Inquiries Into the Absolute: Digest 112, Determination of varna,

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Digest 112, February 3rd, 2005. Answers by His Holiness Romapada Swami Maharaja

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Determination of varna, Access to scripture for shudras

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Question Premise: It is said in the scriptures and Bhagavad-Gita that people

should do only the work assigned to them according to the chatur-varna, and

that chatur-varna is according to karma and not birth.

(http://vedabase.net/bg/4/13/en)

 

 

Q1: How can a person know in which varna he is included?

 

Answer: Varna can be discerned by the qualities an individual possesses, and

there are ample descriptions of these qualities found within the scriptures.

Likewise, scripture also directs us to understand the finer points of

application of these scriptural teachings by seeking guidance from a qualified

spiritual preceptor. Based upon the qualities and tendency towards work and

behavior that the individual exhibits, varna is determined.

 

 

Q2: Also, if a man is born as sudra, is he not eligible to study the shastras,

because the sudra's karma is to help all other varnas?

 

Answer: As you stated in the initial premise of your question, one cannot be

designated as sudra solely on the basis of birth, but by guna and karma.

 

A sudra-by-birth was not NECESSARILY forbidden from study of shastras, as

evidenced in the Upanisadic narration of Gautama Rsi accepting Satyakama Jabala

as his disciple. Only a well-examined pupil with high character and brahminical

training was given access to Vedas, in order to preserve the potency and purity

of the Vedas, and to prevent misuse of knowledge.

 

The essence of the Vedas is presented in a simple form in the Puranas and

Itihasas; in fact Srila Vyasadeva compiled these just for the benefit of the

sudras and dvija-bandhus (those born of brahmana parents but lacking the

prerequisite brahminical qualification.) By purificatory processes, these

persons can also achieve perfections (BG 9.32 http://vedabase.net/bg/9/32/en).

 

In the Vedic setting, if it is ascertained that one has the nature of a sudra,

they were given vocational education; literacy for the masses was not given

great importance in Vedic society. However, as the sudras gave service to the

other varnas, it was in turn the duty of brahmanas to systematically

disseminate shastric knowledge to the general public. In fact, the temple in a

Vedic community was to serve just this purpose - as a center of learning -

where the mercantile and laborer classes would come and learn about religious

principles through art, drama and regular discourses on scriptural teachings.

 

 

Can candalas also realize Krishna?

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Q3: In which category, among the varnas, do the candalas belong to? Will they

be able to realize Godhead if they observe chanting?

 

Answer: Candala referred to a class of people lower than the sudras, and

generally dog-eaters. They were considered to be 'fifth-class' and outside the

varnashrama system.

 

There are many references in the scripture specifically about candalas becoming

elevated through devotional service. Bhagavatam states that even a candala who

has once offenselessly chanted the Holy Name becomes immediately eligible to

perform Vedic sacrifices, and becomes worshipable for all. (SB 3.33.7

http://vedabase.net/sb/3/33/7/en) In the Padma Purana it is said that an

unalloyed vaishnava, even if born in a dog-eating family, is qualified to

become a Guru (Quoted in Bhagavad-gita 2.8, Purport

http://vedabase.net/bg/2/8/en). Krishna also assures that even those born in

sinful families can attain the supreme destination by taking shelter of Him.

(Bg 9.32 http://vedabase.net/bg/9/32/en)

 

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