Discuss the concept of Varna system in India.
OR
“In Indian society Varna system was a system of division of Labour.”
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What is Varna? Describe the characteristics of Varna system.
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What is Varna system? What is it’s form in recent Indian society?
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Discuss the fundamental principles of Varna system.
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What is Varna system? Discuss its sociological significance.
Ans-
1. Meaning of VARNA – Shri Yashacharya evolved the word ‘Varna’ from the root Vri – giving the meaning of choice or Varna. In this way Varna is that which a person chooses according to his nature and his work. Varna has been used for ‘colour.’
Originally according to Sri Panduranga Vamana jane the word Varna was applied to white complexioned ( gaur Varna) Aryans and black complexioned slaves or servants. At a later stage the word came to be used for the four social classes I.e Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudras.
2. Division of labour – The aim of the four Varna system in India was division of labour, similar to the division of labour of Plato and Wells.
The theory of division of labour is one of the fundamental theories of social organisation. It propounds that for an orderly progress of work in society it is necessary that it be divided into classes, according to natural tendencies.
Dr Bhagwan Das has divided labour under the Indian Varna system in the following classes :-
- Teacher class
- Governing class
- Business class
- Physical Labourer class
These are respectively the Brahamanas, the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas and Shudras.
Thus the responsibility of the Brahamanas was to see the proper execution of academic work like study of knowledge and teaching and other religious to the Kshatriyas while Vaishyas carried on the agriculture, dairy farming and business. The Shudras served the other Varnas. As has been said earlier, this class dvion is not peculiar to India, it has been a common feature of all the organised societies of the world.
3. Division of Functions According to Traits – While speaking on the subject this is what Shri Krishna said of the Varna System in the Gita that “ I am the one who has created the four Varnas according to nature and functions. In this way, in the Varna System, the division of labour has been effected on the basis of inherent qualities and mental tendencies.
Indians have accepted four tendencies common in man Satvika, and Sattvika-Rajasika, Rajasika – Tamasika, and Tamasika. The division of the Varna System has been made on the basis of these tendencies. The Brahmanas were of the Satvika nature, Kshtriyas of the Satvika – Rajasika, Vaishyas of the Rajasika – Tamasika and Shudras of the Tamasika nature.
Thus, originally in the Varna System greater performance was given to nature and tendency than to birth. It is said in the Atharveda Veda ‘ I do not take a man to be a slave or Arya from his birth, I evaluate him from his traits. In the Hindu Dharmashastras, it is said that everyone is a Shudra at birth, based upon the quality and tendency does not mean that the theory of Varna System utterly disregarded the influence of heredity.
4. Developed social order– The Varna System is a developed system. Social stratification is found in all societies but it is difficult to find one as systematic as the Indian Varna system. The object of this system is to put the different powers of man of proper and productive uses in order to maintain the solid, organised and balanced state of society. The Indian scholars, like Plato of Greece, gave the highest position in society to Brahmans- experts in the field of thought and spirit.
The second place was given to the protectors, the Kshtriya and the third to the producers, the Vaishya with the servants of the society in the fourth places. People unable to perform any expert activity were also included in the Shudra class. In the Varna System the higher classes got special rights and prerogatives but special responsibility corresponding to their authority is also attached to it.
