Varna Flashcards
What is varna?
caste system
When does varna date from?
the Vedic period (approx 600BC - 300BC)
What are the different castes (in order, highest to lowest)?
1) Brahmin
2) Kshatriya
3) vaishya
4) shudra
5) pariah
Examples of types of people in the Brahmin caste?
priests
teachers
intellectuals
Examples of types of people in the Kshatriya caste?
warriors
police
administrators
rulers
Examples of types of people in the Vaishya caste?
farmers businessmen (skilled) traders merchants minor officials
Examples of types of people in the Shudra caste?
unskilled workers
Examples of types of people in the Pariah caste?
clean trains
sweep streets
What are people in the Pariah caste sometimes referred to as?
‘untouchables’
outcasts
‘children of God’
What is dependent on varna?
ritual purity
In the varna system what is extremely important (determines caste you are born into)? What is the Hindu word for this?
duty
dharma
What are the three pillars of Indian life?
caste
family
village
Why is the caste system important?
ensures order
castes depend on each other
gives clear guidance and ideas of how dharma can be fulfilled
Negatives of the caste system?
inequality
what did the family pillar of Indian life entail?
extended family lived together
marriages arranged - same social status
Difficulties/negatives of achieving family aspect of Hindu life?
most families could not all live together - deaths
restricts who you can marry - element of inequality
What did the village pillar of Indian life entail?
self-sufficient
men + women worked together to govern villages
How did Hinduism change the village pillar of Indian life?
role of women reduced
Who fought against the caste system? Why?
Ghandi
inequality
Which group of people started the caste system in India? Where can the idea of the caste system be seen in this group of people’s religion?
Aryans
Rig Veda contains hymn about a huge primeval man (Purusa) from which 4 classes came
What was the Aryan hymn in the Rig Veda on which the caste system is based (quote)?
'The Brahman was his mouth The arms were made the Prince His thighs the common people And from his feet the serf was born' - Rig Veda
What is the dharma of the Brahmin (Mouth) caste?
mouth needed to chant sacred scriptures - born with capability to lead religious ritual - when Aryans arrived scripture not written - Brahmin = only class that could memorise + recite scripture mediators between man and divine only Hindu priests who are literate and have studied vedas = Brahmin
What is the dharma of the Kshatriyas (arms)?
arms needed for action
protectors of others
What is the dharma of the Vaishyas (thighs)
thighs = strong + support - temperament to work at manual tasks
provide what is necessary for rest of society to function
