How did the creation of the four classes (varnavyastha) occur ?( Part -1)Dear friends, Many hindus feel that the jati vyavastha(caste system ) and varnavyastha are the same . But this is not the truth. In this series of posting we will see the spiritual dimension of varnavyastha and its importance. As I had mentioned earlier that the foundation stone of Indian culture was the varnashramvyavastha and we have seen the various aspects of ashramvyavastha in earlier postings.
So in this series of posting we will know about the varnavyastha. I need not to mention that the jati vyastha that is prevalent today is totally different from the varnvyashta which was prevalent in ancient times.
Lord Shrikrushna has said (Shrimadbhagvadgita 4:13) ‘चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्ट्यं गुणकर्मविभागश: ।’. This means, ‘I have created the four classes (varna) according to components (gun) and actions (karma)’ .
Qualities are more important than the birth
यस्य यल्लक्षणं प्रोक्तं पुंसो वर्णाभिव्यंजकम् ।
यदन्यत्रापि दृश्येत तत्तेनैव विनिर्दिशेत् ।। - श्रीमद्भागवत ७.२१.३५
Meaning: An individual should be classified in a particular class (varna) irrespective of his birth if he possesses the decisive characteristic of that class. One’s class should be decided considering the holistic picture of the qualities of the class of the person and those of the other classes. - Shrimadbhagvat 7.21.35
Its mentioned very clearly in our scriptures that ‘janmen shudra’ and our karma make us Brahmin, kshtriya or vaishya .To progress at a faster pace in spirituality we need to do spiritual practice as per all the varnas . Even Purnavtar Bhagwan Shri Krushna performed the actions as per all the varnas so we need to understand the varnavyastha to progress spiritually . We all must remember that the two great seers of vedic dharma whom we consider as Maharushis (Valmiki and Ved Vyas) were by shudras birth. The caste system prevalent today is a curse on Indian society and to eradicate it we need to understand the varnavyavastha . Our Indian society gave prestigious postion to the people as per their capabilities, merits and karmas . The reservation policies prevalent in many public sectors and in many institutions today is the outcome of vested interest of some selfish politicians and to remove them and give importance to merit we need to understand the dharma and its philosophies.
1. The three components, four aspects of Righteousness and the yugs (eras)
A. The period preceding the Satyayug: During those days there was only one class - the Hansa class, the four classes did not exist then. Hansa also means the soul. All the people from that period were engrossed in the spiritual experience of Self-realisation. They were not even aware of the state of Self-realisation. Even if they did descend from the nirvikalpa superconscious state (samadhi) they would descend at the most to the state where they harboured the spiritual emotion that ‘He (God) is I (so’ham)’.
B. The Satyayug (Krutyug):
• Origin: As society regressed from the spiritual emotion of ‘He is I (so’ham)’ to ‘I am distinct from Brahman (aham)’ the yugs commenced and began changing.
• Features: Even in the Satyayug there was only the Hansa class; but often they were aware of their state of supra consciousness. God has preached Righteousness of two types - materialistic and spiritual. Every being who was spiritually inclined was aware that ‘I am not this body, I am the soul’. All who followed the path of Spirituality (nivruttimarg) were in a state of Self-realisation, that is had lost the spiritual emotion that ‘He is I’. In other words their ignorance as well as spiritual knowledge was totally destroyed. God established a link between the two righteous factions by entrusting the responsibility of providing for those following the path of Spirituality to those following materialism (pravruttimarg). So long as this link was not broken, man was happy. The circumstances prevailing during that period were as described below.
During this yug since all were sattvik (sattva predominant) in nature they behaved righteously. Consequently there was absolutely no need for a code of punishment (an administrative system).
न वै राज्यं न राजासीत् न दण्डो न च दण्डिक: ।
धर्मेणैव प्रजा: सर्वा: रक्षन्ति स्म परस्परम् ।।
Meaning: In an ideal state there were no criminals so there were also no rulers to punish them. Since there was no king, there was no state. Each one would follow the code of Righteousness and protect the other.
• Spiritual practice: Righteousness in the Satyayug consisted of the four aspects of 1. Spiritual knowledge (spiritual practice of the Brahman class), 2. Penance (spiritual practice of the Kshatriya class), 3. Offering (spiritual practice of the Vaishya class) and 4. Truthfulness (spiritual practice of the Shudra class). When these four aspects of Righteousness remain secure, that is they are followed by the society, the Satyayug reigns in its full glory. At that time the evolved and sattvik (sattva predominant) intellect necessary for acquisition of spiritual knowledge was present along with the potential to perform austerities and the attitude of donating generously. Besides all were truthful. All the people in the Satyayug had knowledge of the Absolute Truth (soul principle), were righteous, prudent and sattvik. That is why each one’s existence proved conducive for the other. No one was exploited. Thus it is automatically proved that only if everyone remains righteous then harmonious living is assured.
To be continued …..
By: Tanuja Thakur
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