Questions tagged [shudra]
Questions regarding Shudra, the fourth Varna (social order).
35
questions
3
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1answer
103 views
Do any authentic scriptures other than Valmiki Ramayan talk about Shambuka's story (from Uttara Kanda)? [duplicate]
According to the Ramayana, Shambuka, a Shudra ascetic, was slain by Rama for attempting to perform penance. This act of Shambuka was perceived by Rama as the act in violation of dharma as he believed ...
1
vote
1answer
51 views
Performing Puja/Havan for Shudras
In this answer it states that Brahmins should not perform vedic rituals for Shudras.
Question is: does this mean most of the brahmins who are in temple or in priest role are breaking the rules by ...
2
votes
0answers
67 views
Shudra learning and chanting Vedas
Does below say Shudras can learn Vedas?
YathA imAm vAcham kalyAnim AvadAni janebhyah (1)
BrahmarAjanyAbhyAm sudrAya cha AryAya cha (2)
SwAya cha aranAya cha (3)
Meaning
May i speak the sacred word ...
3
votes
0answers
125 views
What should a Shudra do in order to eligible to read Vedas?
Context: I found out after a lot of research that my ancestors were either Kshatriya or there is some sort of story that they were sprung up from Lord Shiva. But neither my family from atleast 3 gens ...
1
vote
1answer
138 views
Do scriptures mention anyone who is Pratiloma or Shudra born having successfully read and recited Vedas?
To be clear, please don't conflate reading and reciting the Vedas to having understood the Vedas.
I didn't come across anywhere in KMG Mahabharata where Karna is said to have read/recited vedas. At ...
4
votes
1answer
236 views
Does scripture uniformly agree with this citation from Parashara smriti?
Parashara Smriti 8.25 says:
25. Even a Brahmin of a bad character deserves respect;
but not so a Shudra, even though his passions may
have been subdued by him. Who would quit a wicked cow,
...
2
votes
1answer
184 views
Is there any vedic statement which deny entry of Shudra in temple?
As per Parashara smirti, Shudras were considered less pure to perform some auspicious activities.
Is there any vedic statement which supports this claim?
3
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2answers
1k views
How come Shankaracharya and some Sri Vaishnava Acharyas prohibit women and shudras from reciting the Vishnu Sahasranama?
The Vadakalai sect of Sri Vaishnavism says that women and shudras are not allowed to recite the Vishnusahasranama, but can only hear it. In fact, Iyers before the past 50 years also prohibited women ...
4
votes
1answer
205 views
Why did Ekalavya become Lord Krishna's arch rival? Was he punished because he was a Shudra?
While debating on Quora on how the Bhagavad Gita does not advocate the present day birth-based casteism, a user pointed out that,
From Vishnu Parva, Chapter 84, it seems that Krishna with his ...
6
votes
1answer
293 views
Is there any commentary of Brahma Sutras 1/3/38-39 that does not recommend physical torture of the sudras?
In their commentaries to Brahma-Sutra 1/3/38-9, Acharya Shankara and Acharya Ramanuja BOTH quote slokas from the Smriti-s that prescribe pouring molten lead into the ears of a Shudra if he ...
3
votes
1answer
116 views
What is the basis for Vaishampayana's claim that the Saraswati became invisible because of her contempt for Sudras and Abhiras?
As mentioned in the Mahabharata:
Vaishampayana said, "Then Valadeva, O king, proceeded to Vinasana where the Sarasvati hath become invisible in consequence of her contempt for Sudras and Abhiras. ...
0
votes
1answer
159 views
Are Shudras and women more fortunate than Brahmanas according to the Vishnu Purana?
Are Shudras and women more fortunate than Brahmanas according to the Vishnu Purana? Or is it better to be a Brahmana?
3
votes
1answer
139 views
Who was the earliest Sudra king?
Was it the Rig Vedic king Sudas? He is said to have fought in the battle of ten kings.
3
votes
1answer
85 views
Why is it ordained that Shudras should serve the Dvijas, and especially Brahmanas, as their foremost duty?
Why is it ordained that Shudras must serve the Dvijas, and especially Brahmanas, as their foremost duty?
Does this oppress Shudras or is it actually beneficial for them to serve the twice-born?
4
votes
1answer
181 views
Who was the first ÅuĢdra to be born or appear on Earth?
Who was the first ÅuĢdra (or the ÅuĢdra-couple) to be born?
Likewise, who was the first brÄhmaį¹a, the first kį¹£atriya and vaiÅya to be born?
Some might argue, the first ÅuĢdra could not have been ...
4
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1answer
442 views
Do the Vedas allow Shudras to do undergo Upanayanam or perform Yajnas?
Can Shudras do Upanayanam or perform Yajnas as per Vedas?
4
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2answers
426 views
How have traditional Vedic commentators interpreted Shukla Yajurveda 26.2?
Shukla Yajurveda 26.2 states:
That I to all the people may address this salutary speech,
To priest and nobleman, Sƻdra and Arya, to one of our own
kin and to the stranger.
Dear may I be to ...
asked Dec 20 '18 at 16:10
Surya Kanta Bose Chowdhury
16.2k5 gold badges27 silver badges116 bronze badges
5
votes
3answers
848 views
Can't Shudras read the Bhagavad Gita?
It is well known that Vedanta Sutras prohibit Shudras from Jnana by saying Smritis prohibit them from having Upanayana. But Bhagavad Gita is a book which contains Vedantic statements. As Vedanta ...
9
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2answers
789 views
Can a Sudra attain higher caste according to Manusmriti?
Manusmriti Verse 9.335 says:
ą¤¶ą„ą¤ą¤æą¤°ą„ą¤¤ą„ą¤ą„ą¤·ą„ą¤ą¤¶ą„ą¤¶ą„ą¤°ą„ą¤·ą„ą¤°ą„ą¤®ą„ą¤¦ą„ą¤µą¤¾ą¤ą¤Øą¤¹ą¤ą„ą¤ą„ą¤¤ą¤ ą„¤
ą¤¬ą„ą¤°ą¤¾ą¤¹ą„ą¤®ą¤£ą¤¾ą¤¦ą„ą¤Æą¤¾ą¤¶ą„ą¤°ą¤Æą„ ą¤Øą¤æą¤¤ą„ą¤Æą¤®ą„ą¤¤ą„ą¤ą„ą¤·ą„ą¤ą¤¾ą¤ ą¤ą¤¾ą¤¤ą¤æą¤®ą¤¶ą„ą¤Øą„ą¤¤ą„ ą„„ ą„©ą„©ą„« ą„„
Åucirutkį¹į¹£į¹aÅuÅrÅ«į¹£urmį¹duvÄganahaį¹
kį¹taįø„ |
...
2
votes
3answers
267 views
Which Manusmį¹ti verses were written exclusively for vaiÅyas and ÅÅ«dras?
In his column What exactly is the Manusmriti?, Devdutt Pattanaik makes the following claim.
Of the nearly 2,500 verses, more than a thousand are for brahmins, more than a thousand for kings, ...
3
votes
2answers
925 views
Does Manusmriti go against Vedas?
Doesn't barring Sudras(who form feet of Purusha) from studying Vedas and making them non-Vedic handicap the Purusha?
2
votes
0answers
28 views
Astrological signs and ÅuĢdra-like nature [duplicate]
According to this answer on Quora.com:
In the astrological context, which determines a personās character, everyone born under the rising signs (lagna) of Gemini, Libra and Aquarius is ...
7
votes
2answers
210 views
According to gunĢ£a-based varnĢ£a system, at what age can one be certified a brÄhmaį¹a, kį¹£atriya, etc?
According to proponents of gunĢ£a-based varnĢ£a system (i.e., those that do not believe you are born into one specific Hindu varnĢ£a), at what age can a person be certified as a brÄhmaį¹a, kį¹£atriya, etc?
...
4
votes
1answer
439 views
Do Vedanta Sutras contradict Vedas on whether mantras can be heard by Shudras?
Shukla Yajurveda 26.2 states:
May I speak the sacred word to the masses of the people (janebhya) (1) to the Brahmana, Kshatriya, to the Shudra and the Arya (2) and to our own men and the strangers (...
asked Feb 9 '18 at 16:45
Surya Kanta Bose Chowdhury
16.2k5 gold badges27 silver badges116 bronze badges
7
votes
2answers
308 views
How do Neo-Vedantists intepret Vedanta Sutras 1.3.38?
Neo-Vedantists as we know, believe people of all varnas are eligible to study the Vedas. Notable examples of such people include the great Swami Vivekananda. However, Vedanta declares that Shudras are ...
asked Feb 9 '18 at 13:43
Surya Kanta Bose Chowdhury
16.2k5 gold badges27 silver badges116 bronze badges
4
votes
1answer
165 views
How can subhuman treatment of a person be justified because he was “born” in a particular varna?
I was very shocked to read recently that venerated gurus of vedanta like Adi Shankara and Ramanuja said shudras (and women) have no right to study vedas when infact vedas clearly don't say so . Quite ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
What is the meaning/definition of the word Shudra?
I would like to know the meaning/definition of the word Shudra?
Some 3-4 years back, in a commentary of an Upanishad I found someone explaining the word Shudra to mean the one who is always in grief (...
4
votes
2answers
782 views
Are shudras allowed to wander near sacrifices?
This question is asked by the curiosity created by my previous question.
Are shudras allowed to wander near sacrifices?
Are they allowed to put a sight on a sacrifice?
Are they allowed to touch ...
2
votes
0answers
329 views
What was the traditional justification for why Chandalas were not allowed in temples?
Traditionally, Chandalas and I believe even Sudras were not allowed in temples.
What was the justification for this and is it based on scriptures?
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6answers
4k views
Why can't sudras read vedas according to smritis?
It is a common belief that sudras can"t learn vedas from Hindu scriptures but according to vedas itself a shudra can learn vedas-
Sukla Yajurveda (XXVI. 2).
ą¤Æą¤„ą„ą¤®ą¤¾ą¤ ą¤µą¤¾ą¤ą¤ ą¤ą¤²ą„ą¤Æą¤¾ą¤£ą„ą¤®ą¤¾ą¤µą¤¦ą¤¾ą¤Øą¤æ ą¤ą¤Øą„ą¤ą„ą¤Æą¤...
6
votes
2answers
149 views
If my father doesn't study the Veda, does this make me ineligible to learn Vedas?
Manusmriti 2.168
ą¤Æą„ą¤½ą¤Øą¤§ą„ą¤¤ą„ą¤Æ ą¤¦ą„ą¤µą¤æą¤ą„ ą¤µą„ą¤¦ą¤®ą¤Øą„ą¤Æą¤¤ą„ą¤° ą¤ą„ą¤°ą„ą¤¤ą„ ą¤¶ą„ą¤°ą¤®ą¤®ą„ ą„¤
ą¤ø ą¤ą„ą¤µą¤Øą„ą¤Øą„ą¤µ ą¤¶ą„ą¤¦ą„ą¤°ą¤¤ą„ą¤µą¤®ą¤¾ą¤¶ą„ ą¤ą¤ą„ą¤ą¤¤ą¤æ ą¤øą¤¾ą¤Øą„ą¤µą¤Æą¤ ą„„
The twice-born man, who, not having learnt the Veda, labors over other
things, soon ...
3
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0answers
256 views
Which scripture is the source of the verse “kalau ÅÅ«dra sambhavaįø„”?
"kalau ÅÅ«dra sambhavaįø„" means all humans are Shudras in Kali Yuga. Which scriptures are the source of this verse? Is this found in Bhagavata Purana?
3
votes
1answer
604 views
Duty of a Shudra
Duty of a Shudra is not giving alms to Brahmins, as they are prohibited from having wealth.
Mahabharata Santi Parva chapter 59:
A Sudra should never amass wealth, lest, by his wealth, he makes the
...
6
votes
2answers
597 views
Are shudras allowed to take up sanyasa?
Vedantins consider Sanyasa the path of liberation and most of their acharyas have taken up sanyasa in order to attain jnana.
If so then are shudras also allowed to take up sanyasa for the pursuit of ...
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4answers
13k views
Which scripture is the source of the verse “janmana jayate shudrah.. ” (everyone is born a shudra)?
JanmanÄ jÄyate ÅÅ«draįø„ saį¹skÄrad bhaved dvijaįø„
This is the verse in question which means:
Everyone is born a shudra and by samskara one upgrades to dvija status.
Is it the Bhagavata Purana that ...
