Is the caste system part of Hinduism or India's old culture?

Question

I was just wondering. I mean if it's able to stand until now, it must be some part of the religion. Pls reply if you really know. would like to see some proof too. no offence. Just for informative reasons.

Answer 1

Hinduism scriptures (veda, upanishadas & Gita) do not talk about Caste System

It was Manu smiriti which first told - men would be divided into four types The priests, warriors, businessmen and workers.

And this division of labour is alll over the world in all coutnries and religions

The caste system became a social evil when people started linking caste with birth

hinduism is so old, and such misunderstanding is forgiveable, as there is no central authority (like vatican) to clear doubts of people.

Caste as per birth is against Manu-smirity..

Answer 2

The caste system (as in the four varna's) is part of Brahmin theology. Their theologians have defended the idea of Brahmins since at least the beginning of the Christian era, but probably a lot earlier. It is not realistic to equate Brahminism with Hinduism, though the latter has certainly been influenced by the former (and vice versa).

The caste system as a social reality in India, Pakistan and Nepal is only loosely related to the four varna's. It is more like an elaborate system of family relations where marriage especially is coordinated according to what group one was born into.

It is absolutely correct that one of the answers points to politics as an important issue for India today. Though the caste-system as such is illegal, in practice it is continued because 'backward castes' and 'casteless' people have special rights based on the low social status of their groups as a whole. While this positive discrimination has positive aspects, it also strengthens the barriers between the castes. It also changes the caste system from merely a social reality (though a strong one) into a political issue.

It follows that what are called 'castes' today aren't the same as what were called castes in the code of Manu.

Answer 3

Caste system was a part of the Indian culture but unlike afterwards,it was very liberal and unrigid…everyone could change their castes,they were what they wanted to be
Actually it was a part NOT of Hinduism but of Indian CULTURE
we call it a part of hinduism coz then only hinduism prevailed....but to tell u the truth it was a part of the living and organisation of the ancient people
Hinduism had always been very free…haven’t u seen the Vedas?
It was after the coming of the mughals,the women disempowerment, and the hold of the religion(which had taken place due to the coming of the mughals) which led to the rigid casteism
It was then that the culture became very rigid and the common ppl began to suffer
I know it coz I read n learnt all this by heart a few years back when I was in a smaller grade(I’m in high school now),but I can say that my knowledge is absolutely right and correct, I have a few other sources too

Answer 4

You could have rephraced your question as "Is caste system part of Indian Political system?

The Bharatha varsha, the ancient Indian nation as a whole was occupied by hindus. It was a social convenience to have division of labour into important four types. 1 the teachers
2, the warriors 3, the traders 4, the workers..called as brahmins , kshthriya, vaishya and shudra respectively.
The original intent was not mixed with the right to worship or perform rituals. Gradually brahmins being vedic schollers started maintaining temples and poojas. This was socially accepted and a social order.

Subsequent interventions of power and partial interpretations put shudras the workers as a lower class Hindus. This phenomina was man made and religion was in no way responsible for this.

It should be noticed that a number of voluntary organisations formed by upper caste hindus raised slogans and fought against this social disgrace and succeeded equal entry rights into temples. To day the class difference has been brought under control by government and law. Responsible citizen are
serving for the betterment of the downtrodden.

But still the caste devide is kept alive by the political parties for gaining cheap popularity. Constitution provides equal opportunity for every one. Governments over a period of time have taken efforts to mitigate this gap. There is no meaning in harping upon it repeatedly. If anyone does it should be doing so, only for their selfish reason. No Hindu Religious Guru opposes reforms. But undue advantages are taken by the political parties only and they keep the fire still burning.

The day is not far away when this burning fire will turn into a beakon light and render a flawless Indian society.

Answer 5

Hinduism is not a religion. It is a culture, custom, tradition, rite and ritual. It divided humanity in 4 categories (varnas) and thousands of castes therein; and others are Untouchables, worst and dirtiest than animals. A Hindu always belongs to his caste. No Hindu can be without a caste. Castes system still continues and will defintely continue always, eradication is impossible. It is not the old culture which can be vanished, it is the present & future culture also. Castes are quite unchangeable. Every student (school, college, university) and every Govt. job seeker has to mention his caste in the application form or else it will be rejected. Marriages are always performed in the same caste & sub-caste of Hindus. Castes Certificates are issued by the Govt. departments & officials.

ALL THE INDIAN CENTRAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS' RULES, LAWS, ACTS, notifications, orders, directions, clarifications, explanations and ALL THE SUPREME COURT'S & HIGH COURTS' JUDGEMENTS ::: ALWAYS CONFIRMED THAT HINDUS' CASTES CAN NEVER BE CHANGED.
If possible, one from higher caste would have changed to some lower caste to avail of the government aids, benefits, subsidies, free house & house sites, free lands, interest free loans, free education, free hostels and other facilities given to lower caste people by the Government..

Answer 6

The caste system is strictly not a part of of the so called Hinduism, which is actually "Sanatana Dharma". The Rig Veda (10th mandala) says that the varnas, which has got absolutely nothing to do with caste, is decided depending upon one's qualities, or the Thriigunas, viz Sathwa, Rajas and Thamas. So, even a brahmin's child can be a sudra, or vice versa.
This, can clearly be understood, seeing the Indian History, where, a Sudra, Chandra Gupta, is raised to be a king by Kautilya a.k.a Chanakya.

Answer 7

No. The caste system is a perverted reflection of the original system of physio-psychological distinction of humanity into the natural divisions of the four varnas, which were later misinterpreted by some to be heriditary castes.

The One Supreme Godhead says in the Bhagavad-gita: chatur-varnyam maya srishtam guna-karma-vibhagashah (4.13): "I have created the four varnas on the basis of their qualities and activities."

Later on, He enlists the qualities/activities of the brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras in 18.41-44. There is NO talk about birth being a consideration.

And in the Bhagavata-purana, the cream of all Vedic shastras, 7th Skandha, 11th Adhyaya sets for the qualities and activities of the four varnas. The final verse (verse 35)clearly declares:

yasya yal lakshanam proktam pumso varnabhivyanjakam | yad anyatrapi drishyeta tat tenaiva vinirdishet ||

"If one shows the symptoms of being a brahmanas, kshatriya, vaishya or shudra, as described above, even if he is born in a different class, he should be accepted according to those symptoms of classification."

There are similar statements in other Vedic scriptures too. For an exhaustive and powerful analysis of this issue of whether the Vedic varnic classification is the same as the birth-based caste system, see the book "Brahmana and Vaishnava" by Shri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.

Answer 8

hello man i am not genius though i know it . caste system wasn't part of hindu culture or religion . It is such an old ancient beautiful religion many civilizations went under and made these caste system horrible and mandatory as part of hindu ,

but it is not all made by hindu religion and it was not even made by brahmins but it wwas made by set of influential people.

caste was actually occupation . In olden times every son used to takeover the same job of father since how they formed a desgination or caste and it went on for years .

i am brahmin boy , in brahminism actually it is there that any non brahmin gal can easily marry a brahmin boy and once she gets married she becomes brahmin too . But due ot people ignorance they dont have idea about it .

In fact the actual matter was the person who does wahtever job he then belongs to taht caste.

in olden times we had job occupation according to income and importance of work hence they made a caste or category and put all them into each category and later it became a caste and horriblestuffs in today's life
.
For example ,if a father is pujari and he is brahmin son has to become pujari to stay as brahmin . but if he joins to army he bcomes no more brahmin heis now kashtriya . this is how it was .But since it is old relgion and world's first religion as it started since human life started no record is ever been there where other religions records are there . it is much before that hinduism came . But in those 1000's of years many civiliaztions many rulers many kingdoms really changed it's meaning of soceity and made it part of hindu religion .

so caste system wasn't part of hindu nor it is part o f hindu religion nor it is culture
.

Answer 9

Todays caste system has come out of ignorance, arrogance.

We are Hindustanis there is nothing like Hinduism.

We belong to Vedic Culture.

What is todays caste system is actually Varnashrama dharma - classification based on action in the Vedic culture.

Absolute truth is Head is Brahmin
Shoulder is Kshatriya
Thighs are Vyshya
Feet are Shudra.

All four are within us.

Answer 10

The ancient seers classified the natural instincts of people into 4 groups, which are better known as the varnas, and as described by prabhakar all 4 are within us.
Each of us assumes a varna according to the instinct that is most pronounced in us.
If one has inclination for supreme knowledge and aspires for salvation one is a Brahmin.
If one has the tendency of a warrior to vanquish all vices then one is a kshatriya.
If one has an inclination for trading the virtues for virtues and vices for vices, one is a Vaishya.
And one who slogs hard to serve all the above three and achieve life's fulfillment is a shudra.
No varna or caste is good or bad, but each serve a unique purpose in the play of existence.