagavad gita the caste system lord krishna speaks to arjuna as he clarifies the origin and purpose of the caste system in sanaatana dharma bhagavad gita, chapter 4, shloka. And, of course, it is a religious book which depends on faith for acceptance of. This is oopposite to the artificial caste system where people are judged by their birth.
Therein, in the third section, the gita forms chapters 2340, that is 6. The fourfold caste system has been created by me according to the differentiation of qualities and actions. Bhagavad gita by sir edwin arnold translator free at. Its unclear exactly when the gita was composedestimates vary widely, but a number of scholars suggest it was completed around 200 ce and then inserted into the larger work.
Why varna is not caste american institute of vedic studies. The coverup of the mentions to the castes in bhagavad gita. Rohit dhankar it is often claims with forceful assertions that the chaturvarnavyavastha cvv that is mentioned in the gita is based on the qualities of persons and not on their birth. Bhagavad gita makes sure that one doesnt rebel or encourage others to rise against the oppression and instructs to keep on following the prescribed caste duties.
Varna system and gives an account on the true and forgotten meaning of the varna system. Namaste everyone, in another thread titled does not exist. The system of four varnas was a manmade structure based on one group exploiting others hindu scholars contend that the original system was based on cooperation, mutual service to god, and commensurate rights and responsibilities. Indias ancient caste system misinterpreted by modern historians.
The context of four varnas in the gita practical philosophy. Caste in the bhagavad gita satanic verses of bhagavad. The current system unfortunately, and inevitably, can result in exploitation and even persecution. Indian classics namely the rigveda, the bhagavad gita and the manusmriti, focusing on the origin of varna system. A smrti text says that one is born a sudra, and through purification he becomes a brahmin. One needs to look closely at the relevant shlokas to make sense of this issue. The presentday caste system is a degradation of varnashramadharma, the original social system described by lord krishna himself in the bhagavadgita 4. It is often claims with forceful assertions that the chaturvarnavyavastha cvv that is mentioned in the gita is based on the qualities of persons and not on their birth. Decoding the gita, indias book of answers roopa pai. It is mentioned in the verse of the tenth mandal of rigveda. An act is eternal if it is connected to the atma which is the eternal soul.
Aug 20, 2011 varna vyavastha literally, the class system remains one of the most interesting and debatable topics in the study of vedic culture. Caste in the bhagavad gita satanic verses of bhagavad gita. The current indian caste system is a perversion of the teachings of lord krishna in the bhagavad gita. The gita refers to four varnas divisions in human beings in the fourth chapter 4. Gita journey is a straightforward, modern, contemporary, basic explanation and commentary of the bhagawat gita, with sanskrit to english word meanings. The term varna refers to qualities and inclinations called gunas in later thought. The bhagavad gita is a great philosophical work that played the same role in the history of india, as the new testament did in the history of the countries of the european culture. The latter describes events that took place about 5000 years ago. The social class structure varna system was initially started for smooth and efficient functioning of the society. According to bhagavada gita, varna is conferred on the basis of the intrinsic nature of an individual, which is a combination of three gunas qualities. One should perform the actions that are appropriate to ones varna or status and ashram or stage in life. Dec 22, 2011 making gita a national book is paying lip service. Thus to perform actions comes easily as a natural phenomena and not subject to the inherent dangers of possessing an.