Indian caste system: Encyclopedia II - Indian caste system - Caste in Hindu texts

Indian caste system - Caste in Hindu texts

The notion of Varna as an endogamous human types system for social harmoney rather than economic class system was first attested in the Rig-Veda. It generally refers to the four principal castes described in Manu's code, viz. Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. Caste dharma need to be very strictly followed as you go up in the caste hierarchy. Thus, higher castes like Brahmins were under very high social restrictions and taboos in their conduct and life style, where as lower castes people it was lenient. It does not prevent lower caste people acquiring wealth, enjoyment or lead their own life style except prescribing religious restrictions and some social restrictions near religious areas due to purity and pollution. It is believed that one is born into a caste depending on one's karmic influences—actions in the past life and current life. See P.V. Kane's "History of Dharmashastra" for references to the caste system in the Dharmashastra literature.

Indian caste system - Rig Veda - Purusha Sukta hymn

The Purusha Sukta hymn (Rig Veda 10:90) mentions the castes and compares them to the body of a man: "The Brâhmana was his mouth, of both his arms was the Râjanya made. His thighs became the Vaishya, from his feet the Sûdra was produced." (RV 10:90:12) In the Purusha Sukta hymn the word Varna is not used, and it is the only hymn of the Rig Veda where the words Vaishya and Sudra are used. The Purusha Sukta hymn is considered to be one of the youngest parts of the Rig Veda.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Caste in Hindu texts", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki