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Unfortunately, in the early middle ages, power politics reared its ugly head into India. Then this communal feeling cropped up in its present ugliness. Because of a general ignorance among ordinary people at that time, some Brahmins paraded their assumed knowledge by quoting bits and pieces of verses. This was when a perverted version of the Caste System was born. In the second text that this author discussed, these abusers of the text, claimed the whole text said just “I created the Four Varnas,” leaving out the rest. This tragic butchering of the verse made it look like the Caste System was a divine sanction and that God decided who was in a caste. This was perverted to the belief that a person is born into a particular caste. Those who cut the text emitted the part that said, “By the differentiation of the mental quality and physical action (of the people).” The full definition clearly removes any misunderstanding and provides us with a way to understand the true significance. Swami Chinmayananda added that “Those who did this (perverted the text), were in fact, the greatest blasphemers that Hinduism ever had to reckon with.”
It was not the system but a selfish set of people who blatantly abused the system for their benefit who are to blame. Whether it’s the high or low caste that is exploiting the system in modern day India, the fault lies exactly with the people. Unfortunately every religion and religious text has been manipulated for those that want power and control. It’s the younger generation that needs to forget the injustices of the past, bury all hatchets and look forward to working together to create another utopian society.
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Ajay K
AK
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Bravo! Sunil Swaminathan Iyer | Jun 23rd, 2005
The article is well researched and puts things in proper perspective. The Geeta has been under attack from many elements and it is nice to see your analysis which nullifies the baseless lies and propoganda that one can see on the internet.
Well Done Ajay!
Regards,
Sunil
Great, but could add more info Kiranmayee | Jun 23rd, 2005
Ajay, the article is really good and gives out some of the misinterpreted quotations. And their history. But, I believe that more could be added. Like reference to articles on Web which are contributing to the misquote
AK | Jun 23rd, 2005
Kiran
I just chose the 2 most abused Gita verses.
I don't have copies of the Vedas or other scriptures. As soon as I get access to them, I will do some research. Thanks for reading.
Finally... Vivek Prabhu | Jun 23rd, 2005
Finally... we have an article with a balanced perception! I'd be grateful if you could put up a list of your references... :D
AK | Jun 23rd, 2005
I just refered to the Chinmaya Mission's Bhagavad Geeta as I feel it is the best interpretation. You can get it at the Guruvayurappan temple in Mayur Vihar.
Gita, Hinduism, and the Caste System clarita zarate | Jun 28th, 2005
Ajay,
I could not find the message you wanted me to include here. Barry and I just read the article again. Barry is well versed in world issues and he says that what you wrote is very informative. I would love to see references also. I am glad that you are throwing light on this subject. I have much to learn. I feel that I have gathered my greatest knowlege from Buddhist philosophy and the Gita.
In my eyes people are equal. However, it is difficult to undo -with a constitution- what has gone on for a thousand years or more [I am not sure how long it's gone on}. Caste was used to separate people into different social levels, not to help the less fortunate. The goal should be to elevate the consciousness through education and compassion. It has to help both sides or it becomes useless. It could have become a way of elevating their consciousness through unattachment to material possesions which nurtures higher ideals and cultivates harmony. Love can only exist if one loves his brother as himself.
Peace and love is created by a global humanity. Without it there is no freedom. Both work to meet in the middle and both are rewarded equally.
Marriage between cultures is good, I beleive,
to intergrate people - promoting peace between all races.
Marriage within cultures helps to preserve ancient history, roots, teachings, irreplaceable knowlege.
The virtues of the spirit are the building blocks of true happiness.
I looked up the word caste in my synonym finder.
caste, n. class, rank, order, degree; position, standing, place, station, condition, status; shpere, affiliation, group, family, claln, lineage, descent, ancestry.
It is interesting to note that castaway has the root word caste.
castaway: n. 1. discard, castoff, Inf. throw out, hand me down...
2. unperson, pariah, Ishmael, expatriate, political refugee,...
3. wanderer, nomad, panhandler, , down and outer.....
4. adrift, cast adrift, shipwrecked, abandoned, forsaken, stuck.....
5. unwanted, preowned, trashed, unwanted.....
Also there is the word castigate
castigate, v. 1. punish, discipline, chastise, chasten, spank, slap, ....
2. criticize, scold, blame, chide, reproach, censure, dress down, humble, penalize......
there is such a long list of words that I omitted a lot of them. If you want a list with all of the ones in the book just ask me.
I am looking forward to more articles of this nature.
Thank you
Clarita
AK | Jun 29th, 2005
Clarita and Vivek
I used the Bhagavad Gita published by the Chinmaya Mission as a reference. That's all. The Bhagavad Gita has several chapters and verses. I quoted 2 of those.
The version of the Gita I used has excellent explanations.
There is a concise version written by Ekanath Eashwaran, published by Penguin Publsihers. I recommend that version as well.
Good but needs to be followed Anil Kumar | Aug 1st, 2005
First of all thx for describing the caste system in a proper manner,it should be activated in our society in the same manner.
The basic problem regarding the caste system is our mental status,specually for those person who belongs to the upper caste category as per our hindu religion follows,the high cast person dont want to give chance to lift the lower cast & poor people.They teach their kids about the racisim,caste and other stupid things during grown-up time,after few years when the kids become teenager ,they follow the same tradtion as told by their parents & other elders in the family.
I had various discussion with my friends directly and indirectly then i came to know that they are deeply affected by this virus (i would like to say the caste system as a virus for Hindu religion) and reverting back them from this state is quite difficult.
So we should work together to eliminate this caste system from our mind then society.Once we would in position to achieve this,hindu religion can be considered one of the best religion across the world.
AK | Sep 10th, 2005
Anil
You get the point that it's the people that have made a mockery of our scriptures and way of life.
It will be a tough fight to win, but we Indians can win if we are united.
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