Possible origin of Brahminism (currently more widely known as Hinduism) It seems obvious that prime motivation behind creation of Brahminism was creation of a graded hierarchical society, with Brahmins (the creators of that religion) at the top. It probably was not brought in by the very first wave of Aryans that either migrated or invaded India from northwest. I say this because at least about 30% of Punjabi population happens to be untouchable, and they dont look very different from the touchable ones. Aryans (light skinned people from Persia, Central Asia and parts of Middle East) were already here when some wise guys from among them decided to propagate the idea that they were born from the forehead of Brahma, with others from lower parts. Naturally, they called themselves Brahman. This thesis, along with collection of various chants and rituals benefiting the Brahmans (in the form of sacrificial offerings) are what constitute Vedas and major parts of the oldest scriptures. The above hypothesis is also supported by the fact that statistically speaking, Brahmins (and Kshatriyas) in most part of India happen to be lighter and more Caucasoid than rest of the population in those regions. It is also supported by Al Berunis accounts about caste system in India. He is supposed to have toured India around 1030. The following are excerpt (in Italic) from Al Berunis travelogue. It seems that in Iran some king by the name of Ardashir ben Babak had brought back caste-like structure for ease of ruling them (or controlling them). The travelogue has no mention about when Ardashir ben Babak restored the Percian empire, and the classes and castes of population, and since when the Percian population had been subjected to classes & caste divisions. It would be great if one of the scholars among us digs deeper and finds out history of class/caste division in Iran, which apparently they are free of presently under their more equalitarian Islamic tradition. Any way, here is the excerpt from Al Berunis travelogue [Al-Biruni, India, Abridged Edition of Dr. Edward C. Sachaus English Translation, edited, With Introduction and Notes by Qeyamuddin Ahmad, National Book Trust, India, 1983. pp 45-48. Al Biruni was born in 973 A.D. in the territory of Khwarism of Persia. He probably toured India around 1030.]: Chapter IX: On the Castes, Called Colors (Varna), And On The Classes Below Them Throne and alter .. The kings of antiquity, who were industriously devoted to the duties of their office, spent most of their care on the division of their subjects into different classes and orders, which they tried to preserve from intermixture and disorder. Therefore they forbade people of different classes to have intercourse with each other, and laid upon each class a particular kind of work or art and handicraft. They did not allow anybody to transgress the limits of his class, and even punished those who would not be content with their class. Castes and ancient Percians All this is well illustrated by the history of Chosroes (Khusrau), for they had created great institutions of this kind, which could not be broken through by the special merits of any individual nor by bribery. When Ardashir ben Babak restored the Percian empire, he also restored the classes and castes of population in the following way:-- The first class were the kings and princes. The second class the monks, the fire-priests and princes. The third class the physicians, astronomers, and other men of science. The fourth class the husbandmen and artisans. Within these classes were subdivisions, distinct from each other, like species within genus. All institutions of this kind are like pedigree, as long as their origin is remembered; but when once their origin is forgotten, they become as it were, the stable property of the whole nation, nobody anymore questioning its origin. And forgetting is the necessary result of any long period of time, of a long succession of centuries and generations. Among the Hindus institutions of this kind abound. We Muslims, of course, stand entirely on the other side of the question, considering all men as equals, except in piety; and this is the greatest obstacle which prevents any approach or understanding between Hindus and Muslims. The four castes The Hindus call their castes varna, i.e., colour, and from genealogical point of views they call them jataka, i.e., births. These castes are from the very beginning only four. I. The highest castes are Brahmanas, of whom the books of Hindus tell that they were created from the head of Brahman. And since Brahman is only another name for the force called nature, and the head is the highest part of the animal body, the Brahmana are the choice part of the whole genus. Therefore the Hindus consider them as the very best of the mankind. II. The next caste is Kshatriya, who were created, as they say, from the shoulders and hands of Brahman. Their degree is not much below that of Brahmana. III. After them follow the Vaishya, who were created from the thigh of Brahman. IV. The Sudra, who were created from the feet. Between the latter two classes there is not very great distance. Much, however, as these classes differ from each other, they live together in the same towns and villages, mixed together in the same houses and lodgings. Low-caste people After the Sudra follow the people called Antyaj, who render various kind of services, who are not reckoned among amongst any caste, but only as members of certain craft or profession. There are classes of them, who freely intermarry with each other, except fuller, shoemaker, and weaver, for no others would condescend to have anything to do with them. These eight guilds are fuller, shoemaker, juggler, the basket and shield maker, the sailor, fishermen, the hunter of wild animals and birds, and the weaver. The people called Hadi, Doma (Domba), Candala, and Badhatau (sic) are not reckoned among any castes or guilds. They are occupied with dirty work, like cleansing the villages and other services. They are considered as one sole class, and distinguished only by their occupations. In fact, they are considered like illegitimate children; for according to general opinion they descend from a Sudra father and a Brahmani mother as the children of fornication; therefore they are degraded outcastes. Different occupations of castes and guilds The Hindus give to every single man of the four castes characteristic names, according to their occupations and modes of life. For example, the Brahmna is in general called by this name as long as he does his work staying at home. When he is busy with the service of one fire, he is called ishtin; if he serves three fires, he is called agnihotri; if he besides offers an offering to the fire, he is called dikshita. And as it is with Brahmna, so is it with other castes. Of the classes beneath the castes, the Hadi are the best spoken of, because they keep themselves free from everything unclean. Next follow the Doma, who play on th elute and sing. The still lower classes practice as a trade killing and inflicting of judicial punishments. The worst of all are Badhatau, who not only devour the flesh of dead animals, but even of dogs and other beasts. Customs of the Brahmins Each of the four castes, when eating together, must form a group for themselves, one group not allowed to comprise two men of different castes. If, further, in the group of the Brahmana who live at enmity with each other, and the seat of one is by the side of the other, they make a barrier between the two seats by placing a board between them, or by spreading a piece of dress, or in some other way; and if there is only a line drawn between them, they are considered separated. Since it is forbidden to eat remain of a meal, every single man must have his own food for himself; for if any of the party who are eating should take of the food from one and the same plate, that which remains in the plate becomes, after the first eater has taken part, to him who wants to take as second, the remains of the meal, and such is forbidden. Such is the condition of the four castes. Moksha and various caste Hindus differ among themselves as to which of the castes is capable of obtaining liberation; for, according to some, only the Brahman and Kshatriya are capable of it, since others cannot learn Veda, whilst according to Hindu philosophers, liberation is common to all castes and to the whole Human race, if their intention of obtaining it is perfect. This view is based on the saying of Vyasa: Learn to know the twenty-five things thoroughly. Then you may follow whatever religion you like; you will no doubt be liberated. This view is also based on the fact that Vasudeva was a descendant of a Sudra family, and also on the following saying of his, which he addressed to Arjuna: God distributes recompense without injustice and without partiality. He reckons the good as bad if people doing good forget Him; he reckons the bad as good if people in doing bad remember Him, whether those people be Vaisya or Sudra or women. How much more will this be the case when they are Brahmana or the Kshatriya.
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥««¤»¥«¤»§«¤» This is ZESTCaste whose members watch India's painful journey to society's de-casteisation. Members are encouraged to post messages to ZESTCaste@yahoogroups.com If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED], OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join ==theZESTcommunity====================================== [1] ZESTCurrent: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCurrent/ [2] ZESTEconomics: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTEconomics/ [3] ZESTGlobal: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTGlobal/ [4] ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/ [5] ZESTPoets: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTPoets/ [6] ZESTCaste: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ [7] ZESTAlternative: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTAlternative/ [8] TalkZEST: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TalkZEST/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
