Questions tagged [shudra]
Questions regarding Shudra, the fourth Varna (social order).
26
questions
6
votes
1answer
182 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
95 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
102 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?
2
votes
1answer
67 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
66 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?
2
votes
1answer
113 views
Who was the first śūdra to be born or appear on Earth?
Who was the first śūdra (or the śūdra-couple) to be born?
Likewise, who was the first brāhmaṇa, the first kṣatriya and vaiśya to be born?
Some might argue, the first śūdra could not have been ...
4
votes
1answer
228 views
Do the Vedas allow Shudras to do undergo Upanayanam or perform Yajnas?
Can Shudras do Upanayanam or perform Yajnas as per Vedas?
4
votes
1answer
163 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, Sûdra 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
9,3873 gold badges18 silver badges81 bronze badges
5
votes
3answers
481 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
votes
2answers
448 views
Can a Sudra attain higher caste according to Manusmriti?
Manusmriti Verse 9.335 says:
शुचिरुत्कृष्टशुश्रूषुर्मृदुवागनहङ्कृतः ।
ब्राह्मणाद्याश्रयो नित्यमुत्कृष्टां जातिमश्नुते ॥ ३३५ ॥
śucirutkṛṣṭaśuśrūṣurmṛduvāganahaṅkṛtaḥ |
...
2
votes
3answers
197 views
Which Manusmṛti verses were written exclusively for vaiśyas and śūdras?
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
613 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
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0answers
27 views
Astrological signs and śūdra-like nature [duplicate]
According to this answer on Quora.com:
In the astrological context, which determines a person’s character, everyone born under the rising signs (lagna) of Gemini, Libra and Aquarius is ...
7
votes
2answers
166 views
According to guṇa-based varṇa system, at what age can one be certified a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, etc?
According to proponents of guṇa-based varṇa system (i.e., those that do not believe you are born into one specific Hindu varṇa), at what age can a person be certified as a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, etc?
...
5
votes
1answer
331 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
9,3873 gold badges18 silver badges81 bronze badges
7
votes
2answers
239 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
9,3873 gold badges18 silver badges81 bronze badges
2
votes
1answer
97 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
871 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
636 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
267 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?
12
votes
6answers
3k 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).
यथेमां वाचं कल्याणीमावदानि जनेभ्यः...
6
votes
2answers
122 views
If my father doesn't study the Veda, does this make me ineligible to learn Vedas?
Manusmriti 2.168
योऽनधीत्य द्विजो वेदमन्यत्र कुरुते श्रमम् ।
स जीवन्नेव शूद्रत्वमाशु गच्छति सान्वयः ॥
The twice-born man, who, not having learnt the Veda, labors over other
things, soon ...
3
votes
0answers
171 views
Which scripture is the source of the verse “kalau śūdra sambhavaḥ”?
"kalau śūdra sambhavaḥ" 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
350 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
450 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 ...
17
votes
4answers
7k views
Which scripture is the source of the verse “janmana jayate shudrah.. ” (everyone is born a shudra)?
Janmanā jāyate śūdraḥ saṁskārad bhaved dvijaḥ
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 ...
