In Hinduism, society is organized into a rigid caste system, or jati. Developed because of Hindu myth and text from the Vedas this caste system has four distinct classes: Brahmins (highest caste; scholars and priests), Kshatriyas (kings and warriors), Vaishyas (traders), and Untouchables, or Dalits, (agriculturists, service providers, and some artisan groups; lowest caste). Because of Hinduisms close relation to India this system has been put into place. Within in the population of India about 18.5% makes up the upper classes, 50% make up the lower classes, and the rest is made up of foriegners in the country.
As stated above, the caste system plays a large role in Indian lifestyles. This is because each class has a certain set of responsibilites and Dharma for you that will determine your job, social interactions, and marriage. However, should you end up in a low class hope is not lost. A main statue of the Hindu religion is that belief in reincarnation. Through reincarnation you acend through the classes until you achieve Moksha.
Not only does the caste system affect these areas of life but it also affects the Ashrama (the 4 male life cycles) for all males but also the Samskaras (progressive life cycles for everyone) of everyone in each class. Depending your class the things at occur in each new cycle can be different.
Today the caste system is one of the most contreversial topics in India. One reason for this is that the lower classes are abused quite frequently by the upper classes. Another reason is that the majority of all government positions are held by upper class members.
Sources: Patterns of Religion, Dom's memory, http://brian.hoffert.faculty.noctrl.edu/REL100/Hinduism.Varnasramadharma.jpg
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