Varnashramadharma
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- Created by: SINNYMINAJ
- Created on: 29-03-15 13:39
Varna (Caste) Background
- Varna = Social class. Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishya and Shudras
- Jati = refers to a specific caste
- Origins
- Traced back to Aryan invasion in India - second millennium BC.
- They who devised a class system
- Initially only three varnas - Shudras then introduced
- Purpose
- Create and maintain rigid social structure between invaders and inhabitants
- Scriptual basis
- Rig veda includes a creation myth
- In a hymn the classes are compared to the body of a primeval man, Purusa;
- "The Brahmin was in his mouth, of both his arms was the Kshatriya made. His thighs became the Vaishya, from his feet the Shudra was produced"
- The word varna is not used and is the only hymn to include 'Vaishya' and 'Shudra'
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Varna - Four Varnas
- Brahmin
- Should teach, conduct sacrifices and give to charity
- Kshatriya
- Should protect all creatures and carry out righteous administration
- Support Brahmins and prepare for war and march with army and stand firm in battle
- Responsible for collection of taxes for defense of the realm
- Vaishya
- Concered with duties such as; agriculture, trade, cattle rearing, banking
- Shudra
- Employed by others and render service to others.
- Loyal, take pride and follow moral principles
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Varna - Dalits (untouchables)
- Unclean
- Impure
- Occupations
- Handling dead bodies
- Disposing of waste
- These considered polluting to the individual and contagious
- Unfit to have contact with 'pure' sections of society - higher varnas
- If a member of a higher varna was to come into contact with an untouchable they were considered polluted
- Had to wash repeatedly and engage in long rituals in order to cleanse
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Varna - Functions
- Belived the system was central in ensuring social harmony and order
- Assigns occupations - the Varna and Jati to which a person belongs is often linked with occupation. With Vaishya there are jatis of bakers, sheep hearders, metal workers etc.
- Seperates the different varnas according to purity and impurity
- The higher the persons is in the system, the higher level of impurity they must maintain
- The lower the person, the more likely they are to transmit impurity
- Purity restrictions are more frequent withing; marriage, drink, food and touch
- Marriage is only possible between individuals of the same varna
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Ashrama - The Student Stage
- For boys of the first three varnas
- Begins with the initiation rite
- A boy is traditionally expected to live away from home and study with a Guru to foster spiritual values
- He will enter studenthood as an adolescent and will then spend most of his teenage years studying
- Their duties include;
- Studying the Vedas and other texts
- Living a simple and celibate life
- Serving the guru and collecting alms for him
- Learning how to setup and maintain household worship
- Developing appropriate qualities; humility, discipline, simplicity etc.
- A student should gain knowledge through a course of study and should show regard to parents and teachers for their experiences in life
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Ashrama - The Householders Stage
- Usually entered into when a Hindu decides to marry and accept family responsibilites
- Getting married and having children is now considered a sacred duty
- He is expected to celebrate festivals, perform rituals, give to charity and care for aged parents
- A settled, well run house is considered essential for stability
- He must;
- Make money and enjoy pleasure in an ethnical manner
- Perform sacrifice
- Protect and nourish family
- Teach children spiritual values
- Give to charity
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Ashrama - The Retired Person Stage
- Retirement from any daily work
- The stage after a man has fulfilled all his social, religious and family obligations
- He hands over the running of the household to his son
- Spends his time reading his favourite holy texts
- Some may go on a pilgrimage
- He is often called upon to give advice on various matters due to his experience and is very respected
- All sexual relations are forbidden
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Ashrama - The Ascetic Stage
- This stage is optional
- A man gives up all ties to worldly life such as his family name, belongings and becomes a wandering holy man
- Renounces the world and leaves his wife
- Renounces social and religious duties and meditates on the mystery of death and rebirth
- Abandons all hope, desire, fear and responsibility and begs for food
- Treated with great respect
- Has a new name and will burn an effigy on his body to show that he is dead to the world
- Knows if he will achieve Moksha and will be buried rather than cremated
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Dharma
- Refers to four codes of conduct
- Dharma - Fulfiling ones purpose
- Artha - Prosperity
- Kama - Desire, sexuality and enjoyment
- Moksha - Pursuit of the goal of spiritual liberation
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Dharma - Dharma
- Meaning 'many things' - In this context meaning 'ones destiny or purpose'
- Generally refers to one's vocation or career which is defined by class
- The dharma of most women is to be a housewife and mother
- Another aspet is paying off the five debts - they believe that they are born into these debts
- The debts are;
- To the gods - paid by rituals and offerings
- To parents and teachers - paid by supporting them, having children and passing on knowledge
- To guests - paid by hospitality and respect
- To other human beings - paid by respect
- All other living things - paid by offering good will, food or appropriate help
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Dharma - Artha
- Prosperity or success in worldly pursuits
- Although a Hindu's ultimate goal is to achieve Moksha, the pursuit of wealth and prosperity is regarded as an appropriate pursuit for the householder
- Ensures social order as there would be no society if everyone dedicated worldly life to meditate
- While Hindu's are encouraged to make money, it must be within the boundaries of Dharma
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Dharma - Kama
- Meaning 'Desire'
- Refers to romantic love and sexual pleasure, though it can refer to desire in general
- An appropriate pursuit for the householder
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Dharma - Moksha
- Ultimate end of Hindu life
- Understood as; liberation from rebirth,enlightenment, self realisation or union with God
- Highest purpose of life although few achieve it
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