What is Varna dharma? Does it exist today? I try to answer these questions today.
Varna system was a system of checks & balances, which grouped people based on their Swa-Bhava (the essential characteristic of an individual). Its logical that there must have existed a high correlation between lineage and Swa-Bhave, for the Varna system to grow to represent lineage.
Brahmana: They were widely respected but were commanded to live a life of poverty. Dependent on the charity of the other three Varnas for food and clothing.
Kshatriya: They were the rulers who lived on the lap of luxury. The luxury provides the Kshatriya the physical and mental strength to pursue his goal of preservation of dharma.
Vaisya: The business men of yesteryear – were allowed to accumulate wealth, while providing for the other three classes. Charity to the Brahmana, taxes to the Kshatriya and Salary to the Shudra.
Shudra: They were employees, compensated for their work and would be socially stable class with regular income and reduced risk.
The Mahabharata has been described (in Pravachans and Upanyasam I am quite fond of listening) as a guideline for the people of the Kali Yug. The Mahabharata shows that the correlation existing between the Swa-Bhava and heredity Varna will no longer be relevant in the Kali Yug. Dhoracharaya can be described as a Brahmana-Kshatriya, Vidur can be described as a Shudra-Bahmana. Yudistra is a Kshatriya-Brahmana, etc.
We can always expect people to have the Swa-Bhava of one or more of the four Varna’s. This we can identify from the basic character of the person. Simple questions like, Does the person…
..exhibit an aptitude and interest for business and entrepreneurship
..seem oriented towards knowledge and religion
..is quick to anger, is inclined towards professions such as law, military, etc.
..looking for a simple life with assured income to supports the needs of his/her family.
I conclude by saying Varna Dharma can no longer be applied based in birth, but should based on individual Swa-Bhava. Hence the dharma is still relevant, but in a more fundamental form
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
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