The Real Meaning Of Caste System

According to the yogic philosophy, the whole universe can be divided into 2 main categories: Prakriti (Maya or Illusion) and Purusha (Reality). According to this philosophy everything which is changeable, which is not infinite, is part of Maya. Purusha on the other hand is the only reality, it is the universe’s only unchangeable element: the Self, the soul. Everything within Prakriti, the illusionary world, consists of three Gunas (qualities). These three qualities are present in all objects in various degrees, one quality is always more present or dominant than the others. The three Gunas are Sattva (purity), Rajas (activity) and Tamas (darkness, destruction). Gunas are present in everything; humans, food, animate and innate objects.

Only the soul is eternal whereas Maya or Prakriti are changeable and illusionary (unreal). The difficulty lies in being able to discriminate between the real and the unreal. That is the ultimate goal of Yoga: to see beyond the illusion and see the reality. Only a person who is able to see the reality can reach the stage of Samadhi or Enlightenment.

So today’s blog is about Real meaning about Caste System.
So caste is divided into 4 categories-
1- Brahmin
2-Kshatriya
3-Vaishya
4-Shudras
(Caste=Jati=Community/Tribal Clan
However, the 4 castes which we are discussing is called as “VARNA” which is defined by One person’s Karma, work or activities.

It is sad that today in our society these categories are misused and discrimination prevails and inequality is growing in our Indian society.
Do you know why it is happening because we are tagging people with varna by birth. These are not my words but most of our Scriptures do, It is clearly mentioned in the 18th Chapter of Bhagavad Geeta “O ARJUNA, ALL THE DIFFERENT QUALITIES OF WORK OF THE VARIOUS CASTE IN SOCIETY NAMELY THE BRAHMIN, KSHATRIYA, VAISHYA, SHUDRA ARE DETERMINED BY THEIR INNATE MODES OF THEIR NATURE (GUNA)” – BHAGAVAD GEETA, CHAPTER 18.4

In Mahabharatas Shanti Parva it is also mentioned that-THERE IS NO SUPERIOR CASTE THAT BEINGS CREATED BY HIM WERE ONLY DIVIDED INTO CASTES ACCORDING TO THEIR ATTRIBUTES (GUNAS)– SHANTI PARVA, MAHABHARATA

Now lets understand what does they actually mean by the term of “Guna’s”

Guna mean- Nature or Attributes on the basis of this ancient times people were offered jobs and also social status was setup by their Karma,Nature and work, Similar to todays HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN CORPORATES, Whoever comes for a job to them the HRM team tests their skills, check their knowledge and personality and then as per one’s credibility one is offered a job.

As per Bhagavat Geeta there are 3 Gunas in every person– Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.

• Let us take an example of a Party Scene- A guy enters and immediately he mixes up with people and gets very excited and in excitement he starts to drink and goes on the dance floor with full energy, Such characteristics are termed as Rajas Guna- Who are passionate always active, exited, emotional in one word they are extreme in everything. These are the qualities of “Rajas Guna”
• Now enters a girl who is not very interactive and talked to two or three people and sets her away from all and did not interrupt with others, she is not interested to involve herself much into the party and getting bores. These characteristics are termed as “Tamas Guna” who are lazy, inactive, non-aware, promotes sleep, non-interactive. These are the sign of Tamas Guna.
• Now a guy enters as soon as he enters he interact with all, he is composed and aware of drinking responsibility and is involved in the party very joyfully and has a poise nature. These characteristics are termed as “Sattva Guna” who is Intelligent, Balanced, active, Smart, Composed, Interactive, alert, stable. these are the qualities of Sattva Guna.

So now that you have understood all these 3 gunas better let understand how “VARNA” division was formed as per one’s gun-as–

• Imagine one person has 70% Tamas, 20% Rajas and 10% Sattva so such combination person carries a Varna called “SHUDRA VARNA” this is because Tamas dominating person nature like resting and materialistic things more, being Satvik guna less in them they have to be directed properly so people with such nature in ancient times have been allotted work as per their capabilities. If we see today n corporate company we follow the same like – Labourers, Lower-grade worker etc.
• Now imagine one person is having 25% Tamas, 40% Rajas and 25% Sattva, so such person carries “Vaishya Varna” such people have all gunas in equal proportions, they are intelligent and enthusiasts and like Pleasures as well. In ancient time they were given responsibility accordingly like- Marchent, Traders, Farmers etc. Now in Corporate company they are- Senior Executives, Mid-level manager etc.
• Now imagine one with 10% Tamas, 20% Sattva and 70% Rajas such person carries “Kshastriya Varna.” They are passionate, aggressive and fast and exited they are the risk-takers too. That is why in ancient time they were in Armies and now in Corporate company the are- Senior manager, vice president etc.
• Now las imagine a person with 10% Tamas, 20% Rajas and 70% Sattva so such person carries a Varna called “Brahmin Varna” and brahmin means that one should know all the vedic knowledge, such people mostly have higher intelligence they educators and leader like “Chanakya.”In ancient time they were priest, counsellors and now in Corporate company they are- Managing director, CEO, President.

Varnas are decided by gunas that is why in the veda’s Shudra Varna is said to be the foundation of a person and another varna is termed as “Dwija” means twice-born, So we can conclude that Varna automatically changes as soon as gunas proportions changes.

We should not tag person with varna by birth. It is because any person once born is by default carries “Shudra Varna.” Why, because a newborns gunas are not developed, he is unware about things and needs to tought everything and thus they carry Shudra varna.

We all knew about Vyas Rishi who wrote The Epic Mahabharata but very few know as per ancient scriptures he was born to a “Shudra Varna” fisherwomen Satyavati, he become brahmin by his work.
Same happed with Rishi Valmiki too who wrote Ramayana, he has vast knowledge of all Vedas but he was bought up in by a hunter family “Shudra Varna” it is also rumoured that he was a goon once in his lifetime but by his intelligence and hard work he achived a status of Brahmin.

Because of some corrupts Varna system got recognized by surname and varna became permanent lineages. Today’s modern society has mixed up Varna/Caste system with Jati concept. Even in Bhagavat Geeta, it was written that- BIRTH IS NOT THE CAUSE MY FRIEND, IT IS VIRTUES(GUNA) WHICH ARE THE CAUSE OF AUSPICIOUSNESS.