Are VarNas based on birth ?

[Guest guest]

SrI:

SrImatE rAmAnujAya namaH

SrI nArAyaNa yateendra mahAdESikAya namaH

 

namO nArAyaNa!

 

Dear devotees,

 

Issue : Are varNas based on birth ? Some GauDiya VaishNavas

say that its based upon one's qualities.

 

Reply to that question (from a SrI-VaishNava) :

 

This is an already well-settled issue in PUrva-MImAmsa.

All the possible objections (including that of one being a

brAhmaNa based upon only his qualities) are taken into

account and is decisively, the siddhAnta is made that

only " Birth " fixes the varNa. Smrutis etc ofcourse re-states

the same view. For instance, Sage Aapasthambha, in his

very starting (SUtras 4-8) of his most-famous DharmaSAstra SUtras

says

 

" chatvArO varNA brAmhaNa-kshatriya-vaiSya-sUdrAH |

tEshAm pUrvaH pUrvO janmataH SrEyAn |

aSoodrANAm-adushTakarmaNAm-upAyanam vEdAdhyayanam-agnyAdhEyam

phalavanti cha karmANi |

SuSrUshA SUdrasyEtarEshAm vaRNAnAm |

pUrvasminpUrvasminvarNE ni:SrEyasam bhUyaH | "

 

ie. " There are four varNas : BrAhmaNa, Kshatriya, VaiSya and

SUdra. Among these, each preceding varNa is superior by

birth to each subsequent. Those who are not SUdras and

are not guilty of evil deeds may undergo upanayanam,

perform vEda-adhyayanam and agni-related rites; These

rites yield the results/fruits. SUdras are to serve the

other varNas ; The higher the varNa they serve, the greater

is their prosperity " .

 

Check out your abhivAdya - Most probably you would belong to

" aapasthambha sUtra " for your family practice on the way various

rites are to be performed.

 

Please go through my article " VarNa and Its Dharma "

for more informations, which is basically from SrImad Rahasya

Traya SAram of SwAmi DESikan.

 

SrI Bhaktivinod ThAkura of GV has written a work in which he

accepts that the above is the " VEdic System " ; But he says that the

initiation through " PA~ncarAtra System " makes one to be of

brAhmaNa varNa, though he might be a sUdra by birth.

 

Actually, SamASrayaNam {ie.initiation} does not alter the varNa;

But makes one a " SrI VaishNava " / " brAhmaNa based upon his

qualities " and not as one belonging to " brAhmaNa varNa " .

PA~ncarAtra facilitates one to worship PerumAL and aid in the

spiritual-process of both bhakti and prapatti.

 

Ask the very GVs (not merely ISKONites) as to whether they accept

ladies with very good qualities as brAhmaNa and as those eligible

for performing yAgam, as archakas in temples, recite Vedas etc.

 

Also, refer to apa-sUdrAdhikaraNa (1.3.9 ; SUtras 1.3.33 to 1.3.38)

of VEdAnta-SUtras {with SrI-BhAshya} for more details.

------------------------------

 

aDiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan,

anantapadmanAbhan alias Anand.

[Guest guest]

> SrI:

> SrImatE rAmAnujAya namaH

> SrI nArAyaNa yateendra mahAdESikAya namaH

>

> namO nArAyaNa!

>

> Dear devotees,

 

Typo in previous mail : PA~ncarAtra to be read as " PAn~charAtra " .

----

 

Few more ...

 

Deity worship is facilitated according to one's varNa through

" tAntric rites " , wherein the tAntric mantras do not involve

" praNava " , " Svara " etc as in the case of VEdic mantras. This

system is not counter to VEdic system {which would

immedietly be rejected by Vaidikas if it is so}, but

provides wide oppurtunities for all varNas to take part in

devotional worship within the limits set by VEdic system.

In PAn~charAtra, there are prescriptions of mantras for

brAhmaNas also.

 

> aDiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan,

> anantapadmanAbhan alias Anand.

>

[Guest guest]

> > SrI:

> > SrImatE rAmAnujAya namaH

> > SrI nArAyaNa yateendra mahAdESikAya namaH

> >

> > namO nArAyaNa!

> >

> > Dear devotees,

 

-------------------------

Info from a friend quite learned in GV vEdAnta :

 

 

> Once I remember you stating that SrI Bhaktivinod

> Thakur had certain views regarding the VarNas :

> VEdic System being based on birth and

> pAn~charAtra system as being based on one's

> qualities. Can you please tell me about that book

> and where will it be available ?

 

Oh yes, now I remember, it is called Brahmana and Vaishanava and it

is by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta (Srila Prabhupada's guru). The book never

denies that varna is fixed. Rather it indirectly establishes that by

showing that two great exceptions. The main point is that unless

every single forefather has followed brahmana-varna duty 100%

properly, there is no guarantee that the son will be a brahmana.

Also, he states that after the Buddhist time,although some

Vaidika-brahman lineages remained, many brahmanas were made by

the pancaratrik system.

 

I do ask that you consult with me before discussing the book on any

public forum (because his usage of terms may be different and

therefore cause confusion). (For example, when he says " a sudra

can become a brahmana " , it means that a son of a sudra who has been

born with the nature of a brahmana can eventually become a brahmana

by proper training. It does not mean that varna ever can change.)

 

It is translated from Vrindavan, but I can get it here for you.

Just let me know your address. There is one translation error in

which it seems that a woman can become a brahmana, but that is not

in the original Bengali.

--

 

Unlike the popular version of GVs we hear that varNa is based

upon only qualities, this devotee agrees that its fixed by birth

only in the strength even the writings of a GV PUrvAchArya.

Earlier, there were some private mails from SrI-VaishNavas

regarding this issue wrt the GV's understanding. Hope that this

will clarify them on those perspectives as well.

 

aDiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan,

anantapadmanAbhan.