Caste system! Flashcards
How were men in the highest varnas considered ‘twice born’?
Men in the highest varnas were considered ‘twice born’ because they first experienced physical birth, and spiritual birth after studying Sanskrit and the Vedas.
What is the significance of being “twice-born”?
Being “twice-born” meant that these people could practice Vedic religion and gave them the right to take part in certain religious ceremonies, which was a great honour.
Who belonged to the Sudra varna in the Vedic society?
The Sudras worked in fields tending crops, and served as laborers or servants for the higher varnas.
How did the caste grouping below the sudras come to be known as Dalits?
The caste grouping below the sudras came to be known as Dalits because people in other castes referred to its members as untouchables.
What kind of jobs did the Dalits have to do?
The Dalits had to do dirty jobs that no one else wanted, such as cleaning toilets or butchering animals.
Why did members of the higher varnas avoid contact with the untouchables?
Members of the higher varnas avoided contact with the untouchables because the considered themselves as pure and for fear of being made unclean.
Is treating Dalits as untouchables legal in modern India?
Treating Dalits as untouchables is against the law in modern India.
