Explaining Varna System of Vedas

 Explaining Varna system

by Vinod Hariharan :

This is an attempt at spreading right knowledge about what exactly was Varna system as envisaged in Vedas and how it was distorted to suit political discourse in the country.

Ancient Varna system mentioned in Purusha Sukta is probably the most distorted theory used by Max Muellers and their followers in India like Communist historians to drive a political point with the sole purpose of divide and rule . There is absolutely no connection between Varna system of Vedic Era and Jati vyavastha which was introduced much later by historians. 

Below verse from Manusmriti , originally from Attri samhita sums it up  precisely

"Janmanaa jaayate shudrah samskaaraat dwija uchyate |

Vedapaathi bhaved vipro brahma jaanaati braahmanah" ||

By birth a man is born always as a  Shudra- an ignorant being . By gaining knowledge , wisdom  & through the realization of the Supreme , he becomes a Brahmana, a knower of Brahman”. Brahman means the supreme being. A Brahmana is one who knows Brahman. In Purusha Sukta of Vedas, a reference is made to 4 denominations of society such as Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra . They were purely a demarcation of functions alone and not  related to Caste. Caste system never existed in Vedic era.  Purusha in itself means Universe, whatever has been and shall be .

"Brahmanoasya mukhamasida bahu rajani kriah

Uru tadasya yadvaishya padabhyam shudro ajayat"

(Rigveda 10.90.12, Yajurveda.31.11).

This hymn of Purusha Sukta is an imaginative or a symbolic one and does not straight translate as

" from his mouth came mean of learning , ie brahmanas

of his arms, warriors were made

from his thighs came traders

&his feet gave rise to servants"

Vedic language is hghy metaphorical and a lot depends on the ability of a person interpreting it.

Purusha sukta merely shows an analogy between 4 limbs of body ( Head, Arms, thighs, Feet ) with 4 Varnas ( Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra) and they are again symbolically connected with a society as well . These Varnas, as providers of knowledge, protection, wealth and service that are required to eliminate ignorance, injustice, intolerance and inadequacy which are the 4 ills plaguing a society and thereby these 4 varnas shall serve a society and mankind. Vedas merely uses a person as a metaphor to a society . So through mutual cooperation and coexistence between person and society, by using all 4 Varnas( ie Knowledge,protection, wealth, service or head, Arms, thighs, feet or Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra) , aim to make society a happy, peaceful and complete one.

Westerners like Max Mueller and Indian communist historians misinterpreted this hymn to denote Jati Vyavastha of today as being same as varnas of Vedic era and to proclaim that caste based differentiation existed even during vedic era. But reality is that Varnas and Jati are poles apart. Varna is a spiritual , pristine word used in vedic period which merely is a representation if functions and Jati is a word coined much later by historians to distort vedas 

Atharva Veda very clearly says, all varnas are same and people must live in unison . verse 19-62-1 clearly says that all people are same and their duty is to serve society with unconditional love 

As Per manusmirith 10/65, one has to earn the qualification of Brahmin. During childhood, parents are supposed to send their children for specialized education of Brahmin, Kshatriya or Vaishya depending on observed nature of children. So many Brahmin parents may desire that their children also become Brahmins. However that is not sufficient. One becomes Brahmin only if he completes the education and gains knowledge wisdom and not merely by taking birth in a Brahmin family . Similarly a Shudra can become a brahmin by acquiring knowledge and wisdom and same applies to Kshatriya and Vaishya as well. 

This is essentially a principle of Merit and is a purely based on function Such a simplified Varna system was called as malafide by westerners and their indian contemporaries just to continue divide and rule policy of Britishers just for political gains