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Society, Epistemology and Logic in Indian Tradition
Opposition to the brāhmaṇical Caste System
In the Vedic tradition of Indian philosophy, the Hindu class system and system of stages of life (varṇāśrama-dharma) were governing factors of Hindu Society. There were four classes (varna) - Brahmin (brāhmaṇa), warriors (kṣatriya), merchants (vaiśya) and service class (śūdra) on the basis of profession and virtues of a person. As the Bhagavadgīta 4.13 says: "I created four varṇas on the basis of virtues and profession."
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These four varṇas, after a period, were developed into four castes. Although the names of four varṇas and castes are the same, but the caste is considered by birth, whereas varna is considered by profession or conduct. A varṇa may change in to another varṇa e.g. a kṣatriya may become a brāhmaṇa by his conduct or profession, but caste does not change like it. A kṣatriya as a caste remains always a kṣatriya in his whole life.
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Principle of caste system can create a complex of superiority and inferiority among the people. The Uttaradhyayana opposed the prevalent caste system of superiority and inferiority of human beings on the basis of different castes. As Pierre Paul Amiel (2008: 30) observes: "In Jainism, divisions in castes and sub-castes did not concern higher and lower classes like in Hinduism." He also observes thereto: "In Jainism, when one speaks of castes and sub-castes, it is more questions of profession and geographical origin."
Discrimination among them on the basis of caste, creed and colour is not justified according to the
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caturvarṇyam mayā sṛṣṭam guṇakarmavibhāgaśaḥ.
