THE FOUR CASTES
In Purusha-Sukta of the Rig-Veda, there is reference to the division of Hindu society into
four classes. It is described there that the Brahmanas came out of the face of the Lord, the Creator,
Kshatriyas from His arms, Vaisyas from His thighs, and the Sudras from His feet.
This division is according to the Guna and Karma. Guna (quality) and Karma (kind of work)
determine the caste of a man. This is supported by Lord Krishna in the Gita, also. He says in the
Gita: “The four castes were emanated by Me, by the different distribution of qualities and actions.
Know Me to be the author of them, though the actionless and inexhaustible” (Ch. IV-13).
There are three qualities or Gunas, viz., Sattva (purity), Rajas (passion) and Tamas (inertia).
Sattva is white, Rajas is red and Tamas is black. These three qualities are found in man in varying
proportions. Sattva preponderates in some persons. They are Brahmanas. They are wise persons or
thinkers. They are the priests, ministers or philosophers who guide kings or rulers. In some, Rajas is
predominant. They are Kshatriyas. They are warriors or men of action. They fight with the enemies
or invaders and defend the country. In some, Tamas is predominant. They are Vaisyas or traders.
They do business and agriculture and amass wealth. Sudras are the servants. None of these qualities
is highly developed in them. They serve the other three castes.
In a broad sense, a Sattvic man, who is pious and virtuous and leads the divine life, is a
Brahmana, a Rajasic man with heroic quality is a Kshatriya, a Rajasic man with business tendencies
is a Vaisya and a Tamasic man is a Sudra. Hitler and Mussolini were Kshatriyas. Ford was a Vaisya.
Serenity, self-restraint, austerity, purity, forgiveness, and also, uprightness, knowledge,
Realisation and belief in God are the duties of the Brahmanas, born of (their own) nature. Prowess,
splendour, firmness, dexterity, and also, not flying from battle, generosity and lordliness are the
duties of the Kshatriyas, born of (their own) nature. Agriculture, cattle-rearing and trade are the
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HINDU DHARMA
duties of the Vaisyas, born of (their own) nature. And action consisting of service is the duty of the
Sudras, born of (their own) nature.
The Law of Spiritual Economics
The underlying principle in caste system or Varna Dharma, is division of labour. Rishis
studied human nature carefully. They came to the conclusion that all men were not equally fit for all
kinds of work. Hence, they found it necessary to allocate different kinds of duties to different
classes of people, according to their aptitude, capacity or quality. The Brahmanas were in charge of
spiritual and intellectual affairs. The work of political administration and defence was given to the
Kshatriyas. The Vaisyas were entrusted with the duty of supplying food for the nation and
administering its economic welfare. The Sudras did menial work. The Rishis felt all these needs of
the Hindu nation and started the system of Varnas and Asramas.
This division of labour began in Vedic times. The Vedas taught that the Brahmana was the
brain of the society, the Kshatriya its arms, the Vaisya its stomach, and the Sudra its feet.
There was a quarrel between the senses, the mind and the Prana as to who was superior.
There was a quarrel amongst the different organs and the stomach. If the hands quarrel with the
stomach; the entire body will suffer. When Prana departed from the body, all the organs suffered.
The head or stomach cannot claim its superiority over the feet and hands. The hands and feet are as
much important as the stomach or head. If there is quarrel between the different castes as to which is
superior, then the entire social fabric will suffer. There will be disharmony, rupture and discord. A
scavenger and a barber are as much important as aminister for the running of the society. The social
edifice is built on the law of spiritual economics. It has nothing to do with superiority or inferiority.
Each class contributes its best to the common weal or world-solidarity. There is no question of
higher and lower here.
Character Determines Caste
A Brahmana is no Brahmana if he is not endowed with purity and good character, and if he
leads a life of dissipation and immorality. A Sudra is a Brahmana if he leads a virtuous and pious
life. What a great soul was Vidura! What a noble, candid, straightforward student was Satyakama
Jabala of Chhandogya Upanishad! Caste is a question of character. Varna is no more the colour of
the skin, but the colour of one’s character or quality. Conduct and character count and not lineage
alone. If one is Brahmana by birth and, at the same time, if he possesses the virtues of a Brahmana, it
is extremely good, because certain virtuous qualifications only determine the birth of a Brahmana.
Use and Abuse of the Caste System
The Hindus have survived many a foreign conquest on account of their caste system. But
they have developed class jealousies and hatred in the name of the caste system. They have not got
the spirit of co-operation. That is the reason why they are weak and disunited today. They have
become sectarians in the name of the caste system. Hence there is degradation in India.
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ALL ABOUT HINDUISM
The caste system is, indeed, a splendid thing. It is quite flawless. But the defect came in
from somewhere else. The classes gradually neglected their duties. The test of ability and character
slowly vanished. Birth became the chief consideration in determining castes. All castes fell from
their ideals and forgot all about their duties. Brahmanas became selfish and claimed superiority
over others by mere birth, without possessing due qualifications. The Kshatriyas lost their chivalry
and spirit of sacrifice. The Vaisyas became very greedy. They did not earn wealth by honest means.
They did not look after the economic welfare of the people. They did not give charity. They also lost
the spirit of sacrifice. Sudras gave up service. They became officers. They wished that others should
serve them. The greed and pride of man have created discord and disharmony.
There is nothing wrong in Varnasrama. It is arrogance and haughtiness in men that have
brought troubles. Man or the little Jiva is imperfect. He is full of defects. He is simply waiting for
claiming superiority over others. The Brahmana thinks that the other three castes are inferior to
him. The Kshatriya thinks that the Vaisya and Sudra are inferior to him. A rich Sudra thinks that he
is superior to a poor Brahmana or a poor Kshatriya or Vaisya.
At the present moment, the Varnasrama system exists in name only. It has to be rebuilt properly. Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras, who have fallen from their ideals and who are not doing their respective duties, must do their respective duties properly. They must be educated on right lines. They must raise themselves to their original lofty level. The sectarian spirit must die. They should develop a new understanding heart of love and devotion, with a spirit of co-operation, sacrifice and service.