PITU GOTRA PART 17 CONTD HOW MANY BRAHMINS KR IRS 17524 18524
*Caste* is a closed group whose members preferred a particular occupation
and a degree of social participation. Marriage outside the caste is
prohibited. A specialized labour group may operate as a caste within a
society otherwise free of such distinctions (e.g., the ironsmiths in parts
of Africa).
According to Webster's unabridged dictionary a caste is a race, stock, or
breed of men or animals; one of the hereditary classes; a system of social
stratification more rigid than class and characterized by hereditary
status, endogamy, and social barriers rigidly sanctioned by custom, law or
religion; a form of polymorphic social insects that carries out a
particular function in the colony.
The Longman Dictionary defines a caste as one of the fixed and
unchangeable social classes into which people are born in India. Oxford
dictionary defines caste as any of the Hindu hereditary classes,
distinguished by relative degree of purity and pollution (of blood), whose
members are socially equal with one another and often follow the same
occupation. A caste, according to Webster’s New Riverside University
Dictionary, is one of the four major hereditary classes of Hindu society,
each caste is distinctly separated from others by restrictions placed on
occupation and marriage. Apparently, the editors of these dictionaries
have no idea of how many thousands of castes are in the Indian continent.
Further, one has to wonder why the same kind of group elsewhere in the
world is a tribe and in India is a caste. Whatever may be the reason, caste
and tribe are distinguished in India. The Sanskrit words like varna, kul,
jati etc. are very much confused and as a result words like class, caste
and tribe are misinterpreted by the world.
There is another important aspect to this caste. Even though, castes or
tribes are not unique to India, caste was invented by Western Indologists
and Western influenced Indian leftist intellectuals to define the
bewildering diversity of the ancient culture. During the colonial and
Muslim period it served the interests of foreign rulers to diminish Indian
society by instilling a sense of shame and inferiority. In fact, castes
are found in the history of every nation in this world. Even today, we
find such divisions in the most advanced countries like the United States
of America. However, the Western and leftist Indian intellectuals interpret
Sanskrit scriptures to fit their agendas and continue to cling on to those
interpretations even when they don't make any sense.
The so-called caste system, a complex network of interdependent yet
separated, hereditary, endogamous, occupationally specialized, and
hierarchically ordered social groups is incomprehensible to leftists and
Westerners. Caste as an institution transcends the religion, just like
various tribes in Islam, e.g. Kurds, Arabs, Pashtuns, Mohajirs etc.
Brahmins, Muslims, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, Sikhs, Vaishnavite, Shaivites,
Veera Shaivites, Shaktis, Christians, Secular humanists, and others in
India are all subject to the overarching dictates of caste. Attempts to
break the caste system were made time and again from the days of Lord
Buddha. Religions like Buddhism, Veera Shaivism, Vaishnavism etc.,
succeeded momentarily, but the caste always resurrected itself with
vengeance, because it is a natural phenomenon. It happens in Christianity
and Islam also. Islam not only has tribes like Kurds, Arabs, Pashtuns,
Mohajirs, but also many so-called Hindu castes. Christianity is no
different either, e.g., Reddi Chrisitans, Kamma Christians, Mala
Christians, Madiga Christians, Kuruma Christians etc.
There is no universal system of caste throughout India. The belief that
the *Vedic varnashrama dharma* was the “caste system in embryo,” is flawed.
If not, the tribes of Afghanistan should also be considered originated from
this class system, because Afghanistan was Hindu/Buddhist and didn't know
Islam until 700 AD. For that matter, the Hutus and Tutsis of Burundi
should also be a result of Vedic hypothetical class system. The caste
system is different from the ideal *vedik varna* class system. *Varna* is
hypothetical and is a class, whereas caste is real and plays a major role.
*Varna* (the class) allows movement of people from one class to the other,
while tribe or caste does not. Thus, it is preposterous to say the Vedic
hypothesis of class is same as caste.
According to Vedas, in any society in general, there are four underlying
varnas (colours or divisions or groups), the four groups being,
intellectuals and priests (*Brahmin varna*), rulers and warriors (Kshatriya
*varna*), agriculturists and business persons (Vaishya *varna*), and other
workers (Shudra *varna*). Without these four classes there is no society
in this world. Thus, *if the society is the God*, his/her head is the
intellectuals and priests, shoulders are the warriors and military, the
trunk is the business and agricultural community and finally the legs are
the workers who fulfil the basic needs of the society starting from the
work in agricultural fields to the temple construction, without which
society cannot go forward. {KR How Purusha suktham must be encoded without
bias and hardcore conditioning of imbalanced mind.}
*"Giving a human form to the society, we may say priests and teachers are
its expressive face, rulers and warriors its protective arms, traders and
farmers its supporting thighs and servants and labourers its transporting
feet. To conceive of the world in the image of man, we may say the sun and
moon are its eyes and mind, water and fire its mouth, air its breath, sky
its head, earth its feet, and the ethereal space its body. This world is
itself a continuing sacrifice, in which we see all matter and energy
evolving into new forms by consuming whatever existed before."* Purusha
Sukta: (The Hymn of God); Rigveda.
Anybody can become a *Brahmin varna* (intellectual group), but one has to
be born into *Brahmin* caste to be a *Brahmin *caste. If there is a
confusion, it is because the word *Brahmin* has several meanings including
the ultimate God, earthly God, intellectual, teacher, priest,
*Brahmin* tribe/caste. Thus
casteism propounded by the british were misused by a small groups like
Village heads Brahmins within 500 years, that eroded our prowess. Society
suffers for the mistake of the few. One who learnt Vedam will not interpret
Varna so badly.
The castes in Andhra Pradesh can be divided into two distinct
categories. *Brahmin,
Komati, Reddy, Kamma, Velama, Kapu, Nayudu, Relli, Mala, Madiga, Yeraka,
Yanadi etc*., castes are based on their tribal, cultural and religious
differences, while the castes like *Chakali *(washerman), *Kummari*
(potter), *Kammari* (smith), *Kamsali* (goldsmith), *Mangali* (barber) etc
are based on their duties in addition to the above differences. With a few
exceptions like the *Brahmin* caste, all these castes are uniquely
localized in Andhra Pradesh. Each caste has a deity and distinct social
formalities. The interaction between various castes is difficult because of
these religious, cultural and tribal considerations.
Conversions and adoption are such mechanisms by which a tribal identity
of the offspring may be changed. However, one has to remember that changing
the labels cannot change genes. Only inter-caste marriage combined with
conversion would result in genetic change as well. In the past,
inter-caste marriage had resulted in new castes, as conversion was not an
option. Indian castes, just like any other tribes, do not appreciate
conversion to another tribe or caste, as most of them are non-proselytizing
and consider their customs superior to any other customs and caste
practices.
Brahmins are also non-proselytizing and do not appreciate tribal-caste
conversion in general. However, it may be inevitable when faced with
proselytizing forces such as Christianity and Islam, and when there is a
need for increasing the numbers in a particular community. Also, in a
cosmopolitan civilized world, where there cannot be restrictions on one’s
choice of the spouse, conversion is the best compromise. Muslims and
Christians follow this method very strictly as a method of increasing their
fold. Usually, anyone who marries a Muslim must convert to Islam.
In the past, however, through rigorous courses and tests some
non-Brahmins became Rishis, e.g., Kings like Viswamitra, Vishnuvardhana,
Radheerga, Veerahavya etc. became Rishis and established their own Vedik
schools and new Brahmin branches. (Reference: "Andhra Viprula Gotramulu,
Indla Perlu, Sakhalu," by Emmesroy Sastri, Gollapudi Veeraswami Son, Sri
Seetarama Book Depot, Rajahmundry).
The Sanskrit is an ancient language that became irrelevant to Indians in
general, and Brahmins in particular. It is the language of Brahmins.
However, whenever, Brahmins migrated to lands, they adopted to the local
language and customs and adopted local Gods, yet maintained their Sanskrit
language, the Vedas, traditions and culture. Unfortunately, today's
Brahmin lost this ability to keep the Sanskrit language and the Vedas due
to various reasons.
Many words in Sanskrit have many meanings, e.g., Hari means God, Vishnu,
Indra, Yama, the sun, the moon, a monkey, a lion, an eagle, a horse, a
frog, a parrot, air, wind, a ray of light, yellow colour, the best, etc.
With hidden agendas and/or without proper knowledge of Sanskrit, many
interpreters distort the Sanskrit texts. Brahmanism is an ancient
non-proselytizing religion and forms the basis for many Indian religions
such as Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism, Buddhism, Jainism etc., to a large
extent.
A religion is a belief in and reverence for a supernatural power
accepted as the creator and governor of the universe and having a certain
organization and tradition in worshipping such Supreme Being. Brahmins
believe in such Supreme Being and have a unique way of worshipping with
certain rituals, which are different from that of the rest of the world.
However, Brahmins have embraced the local religions wherever they migrated
and yet maintained their identity and basic Vedic culture.
*Hinduism is not a religion, but a way of life*. It includes traditions,
culture, religions and other practices of various peoples localised in the
Indian Continent. Hinduism includes communists, atheists, capitalists and
numerous Indian religions. However, the so-called experts also tell us
that there is a religion called Hinduism. For example, the Longman
Dictionary says, Hinduism is the main religion of India, which includes
belief in destiny and reincarnation, while the Oxford Dictionary says
Hinduism is the main religious and social system of India, including the
belief in reincarnation and the worship of several gods. However, there
are many non-Indian religions in this world that believe in destiny and
reincarnation. Some say that rather than a single doctrine or a single
system of worship, Hinduism is a broad confluence of ideas and attitudes.
Well, of course, then one has to wonder why the ideas and attitudes from
Middles East, such as, Islam, Christianity and Judaism, are not included in
it!
*However, historically, there was never such a thing as Hinduism in the
Indian Continent.* It is a recent creation by the outsiders to define the
myriad religions and cultures that exist in the Indian Continent. Whatever
may be the history, the fact is that now there is so-called Hinduism in the
minds of people, who cannot comprehend the diversity of the Indian
Continent and have no intention of even attempting to understand it. So,
even the Brahmin Gurus and Pandits and other so-called Hindus have come to
accept the name-the Hinduism, given to them by the outsiders, while
denouncing and redefining it again and again.
In an attempt to define Hinduism that exists in India today, the
Constitution Bench in *Sastri Yajnapurushadasji and Others Vs. Muldas
Bhudardas Vaishya and Another, 1996 (3) SCR 242* held: "Then we think of
the Hindu religion, we find it difficult, if not impossible to define Hindu
religion or even adequately describe it. Unlike other religions in the
world, the Hindu religion does not claim any one prophet; it does not
worship any one God: it does not subscribe to any one dogma: it does not
believe in any one philosophic concept: it does not follow any one set of
religious rites or performances; in fact, it does not appear to satisfy the
narrow traditional features of any religion or creed. *It may broadly be
described as a way of life and nothing more*." The Supreme Court further
opined "Hinduism had originally a territorial and not a cradle
significance. It implied residence in a well-defined geographical area.
Aboriginal tribes, savage and half-civilized people, the cultured
Dravidians and the Vedic Aryans were all Hindus as they were the sons of
the same mother. The Hindu thinkers reckoned with the striking fact that
the men and women dwelling in India belonged to different communities,
worshipped different gods, and practised different rites." Thus, Hinduism
is a group of religions.
A story from Panchatantra illustrates the present confusion
perfectly. Once there was a Brahmin who used to live on alms provided by
generous villagers. One day he was offered a calf by a neighbouring
villager. The Brahmin was happy and was carrying the calf home. Three
cheats saw the Brahmin carrying the calf and thought that it would make a
nice meal for them, while it would be useless to the vegetarian Brahmin.
They came up with a plan to cheat the poor Brahmin. One after the other all
three pass by the Brahmin and tell him that he was carrying a goat, donkey
respectively. Although the Brahmin didn’t believe initially, he came to a
conclusion that whatever he was carrying was certainly not a calf and it
must be demon because it was appearing to various people as various
things. So, he became scared and abandoned the calf. The three cheats
happily had a nice meal of the calf. This story tells us that persistent
misinterpretation gets credibility over a period of time. And so, now we
have Hinduism and everything in India is Hinduism and the tribes and castes
in India are due to the Hindu philosophy, contrary to the reality and the
interpretation of the Supreme Court. Life is simple that way, otherwise the
diversity in India is bewildering.
This Western and leftist definition of Hinduism resulted in attribution
of Brahmin customs, traditions, and culture to non-Brahmins. As a
result, non-Brahmins
like Iliah Kanche, a Kuruma Christian, who had developed a bitter hatred
against Brahmins declared themselves as non-Hindus. Many other Hindu
religions also declared themselves as separate from Hinduism, e.g.,
Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism etc.
This Western definition of Hinduism as a single religion, contrary to
the above Supreme Court definition, by the Western and leftist Indian
intellectuals has resulted, unfortunately, in another SC judgment of
far-reaching consequences for Brahmin religion. The Supreme Court has ruled
that Brahmins do not have monopoly over performing puja in a temple where
Brahmins have been priests for centuries and said a non-Brahmin, properly
trained and well-versed in the rituals, could be appointed as a priest. In
this decision, the SC has trampled on the freedom of religion enshrined in
the constitution as applied to Brahmins. The Brahmins and non-Brahmins are
considered part of a single religion called Hinduism and, thereby, a
non-Brahmin can take over the temples of Brahmins. This decision was
delivered by a Bench comprising Justice S. Rajendra Babu and Justice
Doraiswamy Raju, while upholding the appointment of a non-Brahmin as a
priest in Kongoopilly Neerikode Siva Temple at Alangad village in
Ernakulam, Kerala. The government of India and the Judiciary not only
interfere in the religions of Hindus and Hindu institutions, but also
actively attempt to destroy the Hindu religions such as Brahminism, while
supporting and allowing the growth of Western religions such as Islam and
Christianity and those religions that declared to be separate from
Hinduism, by all means. This kind of interference by the government would
not be tolerated anywhere in the world, including India. It is impossible
to have a Kurdish priest in a Turkish mosque or a Catholic priest in a
Serbian church or a Muslim in Christian Church; and even the most
secular/communist government in the world would not impose such an absurd
decision, except in India and that too with regard to Brahmins only.
{Mayne’s Treatise on Hindu Law and Usage, 14th Edition, 14th edition, pp.
1-45// Pandurang Vaman Kane, History of Dharma sastra (ancient and medieval
religious and civil law in India) -- 2d ed. -- Poona : Bhandarkar Oriental
Research Institute. -- (Government oriental series. Class B ; no. 6.). --
Vol II, Part I. -- 1974. -- S. 483 -486.}
Once upon a time, an assembly of Brahmins was arranged in presence of
Lord Brahma. All the Brahmin teachers and professors were invited. It was
declared that whoever among the invited fails to attend the Brahmin
assembly would be considered to have committed the sin of murder of a
Brahmin (Brahmahatya). For some unavoidable circumstances, Professor
Vaisampayana could not attend this meeting and acquired the sin of
Brahmahatya. He assembled all his disciples and requested them to
share the burden
of the sin of murder. One of his disciples was Yājñavalkya. He was a great
intellectual and was very powerful due to his knowledge. He came forward
and suggested that he would take all the sin and manage it with his powers
and requested Vaisampayana to let go other disciples. Vaisampayana was
enraged at this request. He considered this request as arrogance of
Yagnavalkya and completely out of line. Consequently, he ordered
Yājñavalkya to give up all the learning that he learned from Vaisampayana
and leave his school immediately. Yājñavalkya followed the orders of the
professor and discarded all the learning, which immediately evaporated into
the solar dimension. And he became poorer in his knowledge and hence in
powers and lustre. Yajnavalkya went to the Sun God and requested the Sun
to teach him Yajurveda. The Sun God agreed to teach and asked him to follow
him in the form a horse during his continuous travel across the skies and
learn. Thus, Yajnavlakya became a Vajasaneya, one who learned as a horse
and a branch formed called Vajasaneyi sakha. This Yajurveda learned by
Yajnavlkya as a horse from the Sun God is called SuklaYajurveda and the
earlier one that was learned from Vaisampayana was Krishna Yajurveda.
According to Vedas, when Yajnavalkya discarded the knowledge of
Vedas, other disciples absorbed it like Tittiri birds and hence the branch
that came from those disciples is called Tittiriya sakha. {Source:
Vayaupurana in “Ashtadasapurana,” by Venkatarama sastri Kompella, Rohini
Publications, Rajahmundry, pp. 308-309.}
K Rajaram IRS 17524//18524 TO BE CONTD
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