Caste
System in Ancient India
It represents the hierarchy of Caste - the Brahmins
(priests and scholars) occupying the topmost position and the rest namely Kshatriya (kings, governors, and
warriors), Vaishya (cattle herders,
agriculturists, artisans, and merchants) and Sudras coming in descending order. From this it has been concluded
that the Sudra caste (laborers and service providers). It indicates the colour, type, order or class
of people. It reinforced the idea that
lifestyles, occupations, ritual statuses, and social statuses were inherited.
Caste
System in Vedic Age
The Vedas were
ancient scriptures, written in the Sanskrit language, which contained hymns,
philosophies, and rituals handed down to the priests of the Vedic religion. The
low position, accorded to people like blacksmiths, tanners, butchers in the
Smriti literature, are not found in the Vedas. The term 'dasa' seems to be the
designation of a section of powerful non-Aryans who used to cause trouble to
the Aryans. Dasas are stated to have been wealthy and lived in cities
Caste System in Age of Brahmanas
The
Brahmanas confirm
the fact that Sudras were called dasas. Those among them who did not surrender
to the Aryans were termed dasyus (robbers). In the Brahmanas it has been found that Sudras were servants by occupation
and that he could be ejected from a place or even slain at will. Priests,
gurus, rishis, teachers, and scholars
constituted the Brahmin.
Caste System in Age of Epics
It clearly indicates the Aryan expansion into South India and also hints
at the use of military force in this process. The epic
also makes it clear that the Dravidian
culture was also equally superior. The Mahabharata shows that by that time the
whole of India was Aryanised. It also provides us information regarding the
various states existing at that time. The life of the Epics
tells us that the Aryans were no longer divided into small clans or tribes, and
powerful states like Panchalas, Pandus, Kosalas, Kashih had come into
existence. Far reaching changes took place in the religion of the people during
the Epic period.
