Religious Life Flashcards
Describe the origins of the varna system
- Origin of varna system can be traced backto the second invasion of India in the second millennium BCE.
- Thye devised a class system to organise the new society.
In the Rig veda the purusha sukta hymn refers to the sacrifice of huge primeval man from whom the varnas came. “His mouth was the Brahmins, his arms were made into the Kshatriyas, his two thighs were the Vaishyas and from his feet the Sudras were born”
Brahmins-priests
Kshatriyas-warriors
Vaishyas-business community
Shudras-workers
Describe why the different varnas came from the different parts of purusha
- Brahmins-mouth they are the purest and the mouth chants the sacred scriptures and leading religious rituals.
- Kshatriyas-arms they are strong to protect and fight
- Vaishyas-thighs for crafts and responsible for keeping societys stomach full and provide things necessary for rest of society
- Shudras-feet because they are impure dirty and are menial workers
Define Varnashramadharma
Varnashramadharm-duties or ‘dharma’ for indivduals according to their ‘varna’ and in their relation ‘ashrama’ (stage of life). As there are officially four varnas and ashramas it is often reffered to Catuvarnashramadharma. Each varna and ashrama has its own specific dharma it has to perform.
Describe Duties of Brahmins
- Brahmin caste is the provider of education and spiritual leadership.
- Duties teach/study Vedas, Perform sacrifices and religious ceremonies, give to chairty, offer social religious/moral guidance, provide medical advice free of charge.
expected to never be in paid employment for their duties and should develop qualities of honesty, integrity, cleanliness, purity, knowledge and wisdom
Describe Duties of Kshatriyas
- Protectors of society who are expected to display strength of body and character. Traditionally soldiers also can be seen as noble or privileged and wealthy strand of society that is usually associated with royalty and governance.
- Duties include protect citizens, ensure others perform dharma,be first into battle, never surrender, accept challenges, never accept charity, levy taxes from vaishya
- power chivalry and generosity
Describe Duties of Vaishyas
- Productive class often associated with businesses and small traders. Some can excert power due to wealth and status. Within their are sub-castes of bakers, sheep herds, cow herds, musicians, traiders and businesses
- Duties protect animals, create wealth, produce goods, trade ethically, pay taxes to kshatriya.
What are the first three groups in society referred too
Dvija-twice born. Refers to the fact they are part of a tradition in Hinduism that experience a second spiritual birth through taking part in Upanayana (sacred thread ceremony) and accept responsibility of maintaining the traditions of Hinduism.
Describe Duties of Sudras
- Sudras are workers of society able to be employed. Unskilled workers like servants and labourers.
- Duties includectake pride in work, render service to others, follow moral princibles, marry.
What are the four ashramas
- Brahmacharya-student stage
- Grihasta-householder stage
- Vanaprastha-retirement stage
- Sannyasin-reununciation stage
Describe the Brahmacharya stage
- (Student stage)
- Boys live far from home and study with a guru (traditionally)
- Begins after sacred thread ceremony in which they are reborn.
Duties:Studying the vedas, being celebate, collecting alms for guru. learning discipline and control for late rl life.
Describe the Grihastha stage
- (Householder stage)
- Marry have children, work
- According to the laws of manu it is a crucial stage as it affects other three stages
- Desai “Grihastha Ashrama the householder was to discharge all his duties and debts accprding to dharma”
- Artha, Kama, Dharma etc
- woman typically nuturer Man breadwinner
Describe the vanaprastha stage
- (Retirement stage)
- Begins when a man reaches old age and the son is ready to takeover leadership of household.
- Traditionally go to the forest for spiritual devotion
Duties:Devoting more time to spiritual practice matters;go on a pilgrimage
Describe the Sannyasin stage
- (World renunciation stage)
- traditionally only available to men who exhibit qualities of Brahmin
- Become wandering hermits leave family and live an ascetic lifestyle.
- Period of detatchment from the world
Duties:Control mind and senses. perform own funereal.
Describe the relationship of Varnashramadharma to bhakti
Doing good or correct actions in accordance with dharma according to ashrama and varna is understood by many Hindus as a service to God.
Bhakti advocates a personal relationship with deity based on devotion.
Through Bhakti a Hindu seeks to take part in Dharma through spiritual attatchment to a deity with ultimate aim of moksha
What is Sanatanadharma
Eternal Law which is universal for Hindus to follow, The duty of living a moral lifeand developing moral character. Comes from the sanskrit meaning ‘dhir’ meaning to sustian.
Consists of virtues such as honesty,purity,mercy, patience, refraining from harmind any living being.
