The story about the existence of the caste system is brief. Indian castes

Originally a system of four hereditary classes, on

which the Indian population was divided: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and

sudras (or descendants of Brahma, warriors, merchants and inferior, or

farmers). Beyond those initial four, now in India

Great Definition

Incomplete definition ↓

CASTES

Portuguese casta - genus, origin, from lat. castus - pure) - closed, endogamous groups of people connected by the unity of inheritances. professions. Characterizing the castes, Marx wrote: "... one caste is separated from the other; mixing is not allowed between them through marriages; castes are completely different in their meaning; each caste has its own exclusive, unchanging profession" ("Forms preceding capitalist production", 1940, pp. 12–13). The emergence of culture was associated with the emergence of societies. division of labor. "... The primitive form in which the division of labor is carried out among the Hindus and Egyptians gives rise to a caste system in the state and in the religion of these peoples ..." (Marx K. and Engels F., Soch., 2nd ed., vol. 3 , p. 38). K. existed in a number of ancient and Middle Ages. state-in, however, they are nowhere: they acquired such a strict form and did not survive for as long as in India, which is explained by the extremely slow (in the past) process of socio-economic. development of the country. AT ancient india during the period of slave rule. relations, the entire population was divided into four class varnas - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras, to-rye already possessed a number of basics. signs of K. Within the limits of varnas, especially vaishyas and sudras, jati in the meaning of caste gradually arise. In the Middle Ages. India K. became the basis of the hierarchical. feudal structures. society, replacing the former division of society into varnas. Depending on the place of K. on the steps of the feud. hierarchical the stairs were determined by her societies. rights. The highest K. of the Brahmins and Kshatriyas (Rajputs) originated from the varnas of the same name, below were the merchant and usurer. K. and even lower - a huge number of farmers. and handicraft K. The most oppressed layers of semi-slaves, semi-serfs, as a rule, belonged to numerous. K. "untouchables". The number of "untouchables" sometimes included entire tribes in the process of their subordination to larger and more developed in the socio-economic. towards the peoples. A large number of "untouchable" tribes survived until the middle. 20th century in south India. According to Hinduism, a person's belonging to one or another K. is determined by the degree of "sinfulness" of his soul in "past existences"; this "sinfulness" is allegedly preserved in a new bodily shell and is capable of "defiling" people who are socially superior. The behavior of the members of each k. was regulated by all sorts of rules, especially strict in relation to marriages and joint meals with members of other k. In handicraft k. regulation also extended to the labor process. The observance of caste rules was monitored by caste councils, which imposed penalties on violators, up to expulsion from the Kingdom. device. People's protest The movement of the masses against caste restrictions was expressed, on the one hand, in the form of sectarian movements that criticized the existing order, and on the other hand, in the transition of members of the lower caste to Islam, which formally recognizes the equality of people before God. Economical and political fragmentation of the feud. India, uneven socio-economic. development of various parts of the country led to the fact that in various regions of India and different peoples arose its own more or less specific. caste structure appeared numerous. K. and podcasts. According to some data, in India (the middle of the 20th century) up to 3,500 K. and a podcast; only a few of them, eg. the class K. of the Brahmins and Rajputs are common to all of India, but there are subdivisions within them as well. The caste system in the period of the late Middle Ages came into conflict with the socio-economic. development of the country. With the growth of capitalist relations K. as a form of organization of crafts begin to lose their significance. In modern In India, there is not a single K. whose members would be engaged exclusively in their caste profession. However, as a relic of feud. Societies of K. continue to exist. The caste system, which isolates people from each other and hinders the unity of the oppressed classes in the struggle against the exploiters, has always been supported by the ruling classes of India. The caste system was used by the English. colonialists to implement the policy of "divide and rule" in India. According to the constitution of India (1950), equality is recognized: K., but in fact the system of caste distinctions: remains. Lit.: Marx K., The Poverty of Philosophy. Soch., 2nd ed., vol. 4, p. 148, 150, 153-54; his own, Introduction (From the economic manuscripts of 1857–58), ibid., vol. 12, p. 722; his own; Capital, vol. 1, ibid., vol. 23, p. 351-52, 522; Marx K; and F. Engels, German Ideology, ibid., vol. 3, p. 38; The World History, vol. 1, M., 1955, p. 600–601; Same; vol. 2, M., 1956, p. 567–69; Ilyin G.F., Shudras and slaves in ancient Indian collections of laws, Vestn. ancient history", 1950, No 2, pp. 94–107; Dutt N. K., Origin and growth of caste in India, L., 1931; Ghurye G. S., Caste and class in India, Bombay, 1957; Sharma R. S., S? dras in Ancient India, Delhi, 1958. A. Osipov. Moscow.

Any traveler who decides to visit India must have heard or read that the population of this country is divided into castes. There is nothing similar in other countries, castes are considered a purely Indian phenomenon, so every tourist just needs to get to know this topic in more detail.

How did castes appear?

According to legend, the god Brahma created varnas from parts of his body:

1. Mouths are brahmins.
2. Hands are kshatriyas.
3. The thighs are vaishyas.
4. Feet are sudras.

Varna - more general concept. There are only 4 of them, while there can be a great many castes. All Indian estates differed from each other in a number of features: they had their duties, dwellings, individual color of clothes, color of the dot on the forehead and special food. Marriages between members of different varnas and castes were strictly forbidden. Hindus believed that human soul is reborn. If someone throughout his life observed all the rules and laws of his caste, in his next life he will rise to a higher estate. Otherwise, he will lose everything he had.

A bit of history

It is believed that the first castes in India appeared at the very beginning of the formation of the state. This happened about one and a half thousand years BC, when the first settlers began to live on the territory of modern India. They were divided into 4 estates, later these groups were called varnas, which in literal translation means "color". The very word "caste" contains a certain concept: origin or pure breed. For centuries, each caste was determined mainly by a profession or type of activity. The family craft passed from father to son, did not change for dozens of generations. Any Indian castes lived under a certain set of prescriptions and religious traditions that regulated the norms of behavior of their members. The country has developed, and with it the number of various groups population. The multiple castes in India were astonishing in their number: there were more than 2,000 of them.

Caste division in India

Caste is a certain level in the social hierarchy that divides the entire population of India into separate groups of low and high origin. Belonging to one or another part determines the type of activity, profession, place of residence, as well as who a person can marry. The division into castes in India is gradually losing its significance. In modern large cities and an educated environment, division into castes is officially prohibited, but there are still estates that largely determine the life of entire population groups in India:

1. The Brahmins are the most educated group: priests, mentors, teachers and scholars.
2. Kshatriyas are warriors, nobles and rulers.
3. Vaishyas are artisans, herdsmen and farmers.
4. Sudras are workers, servants.

There is also a fifth group representing the Indian castes - the untouchables, who in recent times became known as the oppressed. These people do the hardest and dirtiest work.

Cast characteristics

All castes in ancient India are characterized by some criteria:

1. Endogamy, that is, marriages can only be between members of the same caste.
2. By heredity and continuity: one cannot move from one caste to another.
3. You can not eat with representatives of other castes. In addition, any physical contact with them is strictly prohibited.
4. A certain place in the structure of society.
5. Limited choice of professions.

Brahmins

Brahmins are representatives of the highest varna of Hindus. This is the highest Indian caste. The main goal of the Brahmins is to teach others and learn themselves, bring gifts to the gods and make sacrifices. Their main color is white. At the very beginning, only priests were brahmins, only in their hands was the right to interpret the word of God. Thanks to this, these Indian castes began to occupy the highest position, since only God himself was higher, and only they could communicate with him. Later, scientists, teachers, preachers, officials began to be attributed to the highest caste.

The men of this caste were not allowed to work in the fields, and the women could only work homework. A Brahmin cannot eat food prepared by a person from another class. In modern India, more than 75% of government officials are representatives of this caste. There are unequal relationships among the various sub-estates. But even the poorest Brahmin podcast takes more than high step, than others. The murder of a member of the highest caste in ancient India is the greatest crime. It has been punished for centuries death penalty in a brutal way.

Kshatriyas

In translation, "kshatriya" means "powerful, noble." These include nobles, military personnel, managers, kings. The main task of a kshatriya is to protect the weak, to fight for justice, law and order. This is the second most important varna, representing the Indian castes. This estate maintained its existence by levying minimal taxes, duties and fines from subordinates. Previously, warriors had special rights. They were the only ones allowed to apply punishments against representatives of other castes, except for the Brahmins, including execution and murder. Modern kshatriyas are the military, representatives of law enforcement agencies, heads of enterprises and firms.

Vaishyas and Shudras

The main task of the vaishya is the work associated with raising livestock, cultivating the land and harvesting crops. This is any occupation respected in society. For this work, the vaisya receives profit or salary. Their color is yellow. This is the main population of the country. In modern India, these are clerks, simple hired workers who receive money for their work and are satisfied with it.

The lowest caste in India is the Sudras. From time immemorial, they have been engaged in the most difficult and dirty work. Their color is black. In ancient India, these were slaves and servants. The purpose of the Shudras is to serve the three higher castes. They did not have their own property and could not pray to the gods. Even in our time, this is the poorest segment of the population, which often lives below the poverty line.

Untouchables

This category includes people whose soul has sinned greatly in past life the lowest stratum of society. But even among them there are numerous groups. The highest classes, representing the untouchable Indian castes, whose photos can be seen in historical publications, are people who have at least some kind of craft, for example, garbage and toilet cleaners. At the very bottom of the hierarchical caste ladder are petty thieves who steal livestock. The hijru group, which includes representatives of all sexual minorities, is considered the most unusual layer of the untouchable society. Interestingly, these representatives are often invited to weddings or births of children, and they often participate in church ceremonies.

Most worst person is one who does not belong to any caste. The name of this category of the population is pariahs. These include people who were born from other pariahs or as a result of inter-caste marriages and who are not recognized by any class.

Modern India

Although there is a public opinion that modern India is freed from the prejudices of the past, today this is far from being the case. The system of division into estates has not disappeared anywhere, castes in modern India are as strong as before. When a child enters school, he is asked what religion he professes. If it is Hinduism, the next question will be about its caste. Also, when entering a university or college, the caste has great importance. If the prospective student belongs to a higher caste, he needs to score less points, etc.

Belonging to a particular class affects employment, as well as how a person wants to arrange his future. A girl from a brahmin family is unlikely to marry a person from the vaishya caste. Unfortunately, this is so. But if the groom is higher in social status than the bride, sometimes an exception is made. In such marriages, the child's caste will be determined on the paternal side. Such caste rules regarding marriage are completely unchanged from ancient times and do not tolerate any relaxation.

The desire to officially downplay the importance of caste in modern India has led to the absence in the forms of the latest censuses of the population of the line about belonging to a particular group. The last data on castes in the censuses were published in 1931. Despite this, the cumbersome mechanism of dividing the population into estates still works. This is especially noticeable in the remote provinces of India. Although the caste system appeared thousands of years ago, today it is alive, working and developing. It enables people to be close to their own kind, provides support for fellows and determines the rules and behavior in society.

Portal "Hinduism"

castes(port. casta, from lat. castus - pure; Skt. jati)

In the broadest sense of the word - closed groups (clans) of people, isolated due to the implementation of specific social functions, hereditary occupations, professions, level of wealth, cultural traditions And so on. For example, - officer castes (separated from soldiers within military units), members of political parties (separated from members of competing political parties), religious, as well as non-integrated national minorities (separated due to adherence to a different culture), castes football fans(separated from fans of other clubs), patients with leprosy (separated from healthy people due to the disease).

According to some experts, a union of tribes and a race can be considered a caste. Trade, priestly, religious, corporate and other castes are known.

The phenomenon of caste society is observed everywhere to one degree or another, but, as a rule, the term "castes" is erroneously applied primarily to the oldest division of living beings on the Indian subcontinent into varnas. Such a confusion of the term "castes" and the term "varnas" is wrong, since there are only four varnas, and castes ( jati), even within each varna, there can be many.

The hierarchy of castes in medieval India: the highest - priestly and military-agricultural castes - constituted the class of large and medium feudal lords; below - commercial and usurious castes; further landowning castes of petty feudal lords and farmers - full-fledged community members; even lower - a huge number of castes of landless and incomplete farmers, artisans and servants; among the latter, the lowest stratum is the disenfranchised and the most oppressed castes of the untouchables.

The Indian leader M. K. Gandhi fought against caste discrimination, which is reflected in the religious-philosophical and socio-political doctrine of Gandhism. Even more radical egalitarian ideas were advocated by Ambedkar, who sharply criticized Gandhi for moderation in the caste issue.

Story

Varna

Of the most early works It is known from Sanskrit literature that the peoples who spoke the Aryan dialects during the period of the initial settlement of India (approximately from 1500 to 1200 BC) were already divided into four main estates, later called "varnas" (Skt. "color"): brahmins (priests ), kshatriyas (warriors), vaishyas (traders, cattle breeders and farmers) and shudras (servants and laborers).

In the period of the early Middle Ages, the varnas, although preserved, fell into numerous castes (jati), which even more firmly fixed the class affiliation.

Hindus believe in reincarnation and believe that those who follow the rules of their caste will rise to a higher caste by birth in a future life, while those who violate these rules will lose their social status.

Researchers at the Institute of Human Genetics at the University of Utah took blood samples from various castes and compared them to a genetic database of Africans, Europeans and Asians. A comparative genetic analysis of the maternal and paternal lines, made according to five hereditary traits, made it possible to reasonably assert that people of higher castes are clearly closer to Europeans, and lower castes to Asians. Among the lower castes, those peoples of India who inhabited it before the invasion of the Aryans are mainly represented - speakers of Dravidian languages, Munda languages, Andaman languages. Genetic mixing between castes is due to the fact that sexual abuse of lower castes, as well as the use of prostitutes from lower castes, were not considered violations of caste purity.

Cast stability

Throughout Indian history, the caste structure has shown remarkable stability before change. Even the flourishing of Buddhism and its adoption as the state religion by Emperor Ashoka (269-232 BC) did not affect the system of hereditary groups. Unlike Hinduism, Buddhism as a doctrine does not support caste division, but at the same time it does not insist on the complete elimination of caste distinctions.

During the rise of Hinduism, which followed the decline of Buddhism, a very complex multi-layered system grew out of a simple, uncomplicated system of four varnas, building a strict order of alternation and correlation of different social groups. Each varna, in the course of this process, outlined the framework for a multitude of independent endogamous castes (jati). Neither the Muslim invasion, which ended with the formation of the Mughal empire, nor the establishment of British domination, shook fundamentals caste organization of society.

The nature of castes

As the organizing basis of society, caste is characteristic of all Hindu India, but there are very few castes that are found everywhere. In each geographical area arose its own, separate and independent ladder of strictly ranked castes, for many of them there is no equivalent in neighboring territories. The exception to this regional rule is a number of castes of Brahmins, who are represented in vast areas and everywhere occupy the highest position in the caste system. AT ancient times the meaning of castes was reduced to concepts different degrees enlightenment, that is, at what stage is the enlightened one, what was not inherited. In fact, transitions from castes to castes took place only under the supervision of the elders (other enlightened ones from the highest caste), and marriages were also concluded. The concept of castes referred only to the spiritual side and therefore it was not allowed for the higher to converge with the lower, in order to avoid a transition to a lower stage.

Castes in modern India

Indian castes literally have no number. Since each denominated caste is divided into many sub-castes, it is impossible to even roughly calculate the number of social units that have the minimum necessary features of jati. Official tendency to downplay caste system led to the disappearance of the corresponding column in the censuses conducted once a decade. AT last time information on the number of castes was published in 1931 (3000 castes). But this figure does not necessarily include all local podcasts that function as social groups in their own right.

It is widely believed that castes have lost their former importance in the modern Indian state. However, developments have shown that this is far from the case. The position taken by the INC and the Government of India after Gandhi's death is controversial. Moreover, universal suffrage and the need politicians in the support of the electorate, they gave new importance to the corporate spirit and internal cohesion of the castes. As a result, caste interests became an important factor during election campaigns.

Preservation of the caste system in other religions of India

Social inertia has led to the fact that stratification into castes exists among Indian Christians and Muslims, although it is an anomaly from the point of view of the Bible and the Koran. Christian and Muslim castes have a number of differences from the classical Indian system, they even have some social mobility, that is, the ability to move from one caste to another. In Buddhism, castes do not exist (which is why Indian “untouchables” are especially willing to convert to Buddhism), but it can be considered a relic of Indian traditions that in Buddhist society the social identification of the interlocutor is of great importance. In addition, although Buddhists themselves do not recognize castes, however, speakers of other religions in India can often easily determine from which caste their Buddhist interlocutor comes from, and treat him accordingly. Indian legislation provides for a number of social guarantees for the "infringed castes" among Sikhs, Muslims and Buddhists, but does not provide such guarantees for Christians - representatives of the same castes.

see also

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See what the "Cast system" is in other dictionaries:

caste system- (caste system), a system of social stratification about wa, with a swarm of people grouped in accordance with the definition. ranks. Options K.s. can be found in all indus. religious about wah, not only Hindu, but also among Jains, in Muslims, Bud. and christ. ... ... Peoples and cultures

caste system- - social stratification based on social origin or birth ... Social Work Dictionary

The ancient Indian epic Mahabharata gives us a glimpse of the caste system that prevailed in ancient India. In addition to the four main orders of the Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra, the epic also mentions others formed from them ... ... Wikipedia

The Yucatan War of Races (also known as the Yucatan War of Castes (Caste War of Yucatan)) uprising of the Mayan Indians on the Yucatan Peninsula (the territory of the modern Mexican states of Quintana Roo, Yucatan and Campeche, as well as the north of the state of Belize). ... ... Wikipedia

The caste system among the Christians of India is an anomaly for the Christian tradition, but at the same time it has deep roots in the Indian tradition itself and is a kind of hybrid of the ethics of Christianity and Hinduism. Christian communities in India ... ... Wikipedia

September 28th, 2015

Indian society is divided into estates called castes. Such a division occurred many thousands of years ago and has survived to this day. Hindus believe that, following the rules established in their caste, in the next life you can be born a representative of a slightly higher and more revered caste, take a much better position in society.

Leaving the Indus Valley, the Indian Aryans conquered the country along the Ganges and founded many states here, whose population consisted of two classes, differing in legal and financial position. The new settlers-Aryans, the victors, seized for themselves in India both land, and honor, and power, and the defeated non-Indo-European natives were plunged into contempt and humiliation, turned into slavery or into a dependent state, or, driven back into the forests and mountains, led there in inaction thoughts of a meager life without any culture. This result of the Aryan conquest gave rise to the origin of the four main Indian castes (varnas).

Those original inhabitants of India who were subdued by the power of the sword suffered the fate of captives and became mere slaves. The Indians, who voluntarily submitted, renounced their paternal gods, adopted the language, laws and customs of the conquerors, retained personal freedom, but lost all land property and had to live as workers on the estates of the Aryans, servants and porters, in the homes of rich people. From them came the Shudra caste. "Shudra" is not a Sanskrit word. Before becoming the name of one of the Indian castes, it was probably the name of some people. The Aryans considered it below their dignity to enter into marriage alliances with representatives of the Shudra caste. The Shudra women were only concubines among the Aryans.

Over time, sharp differences in fortunes and professions formed between the Aryan conquerors of India themselves. But in relation to the lower caste - the dark-skinned, subjugated native population - they all remained a privileged class. Only the Aryans had the right to read holy books; only they were consecrated by a solemn ceremony: a sacred cord was placed on the Aryan, making him “reborn” (or “twice born”, dvija). This rite served as a symbolic distinction of all Aryans from the Shudra caste and the despised native tribes driven into the forests. The consecration was performed by laying on a cord, which is worn laid on the right shoulder and descending obliquely over the chest. Among the Brahmin caste, a cord could be placed on a boy from 8 to 15 years old, and it is made of cotton yarn; among the Kshatriya caste, who received it no earlier than the 11th year, it was made from kushi (Indian spinning plant), and among the Vaishya caste, who received it no earlier than the 12th year, it was made of wool.

The "twice-born" Aryans over time divided according to differences in occupation and origin into three estates or castes, which have some similarities with the three estates. medieval Europe: the clergy, the nobility and the middle urban class. The embryos of caste systems among the Aryans existed even in those times when they lived only in the Indus basin: there, from the mass of the agricultural and pastoral population, warlike tribal princes, surrounded by people skilled in military affairs, as well as priests who performed sacrificial rites, already stood out.

During the resettlement of the Aryan tribes further deep into India, to the country of the Ganges, the warlike energy increased in bloody wars with the exterminated natives, and then in a fierce struggle between the Aryan tribes. Until the conquests were completed, all the people were engaged in military affairs. Only when the peaceful possession of the conquered country began, did it become possible to develop a variety of occupations, it became possible to choose between different professions, and came new stage origin of castes. The fertility of the Indian land aroused the desire for the peaceful pursuit of livelihoods. From this quickly developed an innate Aryan tendency, according to which it was more pleasant for them to work quietly and enjoy the fruits of their labor than to make heavy military efforts. Therefore, a significant part of the settlers ("Vish") turned to agriculture, which gave abundant harvests, leaving the fight against enemies and the protection of the country to the princes of the tribes and the military nobility formed during the period of conquests. This class, engaged in arable farming and partly shepherding, soon grew so that among the Aryans, as in Western Europe formed the vast majority of the population. Therefore, the name vaishya "settler", which originally denoted all the Aryan inhabitants in new areas, began to denote only people of the third, working Indian caste, and warriors, kshatriyas and priests, brahmins ("prayers"), who over time became privileged classes, made the names of their professions by the names of the two upper castes.

The four Indian estates listed above became completely closed castes (varnas) only when Brahmanism rose above the ancient service to Indra and other gods of nature, a new religious doctrine of Brahma, the soul of the universe, the source of life from which all beings originated and to which all beings will return. This reformed creed gave religious holiness to the division of the Indian nation into castes, especially the priestly caste. It said that in the cycle of life forms that all existing on earth go through, Brahman is the highest form of being. According to the dogma of the rebirth and transmigration of souls, a being born in a human form must go through all four castes in turn: to be a sudra, a vaishya, a kshatriya, and finally a brahmin; having passed through these forms of existence, it is reunited with Brahma. The only way to achieve this goal is for a person, constantly striving for a deity, to exactly fulfill everything commanded by the Brahmins, honor them, please them with gifts and signs of respect. Offenses against the Brahmins, severely punished on earth, subject the wicked to the most terrible torments of hell and rebirth in the forms of despised animals.

Belief in the dependence of the future life on the present was the main support Indian caste division and the dominion of the priests. The more resolutely the Brahminical clergy placed the dogma of the transmigration of souls at the center of all moral teaching, the more successfully they filled the imagination of the people with terrible pictures. hellish torment, the more honor and influence it acquired. Representatives of the highest caste of the Brahmins are close to the gods; they know the path leading to Brahma; their prayers, sacrifices, holy feats of their asceticism have magical power over the gods, the gods have to fulfill their will; bliss and suffering in the Hereafter depend on them. It is not surprising that with the development of religiosity among the Indians, the power of the Brahmin caste increased, tirelessly praising in their holy teachings respect and generosity to the Brahmins as surest ways to receive bliss, suggesting to the kings that the ruler is obliged to have his advisers and make judges of the Brahmins, is obliged to reward their service with rich content and pious gifts.

So that the lower Indian castes would not envy the privileged position of the Brahmins and would not encroach on it, the doctrine was developed and vigorously preached that the forms of life for all beings were predetermined by Brahma, and that the progress through the degrees of human rebirths is made only by a calm, peaceful life in given to a person position, faithful performance of duties. So, in one of the oldest parts of the Mahabharata it says: “When Brahma created creatures, he gave them their occupations, each caste had a special activity: for the brahmins - the study of the high Vedas, for the warriors - heroism, for the vaishyas - the art of labor, for the shudras - humility before other colors: therefore ignorant brahmins, infamous warriors, unskillful vaisyas and disobedient sudras are reprehensible."

This dogma, which attributed to every caste, every profession, a divine origin, consoled the humiliated and despised in insults and deprivations of their real life hope for an improvement in their fate in a future existence. He gave the Indian caste hierarchy religious consecration. The division of people into four classes, unequal in their rights, was from this point of view an eternal, unchanging law, the violation of which is the most criminal sin. People have no right to overthrow the caste barriers established between them by God himself; they can achieve the improvement of their lot only by patient obedience.

Mutual relations between the Indian castes were clearly characterized by teaching; that Brahma produced Brahmins from his mouth (or the first man Purusha), Kshatriyas - from his hands, Vaishyas - from thighs, Shudras - from feet soiled in mud, therefore the essence of nature among the Brahmins is “holiness and wisdom”, among the Kshatriyas - “power and strength", among the Vaishyas - "wealth and profit", among the Shudras - "service and humility". The doctrine of the origin of castes from different parts the highest being is set forth in one of the hymns of the latest, most recent book of the Rigveda. There are no caste concepts in the older songs of the Rig Veda. The Brahmins give this hymn an ​​extremely importance, and every true believer brahmin reads it every morning, after bathing. This hymn is a diploma by which the Brahmins legitimized their privileges, their dominion.

In this way, indian people was led by his history, his inclinations and customs to the fact that he fell under the yoke of the hierarchy of castes, which turned estates and professions into tribes alien to each other, drowned out all human aspirations, all the inclinations of humanity.

The main characteristics of castes

Each Indian caste has its own characteristics and unique characteristics, rules of existence and behavior.

Brahmins are the highest caste

Brahmins in India are priests and priests in temples. Their position in society has always been considered the highest, even higher than the position of the ruler. At present, representatives of the Brahmin caste are also engaged in the spiritual development of the people: they teach various practices, look after temples, and work as teachers.

Brahmins have a lot of prohibitions:

Men are not allowed to work in the field and engage in any manual labor, but women can do various household chores.

A representative of the priestly caste can only marry his own kind, but as an exception, a marriage to a Brahmin from another community is allowed.

A brahmin cannot eat what a person of another caste has prepared: a brahmin would rather starve than accept forbidden food. But he can feed a representative of absolutely any caste.

Some Brahmins are not allowed to eat meat.

Kshatriyas - warrior caste

Representatives of the kshatriyas have always performed the duties of soldiers, guards and policemen.

At present, nothing has changed - kshatriyas are engaged in military affairs or go to administrative work. They can marry not only in their own caste: a man can marry a girl from a lower caste, but a woman is forbidden to marry a man from a lower caste. Kshatriyas are allowed to eat animal products, but they also avoid forbidden food.

Vaishya

Vaishyas have always been a working class: they were engaged in agriculture, raised cattle, traded.

Now representatives of the Vaishyas are engaged in economic and financial affairs, various trade, banking. Probably, this caste is the most scrupulous in matters related to food intake: vaishyas, like no one else, monitor the correct preparation of food and will never accept defiled dishes.

Sudras are the lowest caste

The Shudra caste has always existed in the role of peasants or even slaves: they were engaged in the dirtiest and hardest work. Even in our time, this social stratum is the poorest and often lives below the poverty line. Shudras can marry even divorced women.

Untouchables

The untouchable caste stands out separately: such people are excluded from all public relations. They do the dirtiest jobs: cleaning the streets and toilets, burning dead animals, dressing the skin.

Amazingly, the representatives of this caste could not even step on the shadows of representatives of the higher classes. And only recently they were allowed to enter temples and approach people of other classes.

Cast Unique Features

Having a brahmin in the neighborhood, you can give him a lot of gifts, but you should not expect a response. Brahmins never give gifts: they accept but do not give.

In terms of land ownership, sudras can be even more influential than vaishyas.

Shudras of the lower stratum practically do not use money: they are paid for their work with food and household items. It is possible to move to a lower caste, but it is impossible to get a higher caste.

Castes and Modernity

Today, Indian castes have become even more structured, with many different sub-groups called jati.

During the last census of representatives of various castes, there were more than 3 thousand jati. True, this census took place more than 80 years ago.

Many foreigners consider the caste system a relic of the past and believe that the caste system no longer works in modern India. In fact, everything is completely different. Even the Indian government could not come to a consensus regarding such a stratification of society. Politicians are actively working on dividing society into layers during elections, adding to their election promises the protection of the rights of a particular caste.

In modern India, more than 20 percent of the population belongs to the untouchable caste: they have to live in their own separate ghettos or outside the settlement. Such people should not go to shops, government and medical institutions, and even use public transport.

There is a completely unique subgroup in the untouchable caste: the attitude of society towards it is rather contradictory. This includes homosexuals, transvestites and eunuchs who make a living by prostitution and begging tourists for coins. But what a paradox: the presence of such a person at a holiday is considered a very good sign.

Another amazing untouchable podcast is a pariah. These are people who are completely expelled from society - marginalized. Previously, it was possible to become a pariah even by touching such a person, but now the situation has changed a little: a pariah becomes either born from an inter-caste marriage or from pariah parents.

Ancient India is one of the first civilizations of the world, which brought to the world culture the largest number of various spiritual values. Ancient India is quite the richest subcontinent with a turbulent and complex history. It was here that the greatest religions were once born, empires appeared and collapsed, but from century to century the “enduring” identity of the Indy culture was preserved. This civilization built large and very well-planned cities with bricks with running water and built a pictographic script, which to this day cannot be deciphered.

India got its name from the name of the Indus River, in the valley of which it is located. "Indus" in the lane. means "river". With a length of 3180 kilometers, the Indus originates in Tibet, flows through the Indo-Gangetic lowland, the Himalayas, flows into the Arabian Sea. Various finds of archaeologists indicate that in Ancient India there was a human society already during the Stone Age, and it was then that the first social relations arose, art was born, permanent settlements appeared, prerequisites arose for the development of one of the ancient world civilizations - the Indian Civilization, which appeared in Northwest India (today almost the entire territory of Pakistan).

It dates back approximately to the XXIII-XVIII centuries BC and is considered the 3rd civilization of the Ancient East in time of appearance. Its development, like the first two in Egypt and Mesopotamia, was directly connected with the organization of high yields of irrigated agriculture. The first archaeological finds of terracotta figurines and pottery date back to the 5th millennium BC, they were made in Mehrgarh. From this it follows that Mehrgarh can already be considered a real city - this is the first city in Ancient India, which we became aware of from the excavations of archaeologists. The primordial deity of the indigenous population of ancient India - the Dravidians, was Shiva. He is one of the 3 main deities of Hinduism - Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva. All 3 gods are considered a manifestation of a single divine essence, but each is assigned a specific “field of activity”.

So, Brahma is considered the creator of the world, Vishnu was his keeper, Shiva was his destroyer, but it is he who recreates it. Shiva among the indigenous people of Ancient India was considered the main god, was considered a model who had achieved his spiritual self-realization, the ruler of the world, the demiurge. The Indus Valley extends to the NW of the subcontinent in the neighborhood of ancient Sumer. Between these civilizations, of course, there were trade relations, and it is quite possible that it was Sumer who had a huge impact on Indian civilization. Throughout Indian history, the northwest has remained the main route for the invasion of new ideas. All other routes to India were so closed by the seas, forests and mountains that, for example, the great ancient Chinese civilization left almost no traces in it.

Formation of slave states.

The development of agriculture and crafts, as well as aggressive wars, led to the appearance of property inequality among the Aryans. The rajas who led the predatory campaigns accumulate a lot of wealth. With the help of warriors, they strengthen their power, make it hereditary. The Rajas and their warriors turn the captives into slaves. From the peasants and artisans they demand the payment of taxes and work for themselves. Rajas are gradually turning into kings of small states. During wars, these small states are united into one, and then the ruler becomes a maharaja (“big king”). Over time, the council of elders loses its significance. From the tribal nobility, military leaders and officials are recruited who are in charge of collecting "taxes, organizing deforestation and draining swamps. Brahmin priests begin to play a significant role in the emerging state apparatus .. They taught that the king is higher than other people, that he is "like the sun , burns eyes and heart and no one on earth can even look at him.

Castes and their role.

In the slave-owning states of India in the first millennium BC. e. The population was divided into four groups, called castes. The first caste consisted of Brahmins. Brahmins did not engage in physical labor and lived on income from sacrifices. The second caste - kshatriyas - was represented by warriors; they also controlled the administration of the state. Power struggles often took place between Brahmins and Kshatriyas. The third caste - vaishyas - included farmers, shepherds and merchants. All the local population conquered by the Aryans made up the fourth caste - the Shudras. Shudras were servants and did the hardest and dirtiest work. Slaves were not included in any caste. The division into castes broke the old tribal unity and opened up the possibility of uniting people who came from different tribes within the same state. Caste was hereditary. The son of a brahmin was born a brahmin, the son of a sudra was born a sudra. To perpetuate castes and caste inequality, the Brahmins created laws. They say that the god Brahma himself established inequality between people. Brahma, according to the priests, created Brahmins from his mouth, warriors from his hands, Vaishyas from his thighs, and Shudras from his feet, which were covered with dust and dirt. Caste division doomed lower castes to hard, humiliating work. It closed the way for capable people to knowledge and state activity. Caste division hindered the development of society; it played a reactionary role.