The caste system Flashcards
What does Varna mean?
Varna means “colour” and is used to describe each of the four Hindu castes, Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaisya, and Sudra. This is a system dating from the Vedic period.
What is the caste system?
The caste system is a class structure that is determined by birth. Loosely, it means that in some societies, if your parents are poor, you’re going to be poor, too. Same goes for being rich, if you’re a glass-half-full person.
What is ashrama?
Ashrama is any of the four stages of an ideal life, ascending from the status of pupil to the total renunciation of the world.
What is the first key rite of passage?
The first ceremony is the sacred thread also known as the student stage (bramacharya) this is only available for high caste Hindu boys between the age of 8-13 years.
What is the second key rite of passage?
The second rite of passage is the householder stage and this is where the Hindu parents find a suitable match for their son and daughter this is also known as Grihastha
What is the rite of renunciation?
This the the third rite of passage and is when some high caste Hindu men decide to enter the final ashrama by becoming a wandering holy man/sannyasin. This stage in life is optional and few men choose to enter it. Those who do are required to leave behind distractions (family and friends) following a simple ceremony, in which they will burn their sacred thread and give up all possessions, after this they will embark on a special journey around India in which they will focus on gaining Moksha. Also known as Vana prastha stage
Describe the Hindu funeral
All Hindus will eventually die and Hindus cremate the bodies of fellow Hindus as soon as possible after death. The Hindu funeral and mourning customs ensure that the atman moves on to a new body, therefore it is essential that they are preformed correctly.
What is dharma?
Dharma is the path of righteousness and living one’s life according to the codes of conduct , Dharma is the moral law combined with spiritual discipline that guides one’s life. Hindus consider dharma the very foundation of life.
What does varnashramadharma mean?
Varna (caste) ashrama (stage in life) dharma (duty)
What’s the four dharma duties?
- Follow your caste duty (dharma)
- Kama, personal pleasure, sex and enjoyment of life
- Artha, wealth and general prosperity and satisfaction of physical needs
- Moksha, release from samsara (liberation)
What are the four castes?
Brahmin- priests or teachers
Kshatriyas- warriors, rulers, the military and police
Vaishyas- the business people, agriculture based
Shudras- manual/skilled workers, crafts,em who provide goods
Who are the untouchables?
Untouchables - don’t belong in the caste system, unclean people with dirty jobs such as working with dead animals, also known as dalits
What does samskara mean?
a purificatory ceremony or rite marking a major event in one’s life.
What is moksha?
the transcendent state attained as a result of being released from the cycle of rebirth.
What is jati?
A social group determined by occupation a sub division within each Varna based on the type of work people do.
