Social Structure + Caste

Question 1

Varna, Ashrama, Dharma

Answer 1

Varna is the concept of class (“color”)
Ashrama is the stage of life
Dharma (“duty”) is the responsibilities of each person based on their varna and ashrama

Question 2

4 stages of life

Answer 2

Student, householder, forest dweller, renouncer

Question 3

What are the three debts and who are they paid to?

Answer 3

To have sons - Ancestors
To study the Vedas - Ancient sages
To practice sacrifice - Gods/devas

Question 4

Jati

Answer 4

Unlike varna’s more ceremonial context + symbolic power, Jati is power from owning land + wealth
10s of thousands of Jati

Question 5

What is the difference between Jati/Caste/Varna?

Answer 5

A person’s caste and varna are interchangable

Question 6

Harijan/Dalit

Answer 6

Dalits are those outside the caste system. They are responsible for working with things considered polluting, including the dead and waste

Question 7

Samskara

Answer 7

Samskaras are rites of passage completed at important milestones

Question 8

What often takes place at the wedding samskara?

Answer 8

Uh the wife must cry
7 circles around sacred fire

Question 9

What often takes place at the funeral samskara?

Answer 9

A person is cremated

Question 10

Anteyesti

Answer 10

Death samskara

Question 11

Marriage

Answer 11

Expectation for householder
Women’s highest duty
Man incomplete until marriage
Mostly arranged
Dowry
Temporary god/goddess, king/queen

Question 12

Widows

Answer 12

Widows are considered polluted/impure
Common practice used to be that the woman should burn herself at her husband’s funeral pyre - Sati, becomes a goddess
Failed wives, looked down on

Question 13

Stridharma

Answer 13

Women’s dharma - to be subservient to the male figure in her life, get married

Question 14

Svadharma

Answer 14

One’s own duty
It’s better to do one’s own duty poorly than to do someone else’s duty well

Question 15

Kingship

Answer 15

Kings were seen as gods. Had a strong relationship with the Brahmins

Question 16

King/Priest relationship

Answer 16

Kings had lots of power but were seen as polluted due to their responsibilities like inciting war.
Brahmins were seen as pure, but had little power compared to kings.
Priests often advised kinds

Question 17

Agni

Answer 17

Of the domestic and sacrificial fires

Question 18

Who were the twice-born castes?

Answer 18

The top three castes: Brahmins, warriors/kings, and commoners

Question 19

Artha

Answer 19

wealth, resources