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Ghandi and the Caste System

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Discuss the caste system including: how it is validated in the sacred texts, the dharma of each caste and the current situation.

What impact did Mahatma Gandhi have?

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The effect of Gandhi on the caste system is discussed, as well as validation of the system according to the sacred texts.

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Discuss the caste system including: how it is validated in the sacred texts, the dharma of each caste and the current situation.
What impact did Mahatma Gandhi have?

The caste system as we know it derives from an interaction between the ancient varna (class) system and the jati (caste) system.

There is much debate about its origins. The Rig Veda describes the creation of the varna system

When they divided Purusa how many portions did they make?
What do they call his mouth, his arms? What do they call his thighs and feet?
The Brahman was his mouth, of both his arms was the Rajanya made.
His thighs became the Vaisya, from his feet the Sudra was produced.

This indicates the earliest stages. There are also references to the caste system is the Code of Manu and the Kautilya Arthashastra. It is also obvious in the Bhavagadgita and the Kama Sutra. There are plenty of references to caste in these texts and they are available from http://www.sacred-texts.com/

These are texts later in development than the Rig Veda or other early Vedic literature but indicate that the concept of varna or class was infiltrated with ideas from non-Aryan sources - probably the Dravidians.

The changes in the varna system came about in that it developed into a system of caste as we understand it today - where one's status is determined by karma - the moral law of cause of effect. Caste is determined by the effects of karma from former existences and from the action of the person in their present existence.

Varna was ...

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