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Varn
See also    Braahman

Q. Define who is a Braahman, who is a Kshatriya, a Vaishya and a Shoodra.
As per Bhagavad-Geetaa ----

18:41 - Pursuits of Braahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shoodra are prescribed in accordance with their own basic nature. Each of us has certain inherent talents and interests, which make us naturally suited to fulfill certain roles. The classification of individuals into four groups: Braahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shoodra, is based on their basic aptitudes. This doesn't mean they totally lack other attributes.

18:42 - Serenity, self-discipline, austerity, honesty, purity, forgiveness, knowledge, wisdom, and faith in the Almighty are the basic traits of Braahman. Any individual with natural aptitude for learning, analyzing, researching, teaching, and probing into nature's mysteries is called a Braahman.

18:43 - Valor, majesty, firmness, skill, courage, Valor, majesty, firmness, skill, courage, generosity, and lordly disposition are the basic traits of Kshatriya. Anyone with natural aptitude for warfare, governance, politics, administration, and management is called a Kshatriya.

18: 44 - Farming, raising cattle, and trade are the natural activities of Vaishya as per their nature. Any individual with natural aptitude for managing money, trading, farming, and skilled labor is called a Vaishya. Serving others is the basic trait of Shoodra.

Anyone with natural aptitude for service and physical work is called a Shoodra.

We are defined by our innate talents and interests; later on, our nurturing environment and mentors shape us.
Who we are has little to do with who we are born to, because every child is an experiment in life.
Medieval societies of India misunderstood the system of classification of individuals based on natural aptitudes and cast a rigid social structure where one's birth determined what profession one was allowed to take up.
Some were even excluded from this misguided social setup and labeled as outcastes.

Q: Secondly - how did the caste system originate?
As per Bhagvad Geetaa: 4:13
I have brought forth the four basic traits, a classification based on Gun and Karm. Basic traits refer to the inherent aptitudes of a person. The four basic traits of humans are explained in 18:41-44 (pages 263-264).
Gun refers to the inherent qualities of a person and Karm refers to work, which is attuned to Gun. Although I am their cause, I am unchanged and beyond all action. It is like a catalyst that causes change but itself remains unaffected.

Q: Geetaa is considered as Gospel Truth. How did a reference to caste system creep into Geetaa.
Geetaa is the BEST of Books out there, yes that is the nest truth we have. Caste system is because of total misunderstanding of Varn by our ancestors. They messed it up and preserved it because of tradition than truth. Every child has one or the other Varn (choices it makes based on inherent aptitudes and attitudes). Geetaa was wasted on our folks. In fact, Krishn says in the Geetaa that the message He taught earlier on was LOST in due course. I think it got lost again pretty soon after He taught!

4:1 - I taught this eternal Yog to Vivaswat. Vivaswat taught it to Manu and Manu taught it to Ikshwaaku. Vivaswat is the Sun; Manu and Ikshwaaku are his descendents, and patriarchs of the famous solar dynasty.

4:2 - Thus handed down in regular succession, the Raajarshi knew this. A Raajarshi is one who is both a king and a sage. But over the long course of time this Yog seems to be lost in the world. Over the time, the eternal Yog gets cluttered by tradition and complicated by excessive scholarship; thus, it is practically lost.

 

 

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Created by Sushma Gupta on 8/9/09
Contact: sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on 04/10/12