Indian Antiquary Vol 60

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 65

MAROH, 1931 )
POSSIBLE ORIGIN OF THE CASTE SYSTEM IN INDIA
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had to look after the cattle, give alms, sacrifice, study, and employ themselves in trade and business. Lastly, the Sadras had only one duty allotted to them, viz., to serve the other three without complaint.
That occupation or, as some would have it, integrity of life had some part in the determination of an individual's caste seems also to be a reasonable supposition in the light of certain texts in the ancient books. Nahusa, who had been condemned to take the form of a serpent, asks Yudhisthira the question: "Who is a Brahmana, and what is the object of worship?" Yudhisthira replies: "The man in whom are seen truth, liberality, patience, virtue, innocence, devotion and compassion-he is a Bråhmana according to religious traditions." The serpent answers: “But in Sûdras also we meet with truth, liberality, calmness, innocence, harmlessness, and compassion, O Yudhisthira." The sage replies: "Whenever a Sudra has any virtuous characteristics and a Brahmaņa lacks it, that Sûdra will not really be a Sûdra, nor that Brahmana a Brahmaņa. The man in whom this virtuous character is seen is a Brahmana, and the man in whom it is not seen is a Südra." The serpent proceeds: "If you regard him only as a Brahmana, whom his conduct makes such, then caste is of no avail until deeds are superadded to it.” Thus pressed, Yudhişthira admits the confusion 16 of castes in the actual world, and concludes that good conduct and fulfilment of prescribed ceremonies are alike necessary.15 In another place Muir says: “There is no difference of castes. The world having been at first created by Brahma, entirely Brahmanic, became separated into castes in consequence of works."16 Again, Bhrgu, being asked what constitutes caste, replies: "He who is pure, consecrated by the nature and other initiatory ceremonics, who duly studies the Veda, practises the six kinds of work, and the rites of purification, who eats of offerings, is attached to his religious teacher, is constant in austerities, and is devoted to truth, is called a Brahmana. He who is unclean, is addicted constantly to all kinds of food, performs all kinds of work, has abandoned the Veda, and is destitute of pure observances is called a Sûdra."17 At the present day, however, the occupational theory has very little of support. Brahmaņas, for instance, are found following all kinds of professions, as also trade and even the sale of liquor and leather goods which are theoretically restricted to the Sunți and Camâr castes respectively. “But there are exceptions, e.g., on the Malabar coast, where the Namputiri Brahmana is still very particular as to the way in which he earns his living, and proscribes numerous occupations, of which teaching is one. In some parts a man is brought to book if he neglects certain socio-religious observances, such as giving his daughter in marriage before she attains the age of puberty, investing his son with the sacred thread, or performing the sråddha ceremony. But in others these matters are not regarded as concerniug any one but himself."18
The second hypothesis of the somatological basis of the division into caste arose, as we have seen from a wrong interpretation of the use of the Sanskrit word varna meaning *colour.' In the ancient books of the Hindus society was divided into Brahmanas, Ksatri. yas, Vaisyas and Sadras. The priesthood and its duties, legal and educational authority are reserved to the Brahmanas; military service to the Ksatriyas ; cattle-breeding, agri. oulture and trade to the Vaisyas ; and all kinds of menial work to the Sadras. Of the four. the first-named are described as white, the second red, the third yellow, and the fourth black. Partigans of the Aryan theory have seized upon this description to prove their origin, and have interpreted the epithet 'white' of the Brahmaņas as referring to their Caucasian affinities.
14 The word confusion is significant for it shows that oven in those days the caste system was misunderstood.
15 Summarized from J. Muir, Original Sanskrit Texts, vol. i, pp. 133-138. 16 'J. Muir, Original Sanskrit Texts, vol. i, p. 140. 17 Summarized from J. Muir, Original Sanskrit Texts, vol. i, p. 142.
19 E. A. Gait, in General Report of the Census of India, 1911 (London, 1914), p. 388 g 496. The Brahmans of Bengal perform any except the meanest trades; generally speaking, they are cooks,