Hinduism Stack Exchange
Hinduism Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [caste-system]

For the questions about a caste-system based on varna e.g the Chaturvarna: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudras. The mixed varnas, apostate varnas, and varnas not necessarily related to the Chaturvarna (e.g. Mleccha) are also valid for this tag.

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Why casteism (varṇa system) is based on birth instead of present guṇa-s & karma-s?

I've witnessed many Dwija-s behaving in lowly manner resorting to material pleasures, cruelty, ignorance, etc. & bereft of dhārmic conscience. On the other hand, I have witnessed many Śūdra-s behaving in nobler ways. How to explain this anomaly if…
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Where exactly does a person's caste reside?

Which of the following have caste? The physical body including the brain After allowing for environmental factors like discrimination, do castes have distinguishable bodily characteristics and brain capacity? The mind The quality of the mind -…
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Is it the responsibility of the dvija castes to teach the fourth varna righteous conduct?

In other words, do they have the responsibility (or obligation) to see to it that the fourth Varna do what they had to do reap just rewards in this life and the afterlife? Since learning and renunciation are denied to the 4th Varna - they are…
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does any scripture say different castes should draw water from different wells?

If you know Tamil, you can read on u-tube an interview of Shiva Ayyadurai considered the inventor of email in which he says he was told of this practice in childhood by his mother and how upsetting he found it to be. Is there scriptural basis for…
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Are children of Brahmin parents also Brahmin by caste?

Is caste based on birth? Is it inherited? Do any scriptures support birth based caste system?
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Are there complaints in the scriptures about the iniquties of the caste system?

Are there statements in scriptures (not necessarily by those who might have felt oppressed and/or disdvantaged) that the caste-system was iniquitous? I am looking for some parallel to the denunciation of anti-semitism in Shakespeare's Merchant of…
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is there a scriptural basis for using silver vessels to avoid caste/sub-caste ritual pollution?

I am aware of Brahmin sub-caste members that wouldn't eat at other Brahmin sub-caste homes even as we speak (2018). One can easily imagine their attitude about eating at a non-brahmin home or a non-brahmin eating with them at their home. Silver is…
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Are children born to Hindus abroad caste Hindus?

This is not something ancient scriptures would likely have encountered. Would they have the same ritual status as Hindus who traveled abroad?
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Can the Guna-Karma classification of the Varna system be translated into profession?

What is the Varna of: an engineer a singer a doctor I have chosen a few random samples to understand the Varna system better. How would these be classified as - Brahmin, Vaishya, Sudra and Kshatriya? Or, is it valid to apply the Varna…
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Does canonical Sanskrit scripture contain rejections of caste that go beyond the birth vs qualities dichotomy?

Starting from the Purusha Sukta - there is the birth-based four-fold division of humanity - Brahmins,kshatriyas,Vaishyas and Sudras. https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/a/52131/12489 refers to an explicit rejection of birth-based caste Not by birth…
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How many caste are there in Hinduism?

If one searches Caste on google images, the first few images they would be greeted with is this: However on wikipedia, the following is written: There are 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes in India, each related to a specific occupation How does…
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What role does caste play in modern day Hinduism?

For the past times, one may argue in support of caste system as in support of categorization and classification of people, but disregarding social and political issues, does it hold any use today in the spiritual sense?
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How does caste relate to Hinduism in practice?

To my understanding in the most ancient times, caste was a label based on profession. My question is, did it have any influence on how Hinduism was practiced? For example, Would Hinduism, in practices (devotion methods, prayers, etc), be the same…
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Does any Hindu scripture say anything to the effect "all men (and women) are created equal in dignity and rights"?

There are quotations to the effect that one's caste is not by birth - I don't mean that. Some sects may say all members of the sect are equal and I don't mean that either. Does it say anywhere in Hindu scripture something like "All human beings…
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Was sage Aitareya born out of Shudra woman?

In one of online answers I've found sage Aitareya who wrote Aitareya Upanishad was born out of Shudra woman! Can anyone give reference to support or reject this claim?
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