Is Vedic caste system in-human?
Before Brahm-TheSupreme God Lord Shri Krishna manifested this Sansar-the material world, He was alone.
At the time of creation, Shri Krishna opened His eyes and manifested Himself in the form of Karnarnavshayee MahaVishnu. MahaVishnu looked at Maya-cosmic power and the dormant Maya started bustling with activity. Then, MahaVishnu created innumerable brahmand-cosmic eggs. He also manifested Himself in the form of Garbhodashayee Vishnu.
Garbhodashayee Vishnu manifested one Brahma, one Vishnu and one Shankar in each brahmand. Each of these brahmand have many lokas in them.
After all this was ready it was time to introduce human beings in the creation. The first humans emerged from various parts of God's divine body. Their skills determined which body part they emerged from.
ब्रह्मणोऽस्य मुखमासीत्... ऋग्वेद पुरुष सूक्त 10.90.11–12
brahmaṇo'sya mukhamāsīt... r̥gveda puruṣa sūkta 10.90.11–12
- Brahmins emerged from God's forehead, intellectuals. They were competent in studying and teaching the scriptures.
- Kshatriyas from God's arms. These are people with special administrative and warrior skills.
- Vaishyas from God's thighs. These are people with expertise in farming and trading.
- Shoodras from God's feet. These human beings did not have any unique expertise. So they were deputed to help the other three groups.
In Satyug human beings were spiritual, humble, co-operative and satisfied with life. But in the Tretayug, these qualities gradually started diminishing and in later yug the dharma declined further.
Overtime, driven by the desire to promote their self-interests, the first three varna of especially the Brahmins, deformed the actual purpose of the Vedic caste system. The castes started being determined by birth. Means the son of a Brahmin will be a Brahmin whether or not he was an expert in studying and teaching the knowledge of the scriptures etc.
With this classification, the last section of people, the Shoodra started being considered the lowest class of people and were looked down upon.
Now ponder for a bit on the following points:
- If one were to trace ancestry of every person it would lead back to Creator Brahma (ब्रह्मा) and then Shri Krishna. Since, all are children of Shri Krishna, all are brothers. So, how can one brother be greater than the other?
- If you say, since Shoodras emerged from the feet of the Lord, they are lowly, then consider the fact that
- God’s feet are served by Maha Lakshmi, the Goddess of fortune.
- Furthermore, every pore of God’s body is God Himself.
- Moreover everyone bows down to worship God’s lotus feet.
- How can someone emerging from such feet be lower?
- God is Bliss. Bliss emanates from every pore of His being and most significantly from His lotus feet. River Ganges is called the holiest river of the world, since she has eternally washed His lotus feet. So what makes Shoodras lowly?
In modern day context
In fact, there is no meaning of any varna these days, since no-one complies with the prescribed Vedic rules of their respective caste. It is extremely rare that Brahmins know the Vedas and lead Vedic life. Similarly, other classes of people also do not comply with their respective duties.
The Bhagawat Mahapuran asserts that
अहो बात श्वपचोऽतो गरीयान् यज्जिह्वाग्रे वर्तते नाम तुभ्यम्। तेपुस्तपस्ते जुहुवुः सस्त्ररार्या ब्रह्मानूचुर्नाम गृणन्ति ये ते।। भा ३.३३.७
aho bāta śvapaco'to garīyān yajjihvāgre vartate nāma tubhyam। tepustapaste juhuvuḥ sastrarāryā brahmānūcurnāma gr̥ṇanti ye te।। bhā 3.33.7
"Oh, how glorious are they whose tongues are chanting holy name of Lord Krishna! Even if born in the families of dog-eaters, such persons are worthy of being worshipped." It goes on to further say,"a Brahmin, who is not a devotee of the Lord is worse than a Shoodra."
Also, Varnashram Dharm is observed by the body, not the jeev. Jeev is eternally divine since it is a part of the divine Lord.
Conclusion:
In the modern day caste is immaterial. All those who do not worship The Supreme Lord are downcast. Each and every one of those suffer from all afflictions of Maya. When everybody is in the same boat then what difference does it make to be born in lower or higher caste?
Cast aside all negative feelings of inferiority, superiority, hate and competition to supersede others. Instead, strive to rise to the highest level to become the eternal servant of The Supreme Lord like Raidas, Kabir, Shabari, Nanak, Tukaram and numerous others.
Shri Krishna is Deenanath (friend of humble). He is NOT friend of haughty. Taking pride in your higher caste and looking down upon others belonging to other castes, will increase your ego and decrease your love for God. You will gradually start losing the divine attributes of love, sympathy, kindness, forbearance etc. and start acquiring the vices of Maya like anger, passion, greed, hatred etc. So do what is takes to become good.
To be eternally happy grow in spiritual wealth and stature. Refrain from engaging in the rat race of acquiring worldly pleasures.
Aspirants of divine love are advised to stay clear of all pride. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says:
तृणादपि सुनीचेन, तरोरपि सहिष्णुना, अमानिना मानदेन, कीर्तनीयः सदा हरिः ॥
tr̥ṇādapi sunīcena, tarorapi sahiṣṇunā, amāninā mānadena, kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ ॥
"Be more humble than a blade of grass, be more forbearing than a tree, give respect to all and never desire respect for yourself."
Humility is the stepping stone on the path of devotion. Any form of pride, including that of position, wealth, education, talent, caste etc. is a major deterrent on this path. Stay clear of all pride.
LEARN MORE