Ashtottaram 45

 

 

 

 

45)OṀ VARṆA RAHITA BHŨMYAINAMAH:

      OṀ (AUM) - VAR -ṆA - RA - HI - TA -

                          BHOO- MYAI- NA--MA- HA

 

(Varṇa: means-A class of men, color, caste; Rahitam: means-abandoned;

deserted, deprived off)

 

 

During Vedic times, our ancient sages and seers established four categories of people based on their virtues, guṇās and their aptitude for the type of work they are inclined to do. This varṇavyavastha is unique to our country only. Very few Indians understand this and unfortunately this was construed by the British with their wicked agenda of 'divide and rule' which was like pouring oil into fire. The Varṇavyavastha has transformed into a caste system, which is deep rooted in today's India and brought shame and degradation to our social system across the globe. It has grown as wild weeds and British has created a monster called 'caste system' for Indians before they left our country and thanks to them that disease has spread like a wild fire in India and in Indians abroad. The Indian parents make sure that their children know their superior caste heritage rather than the Vedic India and Bhagavadgīta.

 

In Bhagavadgīta, Lord Sri Krishna said svadharmo paramo dharmah,' meaning 'there is no greater dharma than following your own dharma.' Vedas said 'Janmaṇā Jāyate Śūdrah, Brahma Jnānāt Eva Mokshah' meaning 'everyone is born as a śūdra (ignorant) and with knowledge of Brahman alone one is Brāhmin.' Unfortunately, very few Indians understand this and those who understand this, still show off superiority of their caste over fellow Indians especially toward backward castes- for their own power, superiority complex, selfishness, and greed. They don't mind sub-serving foreigners with utmost obedience but when it comes to fellow Indians they don't mind snaring at them with an attitude. The sad part is that they don't realize that it only shows their insecurity, low self esteem, and low self confidence.

The ancient Hindu scriptures have divided the society into four varṇās or groups, i.e., brāhmaṇās, kshatriyās, vaiśyās, and śūdrās. This division was based upon the allocation of duties and responsibilities as per their nature (guṇās) and nurture. The brāhmaṇās were the custodians of knowledge. They had to learn and teach, not only spiritual wisdom, but also other branches of sciences, and arts. The kshatriyās governed the State and performed its executive functions. The vaiśyās generated and wielded economic power through trade. The śūdrās merely assisted in the discharge of essential functions by contributing to manual labor. In natioanl calamities or emergencies change of work was permitted.

 

The varṇa system gradually got fossilized into the jāti (caste) system and Indians (especially, the upper caste) totally forgot their duties (svadharmās) and hung on to their caste and sub-caste. They ignored the fact that the ancient sages and Vedic ṛishis established the varṇa system for the progress and welfare of the society in mind, but the hypocrites transformed it to a shameful caste system.

 

Despite all the above short comings, the ancient ṛishis, sages and seers have tried to establish a system based on individual's aptitude rather by birth, and hence, our motherland is 'Varṇarahita Bhūmi.'