Caste Systems

Varna (caste)

It is uncertain as to when one's varna became determined by birth rather than occupation and role in the society. However, in early writings claiming to contain the words and teaching of the Buddha, already there are criticisms of the system and of deciding one's worth based on birth rather than actions. Nevertheless, once birth became the primary, or even sole, determinant, and caste became a closed group, it also came to determine, for the most part, one's occupation and possibilities for economic advancement, one's sphere of association and access to social involvement, one's marriage choices, and finally one's place in the developing religious hierarchy and access to religious activities and rituals.

The ancient system divided society into four varnas. The Brahmin was the priestly and learned caste. The duty of its members was to teach the others knowledge and wisdom and to oversee and lead the religious life of the community. The warrior and rule caste was called Kshatriya.The duties of its members were to protect and rule, in order to maintain a safe and stable society. The Vaisya were the agriculturalists and merchants. They grew and provided food and other necessities to the community. The lowest caste was the Shudra, which consisted of the laborers and servants. Their duty was to serve the other castes by doing all the menial and difficult physical tasks. Eventually, a fifth caste was added, the Panchama, or Antyaja, the “Untouchable.” Members of this caste were actually placed outside the system (avarna), either because of alleged transgressions made against established rules of conduct or because of the defiling nature of their occupations. Their duties involved cleaning up after all the other castes and undertaking those tasks that were too impure and polluting for the others castes to perform.

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