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1.Background.
The phrase Caste is derived from the Portuguese phrase casta, that means lineage, breed or race. The time period “caste,” when utilized in a cultural context, is often together with the social division in Hindu society, notably in India though a type of the caste system was prevalent in lots of historic societies, and specifically feudal societies.
In historic India there developed a social system by which individuals had been divided into separate shut communities. These communities are recognized in English as caste. The origin of the caste system is in Hinduism nevertheless it affected the entire Indian society later it has transmitted to Nepal. The caste system within the non secular kind is mainly a easy division of society in which there’s 4 castes organized in a hierarchy and under them the outcast. However socially the caste system was extra sophisticated, with way more castes and sub-castes and different divisions. Legally the federal government disallows the follow of caste system however has a coverage of affirmative discrimination of the backward courses.
In Hinduism there exists 4 castes organized in a hierarchy. Anybody who doesn’t belong to one in all these castes is an outcast. The non secular phrase for caste is ‘Varna’. Every Varna has sure duties and rights. Every Varna members must work in sure occupation, which solely these Varna members are allowed. Every Varna has sure kind of eating regimen. The best Varna is of the Brahman. Members of this class are clergymen and the educated individuals of the society. The Varna after them in hierarchy is Kshatria. The members of this class are the rulers and aristocrats of the society. After them are the Vaisia. Members of this class are the landlords and businessmen of the society. After them in hierarchy is the Sudra. Members of this class are the peasants and dealing class of the society who work in non-polluting jobs. The caste hierarchy ends right here. Beneath these castes are the outcasts who’re untouchable to the 4 castes. These untouchables labored in degrading jobs like cleansing, sewage and so on. (Arora: 1998:84,The Idea of Impurity and Hindu caste System)
The primary three castes had social and economical rights, which the Sudra and the untouchables didn’t have. The primary three castes are additionally seen as ‘twice born’. The intention in these two births is to the pure delivery and to the ceremonial entrance to the society at a a lot later age.
Every Varna and in addition the untouchables and ethnic group in case of Nepal are divided into many communities. These communities are referred to as Jat or Jati (The caste can also be used as a substitute of Jat). For instance the Brahmans have Jats referred to as Dhakal, Bhattarai, Marasini and so on. The untouchable have Jats Kami, Damai, Sarki and Doom, Chammar within the case of terai system and Pode, Chame and so on within the case of Newar.However there isn’t any such division of society on the idea of caste in ethnic group though we are able to discover some class variations amongst this group. Every Jat members are allowed to marry solely with their Jat members. Persons are born into their Jat and it can’t be modified. As soon as if some one is born to sure solid he/she can’t be change to a different jat besides within the case of ladies when they’re married they might change to different clan however not jat.If a person is born as Kami he can’t be a Brahmin and Brahmin can’t be a Kami,so caste is a everlasting attribute among the many Hindu.
Religiously anybody who doesn’t belong to the 4 Varnas is an outcast and untouchable. It means, all foreigners and non-Hindus are all speculated to be untouchables, within the case of Nepal all of the ethnic group ought to fall on this classes however Muluki Ain has included your complete ethnic group into Caste hierarchy. However in actuality neither all foreigners nor non-Hindus had been handled as untouchables.
That is the how the caste system is meant to be in its non secular kind. However in actuality it’s way more sophisticated and completely different from its non secular kind.
1.1.Starting of the caste system
There are completely different theories in regards to the institution of the caste system. There are non secular mystical theories. There are organic theories. And there are socio-historical theories. The non secular theories clarify how the 4 Varnas had been based, however they don’t clarify how the Jats in every Varna or the untouchables had been based. In accordance the Rig Veda, the traditional Hindu e-book, the primal man Purush destroyed himself to create a human society. The completely different Varnas had been created from completely different elements of his physique. The Brahmans had been created from his head; the Kshatriyas from his fingers; the Vaisias from his thighs and the Sudras from his ft. The Varna hierarchy is decided by the descending order of the completely different organs from which the Varnas had been created. Different non secular concept claims that the Varnas had been created from the physique organs of Brahma, who’s the creator of the world.
The organic concept claims that every one present issues, animated and inanimated, inherent three qualities in numerous apportionment. Sattva qualities embrace knowledge, intelligence, honesty, goodness and different constructive qualities. Rajas embrace qualities like ardour, pleasure, valour and different passionate qualities. Tamas qualities embrace dullness, stupidity, lack of creativity and different damaging qualities. Individuals with completely different doses of those inherent qualities adopted several types of occupation.
In keeping with this concept the Brahmans inherent Sattva qualities. Kshatrias and Vaisias inherent Rajas qualities and the Sudras inherent Tamas qualities. Like human beings, meals additionally inherent completely different dosage of those qualities and it impacts its eater’s intelligence. The Brahmans and the Vaisias have Sattvic eating regimen, which incorporates fruits, milk, honey, roots and greens. Many of the meats are thought of to have Tamasic qualities. Many Sudra communities eat completely different sorts of meat (however not beef) and different Tamasic meals. However the Kshatrias who had Rajasic eating regimen eat some sorts of meat like deer meat, which is taken into account to have Rajasic qualities. Many Marathas who declare to be Kshatrias eat mutton. The downside of this concept is that in numerous elements of India the identical meals was typically certified to have completely different dosage of inherent qualities. For instance there have been Brahmans who eat meat, which is taken into account Tamasic meals.
The social historic concept explains the creation of the Varnas, Jats and of the untouchables. In keeping with this concept, the caste system started with the arrival of the Aryans in India. The Aryans arrived in India round 1500 BC. The truthful skinned Aryans arrived in India from south Europe and north Asia. Earlier than the Aryans there have been different communities in India of different origins. Amongst them Negrito, Mongoloid, Austroloid and Dravidian. The Negrito has bodily options just like individuals of Africa. The Mongoloid have Chinese language options. The Austroloid have options comparable the aboriginals of Australia. The Dravidians originate from the Mediterranean they usually had been the biggest group in India. When the Aryans arrived in India their important contact was with the Dravidians and the Austroloid. The Aryans disregarded the native cultures. They started conquering and taking management over areas in north India and on the identical time pushed the native individuals southwards or in the direction of the jungles and mountains in north India.
The Aryans organized amongst themselves in three teams. The primary group was of the soldiers they usually had been referred to as Rajayana, later they modified their identify Rajayana to Kshatria. The second group was of the clergymen they usually had been referred to as Brahmans. These two teams struggled politically for management among the many Aryans. On this battle the Brahmans received to be the leaders of the Aryan society. The third group was of the farmers and craftsmen they usually had been referred to as Vaisia. The Aryans who conquered and took management over elements of north India subdued the locals and made them their servants. On this course of the Vaisias who had been the farmers and the craftsmen turned the landlords and the businessmen of the society and the locals turned the peasants and the craftsmen of the society.
Afterward the Aryans who created the caste system, added to their system non-Aryans. Completely different Jats who professed completely different professions had been built-in in numerous Varnas in line with their occupation. Different international invaders of historic India – Greeks, Huns, Scythains and others – who conquered elements of India and created kingdoms, had been built-in within the Kshatria Varna (warrior castes). However in all probability the Aryan coverage was to not combine unique Indian communities inside them and subsequently many aristocratic and warrior communities that had been in India earlier than the Aryans didn’t get the Kshatria standing.
Many of the communities that had been in India earlier than the arrival of the Aryans had been built-in within the Sudra Varna or had been made outcast relying on the professions of those communities. Communities who professed non-polluting jobs had been built-in in Sudras Varna. And communities who professed polluting professions had been made outcasts. The Brahmans are very strict about cleanliness. Prior to now individuals believed that illnesses may additionally unfold additionally by way of air and never solely by way of bodily contact. Maybe due to this motive the untouchables weren’t solely disallowed to the touch the excessive caste communities however additionally they needed to stand at a sure distance from the excessive castes.
Some primary factors to mark about caste are:
1. That caste is an establishment of the Hindu faith, and wholly peculiar to that faith alone;
2. That it consists primarily of a 4 fold classification of individuals typically underneath the heads of Brahman, Kshatria, Vaisias and Sudras.
3. That caste is perpetual and immutable, and has been transmitted from technology to technology all through the ages of Hindu historical past and fable with out the opportunity of change.(V.Jayaram:1997:1,Caste System is the largest risk to Hinduism, preliminary paper posted in web,[http://www.hindusystem.com])
2.Caste System in Nepali context
The caste system may be hint again to introduction of Muluki Ain (1854) by Jung Bahadur Rana after his return from his European tour. The Muluki Ain (1854) was a written model of social code that had been in follow for a number of centuries in Nepal. Its caste classes diverged from the 4 varnas of the classical Vedic mannequin and as a substitute had three classes to accommodate the tribal peoples between the pure and impure castes. These had been additional labeled into 5 hierarchies with the next order priority. (Harka Gurung 2005:3,Occational Papers in Sociology and Anthropology)
*
Thagadhari, (Wearer of holy chord)
*
Matwali
o
Namasyane Matwali (Non-enslavable alcohol-drinkers)
o
Masyane Matwali (Enslavable alcohol drinkers)
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Pani nachalne choichoto halnu naparne, (Impure however touchable castes)
*
Pani nachalne chiochoti halnu parne, (Impure and Untouchable castes)
The above point out classes implies that Thagadhari (Wearer of holy chord) stays within the highest hierarchy in Hindu caste system adopted by Matwali, (Non-enslavable alcohol-drinkers) and enslavable alcohol drinkers touchable caste and lastly untouchable.
Muluki Ain imposes the caste system in Nepal as a way to incorporate individuals of various origin to convey underneath one umbrella of caste system. The primary classes of Thagadhari which embrace Parbate Brahmin and Chettri are the within the larger classes of hierarchy the place as Brahmins of Terai and Newari Brahmin as per Muluki Ain don’t fall underneath this classes.
Matwali group, salvable and enslavable falls underneath second classes, which embrace the individuals of ethnic origin and Brahmins of terai and Newari Brahmins. It additionally consists of these individuals within the non-enslavable group reminiscent of Magar, Gurung, Rai, and Limbu and so on and enslavable are Tamang, Chepang, Thami and so on.
Untouchable are the classes of varnas system in historic Manu’s Code however some individuals reminiscent of Musalman and foreigners as effectively falls underneath these classes Untouchables are divided into Pani nachalne choichoto halnu naparne, (Impure however touchable castes) and Pani nachalne chiochoti halnu parne, (Impure and Untouchable castes). In current day context caste system falls underneath Hindu varna system i.e,Brahmin,Khatria Vaisias and Sudra respectively as a substitute of following Muluki Ain’s codification, as ethnic group don’t comply with the caste system as a result of they’ve their very own tradition, custom ,faith and values system which don’t fall underneath caste system.
3. Purity and impurities in caste system
There are completely different polluting elements in Hindu caste system.
3.1 Impurity associated to Loss of life
The ceremonies are of the ultimate life -cycle rites these thought of with demise are sense by no means actually full. (Lynn Bennett, 1983:92. Harmful Wives and Sacred Sisters) When some one dies the very best rank of Sudham is the one which needs to be noticed whereas performing rituals linked with demise anniversaries, which is named Sraadha Sudham or colloquially Sudham.When an individual is died son or the shut relative who’re eligible to carry out the sradham has to debar all unpolluted meals and he shouldn’t contact anyone. For this perform, garments, that are worn on the sooner day needs to be washed and dried the day gone by worn garments aren’t permitted to be worn. For performing these rituals, one ought to bathe within the morning within the close by river or at house the place it’s possible. Contributors dip garments in water throughout the first tub and unfold them within the solar for drying earlier than continuing to Sandhyaavandanam. Solely these garments (even when solely partly dried) are allowed throughout the ritual.This impurity proceed for 13 days, on the 13 day a purification ritual is carried out which is named Suddhai or Sraadha Sudham.(Arora:1998:39)
2. Impurities associated to delivery
When a toddler is born in Hindu household the entire household develop into impure they usually must comply with the foundations as per Hindu ritual. Probably the most effected is the mom of kid. She is taken into account as impure for 11 days the place she will’t contact relations and she or he has been positioned in remoted place together with her child. Child would not take into account as impure on this case. On the eleventh day the priest offers the toddler its secret non secular identify.” The ceremony mark the tip of delivery air pollution interval” (Lynn Bennett, 1983:57)
3.3 Impurity associated to menstruation
If a woman or girl menstruates, she ought to stay in full isolation for 4 days and on the fourth day, a particular perform or purification needs to be carried out by pouring drops of water combine with urine of cow or dipping any golden ornaments in water within the conventional method by sprinkling it. After finishing tub, the ladies symbolically clear her and she or he develop into pure after fourth day. Throughout this for days she can’t contact any elder male family members and she or he both in a position to contact any sort of fluid include objects, if she touches it’s thought of as impure. This is without doubt one of the shot interval impurities.
1. Impurity associated with funeral
When some one dies many male members comply with to funeral procession to ghat (Funeral web site) Throughout this time these member who goes to ghat for funeral ceremony are thought of as polluted and they don’t seem to be in a position to enter the home till they carry out the purification ritual. Often purification ritual follows by having tub in close by river or at house and altering clear costume and sprinkling water dipped in gold.
4. Caste system and untouchable
The untouchablity function within the caste system is without doubt one of the cruelest options of the caste system. It’s seen by many as one of many strongest racist phenomenon on this planet.
Within the Hindu societies individuals who labored in ignominious, polluting and unclean occupations had been seen as polluting peoples and had been subsequently thought of as untouchables. The untouchables had nearly no rights within the society. In several elements of Nepal they had been handled in numerous methods. In some areas the perspective in the direction of the untouchables was harsh and strict. In different areas it was much less strict. . (Arora: 1998:104,Idea of Impurity and Hindu caste System)
In areas the place the perspective was much less strict the untouchables had been seen as polluting individuals and their dwellings had been at a distance from the settlements of upper caste. The untouchables weren’t allowed to the touch individuals from the upper caste. They weren’t allowed to enter homes of the upper caste. They weren’t allowed to enter the temples. They weren’t allowed to make use of the identical wells utilized by the upper caste individuals. In public events they had been compelled to sit down at a distance from the upper caste. In areas the place the perspective in the direction of the untouchables had been extra extreme, not solely touching them was seen polluting, but additionally even a contact with their shadow was seen as polluting. It’s apparent that a lot of the trades pursued by impure castes are a way related to impurity. (Andras Hoffer2004: 74)
If, due to any motive, there was a contact between an untouchable and a member of the excessive caste, the upper caste member turned defiled and needed to immerse or wash himself with water to be purified. In strict societies, particularly among the many ‘Twice Born’ (the three high Varnas) the touched ‘Twice Born’ additionally needed to go by way of some non secular ceremonies to purify him from the air pollution. If the untouchable entered a home and touched issues of a excessive caste, the members used to clean or clear the locations the place the untouchable touched and stepped.
In some incidences the untouchables who related to the excessive caste members had been crushed and even murdered for that motive. Some larger hierarchy the orthodox Hindus handled anybody who labored in any sort of polluting job as untouchable and didn’t have any contact with them. In keeping with orthodox guidelines anyone who doesn’t belong to the 4 Varnas, that means foreigners, are untouchables.
5. Conclusion
There are a lot of causes for the emergence of caste system as dominated social actuality throughout Vedic period. The social compulsion of that point should have contributed to its growth. Probably the most believable and accepted concept is that in all probability Vedic individuals discovered solid system as a handy means to combine a multicultural society into one advanced system. As later within the context of Nepal, Muluki Ain 1854 has included all ethnic group to Caste system.
Within the later Vedic time this method has flourished extra as a result of those that are in place, energy and authority received higher alternatives to use different to make them selves to stay in energy particularly the priestly class and Khatiyas which end in developing solid system extra rigidly.
Caste system is without doubt one of the most exploitative methods the place individuals of decrease strata can’t rise to the upper place. With no scope for his or her development or financial independence, ever underneath bondage, and affected by numerous sorts of disabilities, the place they develop into third or fourth class residents of Hindu society with out any dignity of their very own and with a standing corresponding to that of animals, as they had been the ‘as soon as born’ in distinction to ‘twice born’.
Properly it’s tough to generalize Hindu society on any explicit points because it consisted of numerous teams and communities. However we are able to confidently take into account the caste system as bane of Hindu society from earlier instances and until right this moment has continued as one of the vital sophisticated system, which is in practiced very rigidly within the society.
The caste system should have emerged as a result of individuals of various communities have tried to lift to larger place and to monopolize the ability of dominants individuals, the stratifications of society is finished as a way to stay in energy completely by them. The division of society into Varna system is the results of larger caste unwilling to work on polluted job and implementing weaker, poor, battle prisoners and slaves to do that occupation.
In fashionable context caste system has taken one other kind that’s class. Those that are poor, oppressed and made slave couldn’t rise to larger place and end in stagnant to decrease class residents, for instance Dalit are within the decrease class in strata than larger caste Brahmins and different ethnic group in Nepal. It’s as a result of they had been constantly being oppressed since historic time. Mainly once we speak about Nepal regardless of being the oppression is continuous, the anti-discrimination provisions contained within the 1990 Structure, caste discrimination stays ingrained in Hindu-dominated Nepalese society. Caste discrimination constitutes a type of racism by which individuals are categorically relegated to subordinate social positions, and are denied equal entry to social, financial, political and authorized assets. Wealth and energy are disproportionately distributed to favour larger castes, limiting social mobility and the opportunity of intergenerational change, as a result of caste is predicated on strains of descent. Cultural attitudes that perpetuate the caste system are inculcated at a younger age in Nepal, and are sometimes strengthened throughout the schooling system. Adults train kids to keep up the stratified society, and continuous reinforcement of the system cement it into an unquestionable actuality. Caste discrimination is incessantly current in government-initiated growth programmes, with most of the initiatives failing to learn the decrease castes.
Reference
1. Arora, D.B: 1998
Idea of Impurity and Hindu Caste System. Sultan Chand and Co. Delhi
2. Bennett, Lynn: 1983
Harmful Wives and Sacred Sisters. Columbia College Press.
3. Hoffer Andras: 2004
The Hierarchy and the State in Nepal, Himal Books Lalitpur, Nepal
4. Ram Bahadur Chheti.et.al: 2005
Occasional Papers in Sociology and Anthropology, Tribhuwan College, Nepal.
5. Nicholas B.Driks: 2003
Castes Of Thoughts, Parmanent Black, Delhi
6. Prayag Raj Sharma: 2004
State and Society In Nepal, Himal Books Lalitpur, Nepal
7. Shrestha, Gyan Bhadur: 2061
Ain Sangra, Pauravi Prakashan, Kathmandu
8. V.Jayaram: 1997
Caste System is the largest risk to Hinduism, preliminary paper posted in Web, [http://www.hindusystem.com]
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Source by Yadav Niraula