Questions tagged [varna]
Use this tag for questions about the role, history, and scriptural references in Hinduism around varna (caste, or social class).
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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 ...
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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...
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Any references where varna/caste is determined independent of birth/parentage?
Is there any incidence or statement in the scriptures which shows that varna/caste was not deduced from birth/parentage, and was deduced only from "qualities independent of parentage"(without ...
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What are the counter-arguments within Hinduism(scriptures) against the Birth based Varna and Caste system?
Even if earlier Varna was not birth based, and later it degenerated into birth base Varna and even later into birth based caste system.
But whether there are counter arguments within Hinduism(esp. ...
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If a Brahmin doesn't perform duties as per his varna, is he still called as brahmin?
Normal duties of Brahmana varna are waking up early morning, learning and chanting Vedas, etc, But if a Brahmin doesn't perform these duties, is he still respected like other brahmins who perform ...
user9554
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Examples of Varna migration in Hindu mythology?
Is migration between Varna really allowed in Hinduism? If yes, please give examples along with reference.
user9788
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What are duties and goals of a Brahmin and how should he behave?
Can anyone say the duties of a Brahmin and how he should behave? What should be his goals?
As said in Bhagavat Gita, One should follow his own duties to attain liberation and so. If with any ...
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Can a Kshatriya man marry Vaishya woman?
I have heard from my friend that Kshatriya man can marry Vaishya woman. Is it true? What do our scriptures say on this?
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What are the order & duties of the children born from intermixing/hybridisation of 4 classes?
There are 4 classes in descending order:
BrAhmaNa
Kshatriya
Vaishya
Shudra
If a man of class X mates with a woman of class X, then definitely the child will inherit the class X.
How the ...
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Is the Rig Veda Purusha Suktam hymn an interpolation?
Is the Rig Veda Purusha Suktam hymn an interpolation?
Western scholars and Indologists think so, especially the part about caste. Here's what wikipedia says on Varna:
This Purusha Sukta varna ...
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Can a Sudra attain higher caste according to Manusmriti?
Manusmriti Verse 9.335 says:
शुचिरुत्कृष्टशुश्रूषुर्मृदुवागनहङ्कृतः ।
ब्राह्मणाद्याश्रयो नित्यमुत्कृष्टां जातिमश्नुते ॥ ३३५ ॥
śucirutkṛṣṭaśuśrūṣurmṛduvāganahaṅkṛtaḥ |
...
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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 ...
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What is the meaning of the term "Svadharma"?
What does the term "Svadharma" mean? What do the scriptures say about the term? Is Varna exclusive of "Svadharma"?
user9969
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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 ...
user9969
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Do Sruti texts mention either or both of birth-based varna and guna-based varna?
Do Sruti texts mention birth-based or guna-based varna?[1].
To elaborate (further), are there any instances in Śruti scriptures which explicitly support either or both of birth-based varna and guna-...
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What were the set of rights, permissions, duties or rules prescribed for Kshatriya caste?
We have 4 major caste in Hinduism, ie Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. Is there any rulebook present in Hinduism (and I am sure there must be) which lays down the rights, permissions, rules and ...
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Which Śruti texts explicitly state that varna is based on birth? [duplicate]
Are there any instances in Śruti scriptures which explicitly support birth-based varna?
Edit:
I'm not looking for interpretations, please only cite those references which exactly say that Varna is ...
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Is it permissible to deny the authority of Manusmriti?
Is it permissible to deny the authority of Manusmriti considering that all the four major schools of Hinduism(Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism and Smarta tradition) only consider Vedas and Upanishads ...
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What do the Vedas say about caste?
What do the Vedas say about caste? For the purpose of this question you can take a broad approach of the definition of caste.
Like if it is called varna in vedas, then I want to know what the vedas ...
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What are the etymologies and literal meanings of the words (kṣatriya, śūdra, etc.) used to indicate one's varṇa?
For brāhmaṇa, there is already a question here: What is the etymology of brahman/brahmin?
For śūdra, Monier Williams says "of doubtful derivation". Apte says:
शूद्रः [शुच्-रक् पृषो˚ चस्य दः दी...
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What was the name of the first Vaishya?
Bhragu, Vashishta etc. seems to be the first Brahmins.
Priyavrata and Uttānapāda seems to be the first Kshatriyas.
Is there any mention about the first Vaisya either in guna based or birth based ...
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Can the lower borns enter varna system?
Ambaṣṭha, Niṣāda, Pārośora, Ugra, Sūta, Māgadha, Vaideha, Āyogava, Kṣattṛ, Caṇḍāla, Āvṛta, Ābhīra, Dhigvaṇa, Pukkasa, Kukkaṭaka, Śvapāka, Veṇa
Manusmriti (10.5) onwards gives names of mixed varna ...
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Do the Vedas allow Shudras to do undergo Upanayanam or perform Yajnas?
Can Shudras do Upanayanam or perform Yajnas as per Vedas?
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Do any scriptures say that Varna is determined by Rashi?
Many people say that Varna is determined by birth, and others say Varna is determined by qualities. But I've seen some websites which claim that Varna is based on Rashi(our birth constellation/star). ...
user9969
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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?
...
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What is the connection between vāstu śāstra and the varṇa system?
I heard that vāstu śāstra is tightly linked to the varṇa (caste) system. E.g., a brāhmaṇa should construct a house on white land, the soil should smell like a lotus, taste very sweet, facing north, ...
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What are the roots of the Caste System in India?
As per what I have read and learnt,
In the Purusha Suktam of the Yajur Veda
the following lines appear:
brAhmano asya mukhamAseet |
bAhoo rAjanya: krta: |
ooru tadasya yad vaishya |
padbhyAm shoodro ...
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Is untouchability discussed in the Vedas?
Untouchability can be of a couple of forms:
one which arises out of temporary impurity (aśauca) e.g., not touching a menstruating woman
a person is untouchable due to the nature of his work e.g., a ...
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According to guṇa-based varṇa system, can a Christian or Muslim be also 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), can a Christian or Muslim be also a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, etc., based ...
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Did demons also have a Varna system?
Is there any reference of a demon or rakshasa having a varna? Was the Varna system followed by Rakshasas?
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Has Siva spoken in favor of the varnashrama system?
What has Siva said about the caste or varna system?
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The Varna system and capitalism
I usually tend to accept most of the teachings of Gita pretty easily. However, I can not easily digest the verse 18.47:
It is better to engage in one's own occupation, even though one may perform ...
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Did Vivekananda consider varṇasaṃkara (intermixture of castes) problematic or instead welcome it?
Arjuna in Bhagavad-gītā thought varṇasaṃkara would wreak havoc on the society:
adharmābhibhavāt kṛṣṇa praduṣyanti kulastriyaḥ
strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇasaṃkaraḥ
saṃkaro narakāyaiva ...
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What is the source of "Vriyate iti Varnaha?"
The author of the blog post What's your Varna quotient? uses a certain definition of varṇa:
The generic definition of the term 'Varna' comes from 'Vriyate Iti Varnaha' implying that one can choose ...
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On what grounds did RAmAnuja wished to accept KAnchipurNa as a guru?
It is known that Kanchipurna was one of the gurus of Ramanuja.
Kanchipurna was a non brahmin and Ramnuja was from a brahmin family.
At another instance, Kanchi Purna refused to accept Ramanuja ...
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What are the ancient & modern career options for a Kshatriya?
What is the prescribed dharma of Kshatriyas as per Hindu Dharma Shastras, is it just to handle weapons and fight in battlefield?
If yes, then what should a modern Kshatriya opt as a carrier option ...
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Is the Varna told by Krishna is same as astrological Varna?
Following statement of Krishna related to Varna
According to the three modes of material nature and the work ascribed to them, the four Varnas of human society were created by Me. And, although I am ...
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Which mantras (in metres other than Gayatri) are prescribed for the Sandhya of Non-Brahmins?
It is said that one must follow the mantra in Gayatri metre of the Upasya (generally main Gayatri), granted by the Guru. There’s a whole list of them in the Taittiriya shakha. There also seems to be a ...
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What are the duties of Dvija-Bandhus?
According to the book "Hindu Dharma" by Sri Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati:
If the Gayatri has not been chanted for three generations in the
family of a Brahmin, its members lose caste (they ...
user9969
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What is Śuka's birth-based varṇa? Is his biological mother literally a parrot or a human named Ghṛtācī or he had no mother at all?
The birth of Vyāsa's son, Śuka, is narrated in the Mahābhārata as follows.
Bhishma said. 'The son of Satyavati having obtained this high boon from the great God, was one day employed in rubbing his ...
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Vedic verses connecting Gunas and Varnas
Are there any verses in the Vedas, CLEARLY connecting Gunas with Varnas?
Let me clarify what I am looking for. I am looking for verses that define;
A particular Guna or a combination of particular ...
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What are the varnas (castes) of Lord Hanuman and Jambavan?
Hanuman was the child of Añjanā and Kesari. Both Anjana and Kesari belonged to the Vanara clan.
Is the Varna System mentioned in our scriptures applicable only to human beings or is it applicable to ...
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Krishna visiting Sudra's home or touching a Sudra
In Mahabharata, Pandavas used to visit Sudra's homes. It can be clarified from the following passage
Vaisampayana said, 'Then all the citizens (of Varanavata) on hearing
that the son of Pandu had ...
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How do I prove casteism is not an inherent part of Hinduism?
I understand Bhagavad gita says varna is by profession and not by birth. But how should I explain it to a non-hindu or an atheist who is too ignorant to read hindu books and argues that casteism is an ...
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Did Lord Vishnu speak in support of birth-based or conduct-based varna?
Are there any instances of Lord Vishnu or any of his avatars speaking in favour of either conduct-based or birth-based varna?
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Do corrupt women also produce Varna-Sankara?
Gita 1:40 (Arjun says)
From the predominance of sin , O Krishna, women become corrupt , and then O descendant of Vrishni, cross-breeds are born.
Above verse of Gita indicates that when women become ...
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Is mleccha entirely different from Hindu classification?
According to the varna system, there are four varnas of human
1) Brahman
2) Kshetriya
3) Vaisya
4) Sudra
A person if does not fall under any one of the four is Candala
Then is mleccha ...
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Which varnas do they belong to?
People who follow Hinduism are classified based on varnas. If someone didn't follow Hinduism, how are their varnas determined ? If not, do they belong to any new category?
Consider a white man, what ...
user16873
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What is the varna of a Kayastha?
Kayasthas are said to be descendants of Chitragupta, the deity responsible for recording sins or merits of every living being. Kayasthas are usually referred as the scribe class. Their varna however ...
user9969
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Can a brahmin do job?
Are there any instances in our itihas shastras where brahmin did work out of what is precribed in scriptures(i.e teaching)?
E.G Dronacharya and kripacharya fought for kauravas!
do a brahmin incur sin ...
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