Hinduism's Caste system
Hinduism is supported by a system that elaborately stratifies social hierarchy distinguishing India’s social structure from any other nation; this system is known as the caste system and is evident throughout India. Caste is used to describe a specific group of individuals who have a specific social rank within society. Caste translates to Jati and generally designates a group that can vary in size from a handful to many thousands. These classes are known as Varans and are as follows, The Varna of Brahmans, commonly identified with priests and the learned class, The Varna of Kshatriyas, associated with rulers and warriors including property owners. The Varna of Vaishyas, associated with commercial livelihoods (i.e. traders), the Varna of Shudras, the servile laborers
Untouchables or Vaishyas took up typical occupations such as toilet cleaners and garbage disposers, jobs which were defined as unclean and impure thus supported the term of ‘’untouchables’’. The particular class where forbidden within the temples and many public vicinities however as the world changed more modern approaches where taken hence altering religious practices within Hinduism and India itself, In 1950 legislation was passed to prevent any form of discrimination towards the untouchables. Although legislation has affected the status of the people, they are yet very much a visible part of Indian society.
Religious theories elucidate how the four Varans were moulded into the fundamentals that all Hinduisms abide by however do not depict illicitly how the jati in each Varna or the untouchables were founded. According to the scriptures or ancient Hindu book, the primal man known as ‘’purush’’ destroyed his being to create the society. The different Varnas or caste systems visible throughout India are the remnants of his body. The Brahmans were created from his head; the Kshatrias from his hands; the Vaishias from his thighs and the Sudras from his feet. The Varna hierarchy is determined by the descending order of the different organs from which the Varnas were created. Other religious theory claims that the Varnas were created from the body organs of Brahma, who is the creator of the world.
Untouchables or Vaishyas took up typical occupations such as toilet cleaners and garbage disposers, jobs which were defined as unclean and impure thus supported the term of ‘’untouchables’’. The particular class where forbidden within the temples and many public vicinities however as the world changed more modern approaches where taken hence altering religious practices within Hinduism and India itself, In 1950 legislation was passed to prevent any form of discrimination towards the untouchables. Although legislation has affected the status of the people, they are yet very much a visible part of Indian society.
Religious theories elucidate how the four Varans were moulded into the fundamentals that all Hinduisms abide by however do not depict illicitly how the jati in each Varna or the untouchables were founded. According to the scriptures or ancient Hindu book, the primal man known as ‘’purush’’ destroyed his being to create the society. The different Varnas or caste systems visible throughout India are the remnants of his body. The Brahmans were created from his head; the Kshatrias from his hands; the Vaishias from his thighs and the Sudras from his feet. The Varna hierarchy is determined by the descending order of the different organs from which the Varnas were created. Other religious theory claims that the Varnas were created from the body organs of Brahma, who is the creator of the world.
The Caste system
The picture depicts the four different Varnas, the brahmins or priestly class, Kshatriyas or the warriors, Vaishya or the peasants, merchants and craftsman and the shudras or the labourers.