Varnashrama - Subbuji's Post

[Guest guest]

advaitin, V Subrahmanian <subrahmanian_v

wrote:

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Namaste Subbuji.

 

Thank you for presenting the position of the shastras re. varna and

jati. It is clear that varna was decided by birth but there is

historical evidence to show that entire jatis could move from varna

to varna. There have also been kings from shudra varna. The point I

am trying to make is that there was some, maybe small, flexibility

and mobility within the varnas. In understanding the shastras, we

cannot be blind to history.

 

As to how a newcomer should be integrated into the varna system, I

must ask you to consider that the vaidika dharma did spread across

our country. It is hard to imagine that it somehow appeared in all

corners of the land. It is very likely that new groups (jatis?) were

admitted wholesale into the varna system and became part of the

system in due course. But at some point in time, the system seems to

have become rigid.

 

As to the difficulty of determining gotra, etc. I am not able to

speculate how this was overcome. But I would like to refer to the

story of Satyakama in the Upanishads. There was no doubt means to

assign such things then.

 

Practices are not peculiar to varna, but to jatis. Yes, I would

maintain the distinction between them. Even among Brahmins, there

are vast variations in family practices across regions and even

within a region. In certain regions, brahmins eat fish. Similarly,

each jati seems to have preserved certain practices peculiar to

them.

 

I think preserving jati was the key to keeping the varna dharma

intact. Sanatana dharma did not spread by conversion, but by

assimilation of different groups with their peculiar sampradhayas

intact. I think this was the genius of our system. The jati

practices and endogamy have thus continued to the present day.

However, they need not be considered very rigid since these can

change and indeed have changed with time.

 

In the book, "The Jagadguru Replies", Shri Abhinava Vidyatirtha

Swamigal says, "Manu has said, 'If a king conquers a foreign land,

the people of that country also are eligible to follow the Samanya

Dharma (codes of conduct) prescribed by Sastras'. As per this, we

are ready to treat as Hindus, those foreigners who have faith in our

Hindu religion. They also become eligible to follow the Samanya

Dharma".

 

Harih Om!

Neelakantan