Question on Caste / Community Barriers. (So much mis-information, politically motivated)

[Guest guest]

Sri:

 

Dear Devotess of the Lord, Please accept adiyEn's humble pranams

 

Dear Sri Kiran: Social, Political, economical and Spiritual structures are

differrent,

motivated by and led by differrent people for obvious reaosns.

 

All adiyEn can do is address the spiritual aspect which should be a guiding

factor for all beings,

including those in Political and social circles.

 

Spiritual aspect is motivated by, LED by HIM for HIM.

 

There can be NO Caste, Community, Language barriers in this area.

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Article in the upcoming VEDIC Magazine,

 

Based on Q&A Session in Chicago with Students

==========================================

The truth about Varna (Occupation) and Jaati (Caste)

==========================================

Question 1: What is Caste system?

Does Vedic religion divide people based on birth?

===================================================

Answer: Popular misconceptions say that the Vedic religion encourages division

of human beings based on one's birth.

As a result, some people have been kept backward and uneducated while others

have abused this misconceptions and misinformation for personal gains.

 

Much of this misconception can be attributed to the use of the words 'Varna'

and 'Jaati' interchangeably. A closer analysis will reveal just how wrong these

misconceptions are.

 

===================================================

Question 2: What is Varna?

===================================================

Answer: Varna: The root word for Varna is 'Vri' which means one's occupation.

The Varna system was hence originally based on division of labor. Those whose

duties were

to protect the men, animals and properties were called as 'Kshatriyas', the

warriors.

Those who had skills in teaching and scholarly thought, were 'Brahmins' and so

on.

 

The Varna system was solely based on the attitude and qualities of an

individual and his/her propensity for performing certain duties. The source of

these identified in the

Srimad Bhagavad Gita as being the gunas, or inner qualities, that were the

result of the karmas of

each individual from previous lives.

Those who had more of Sattva guna were Brahmins,

Those who had Rajasic Guna were Kshtriyas and so on.

 

======================================

Question 3: Is that just your opinion or there is any proof for this?

======================================

Answer:

To quote from Lord Krishna’s words in Bhagawad Gita: (GeetaAcharyan)

 

Chapter 4, Verse 13 of Srimad Bhagavad Gita

catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah

tasya kartaram api mam viddhy akartaram avyayam

 

Here Lord says that according to the three modes of material nature and the

work associated with them,

He created the four divisions of human society.

 

===========================================

Question 4: Are there any examples of great "accepted Scholars" who were not

born in brahmin families

===========================================

Answer: We have instances from Puranas of many who were not born from

Brahmin parents actually teaching Brahmins and others.

 

Sri. Vedavyasa was the one who actually compiled 4 Vedas. He was not a Brahmin

by birth.

He is the compiler of the Vedas (Not the Author – Vedas are Not Authored by

anyone) He is the compiler of Mahabharatha.

 

Lord Krishna, was born a Vaishya and He gave us the Bhagawad Gita.

Lord Rama was born a Kshatriya, and his life is the Ramayana.

 

The caste of the person giving the message is is not important, but the Actual

message is.

At first, the people had more or less a right to choose over their varna based

on their gunas and karmas. However, over time, fathers began to expect their

sons to

take

over the duties of their specific calling. Due to the continual aspect of Son

taking

over father's duties in the society, the 'Work associated' became a matter of

birth and in later days,

became identified as a birth right.

 

Swami Ramanuja (A Brahmin by birth) who is the foremost SriVaishanva Acharya

had Acharyas who were not Brahmins. He had many Sishyas (followers) who were not

Brahmins.

So in the SriVaishnava sampradaya, the issue of caste does not arise for

Salvation. Love for Lord, intiation and salvation is for everyone.

 

=========================

Question 5: And what is Caste (Jaati)?

=========================

Answer: Jaati (Caste): The Root word for 'jati' is 'jan', which means Birth.

It might have happened that due to a continual evolution of one's father's duty

to his

son over many years , the Varna became confused with 'jaati' and we know

where are we now.

Instead of having four divisions of labors, we now have several dozen jaatis,

each competing with one another for special rights, and each blaming the other

for the

problems of society.

So, even though two jaatis may actually belong to one varna, they may see each

other as being two different castes. It is this which has led to the degradation

of the

varna system and a general disrespect for the Vedas.

 

While it may not be possible to move completely away from the equating of varna

and jaati, we must recognize that when our Poorvacharyas referred toVarna, they

literally

meant 2 things:

1. One's attitude (Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasa Gunas)

2. The duties the individual held in the society.

 

What is important to recognize that, in line with Vedic teachings, our

poorvacharyas refused to acknowledge one varna as being greater than another,

or one being lower than another.

All people, irrespective of their varna are equal in their ability to do Good

for this world, and in their ability to obtain salvation through surrender to

the

Lotus Feet of Sriman Narayana.

 

In many of the Srivaishnava works such as Sri Vachana Bhushanam, it is

clearly emphasized that a Srivaishnava , irrespective of race, caste, or

gender should be

revered and respected as 'Thirumal adiyar' (a devotee of the Lord of Lakshmi)

 

Consequently, while we must respect and perform the the duties and obligations

of our specific varna, we must not divide ourselves by jaati. We are all one

family

bound together by Sriman Narayana and His Unconditional Love for each and every

one of us.

 

===================================================

Question 6: In recent years are there examples of Non-Brahmin born Scholars

who inturn had Brahmin born students. (your previous example of Veda Vyasa is

very very

old, thousands of years ago)

===================================================

Answer: Swami Satagopan (Nammazhwar) was Born in 4th Caste.

He is the most important acharya who brought the teachings to all the

SriVaishnavas.

We have Azhwars (were born upto 600 AD) who are from all walks of life, gender,

caste and community.

 

In fact our Acharyas and MahaPurushas are so revered that even talking about

their varna is is Taboo. In fact that is the attitude towards all Sri

Vaishnavas., once a per son has

become a devotee, even to talk about the devotee's Varna is not-accepted.

 

In all Srivaishnava homes you will find prayers and utmost respect for Swami

Nammazhwar.

 

===================================================

Question 7: Again Nammazvar example is too old, Are there any examples in the

last few hundred years?

===================================================

Answer: Yes, there are many examples in SriVaishnava Acharyas, the most famous

Sri Pillailokacharya lived in Srirangam throuhgout his life and was a strong

believer, preacher & propogator in equality of various varnas in the eyes of

God.

 

One of his foremost disciples was a Harijan, called Vilancolaippillai,

who became very learned and, in his turn, had many Brahmins as his disciples.

 

In the eyes of the Lord all are same, and everyone has been give this blessed

birth. This is an oppurtunity to fall in love with God, and realize our true

purpose

of life, irrespective of race, caste, or gender.

 

In the Srivaishnava path this is seen in practice in daily life and in our

teachings.

===================================================

Further questions send mail to: ramanuja

 

azhwAr emperumAnAr JeeyAr thiruvadigalE sharanam

 

adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan

Mukundan Vangkipuram Pattangi

http://www.radioramanuja.com

[Guest guest]

Namaskarams!!

Dear Sir,

Thanks a lot for the clarification!! I still have one more

question which was uncleared.

 

Why did Manu talk of innaccessibility of Vedas(Scriptures) to certain

classes of people? What is your opinion about Manu's words?

 

When I read Manu's words, I immediately rejected his words.I felt

(still feel) that his words do not deserve to be quoted or followed.

I wanted to see if my point of View is right or not.

 

My approach to Spritualism is that "We begin to be spiritual only if

we start seeing everyone as part of that Supreme. So a natural

implication of that would be , as you said "There can be NO Caste,

Community, Language barriers in this area." So Can Manu be right?

 

Thanks again,

Kiran

 

ramanuja, Pattangi <danp@u...> wrote:

> Sri:

>

> Dear Devotess of the Lord, Please accept adiyEn's humble pranams

>

> Dear Sri Kiran: Social, Political, economical and Spiritual

structures are differrent,

> motivated by and led by differrent people for obvious reaosns.