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You are here: Experts > Cultures > Indian Culture > Asian/Middle Eastern History > Aryan Caste System
Expert: Aupmanyav - 8/29/2008
Question
So what levels were there in this caste system? I know there were lords and peasants, but how much more indepth does it go?
Thanks in advance.
Answer
Dear Ian,
Are you and Emily friends? Emily, who has asked me a question today, also used the same heading. Here is my reply to your question (which is the same explanation that I gave to Emily):
"I would first like to mention is that the Aryans did not have a caste system. They had the four 'varnas', natural inclinations of people; and they were Brahmin (priests and teachers), Kshatriya (warriors), Vaishya (traders and agriculturists), and shudras (people with no particular capabilities), brahmins being at the top of the pyramid.
But along with more respect, they were given very litle benefit, they had to depend on the munificience of the society. This system was flexible and there are many instances when people moved from one 'varna' to another, higher or lower, depending on their actions and inclinations.
I believe Aryans were foreigners to India, I have no idea when they might have come to India. It could be 3,000 or even 8,000 years ago. The society in India also had many divisions according to tribes, beliefs, regions, languages, traditions, professions, etc. These were the castes and were hereditary.
When Aryans came to India, the 'varna' system was superimposed on the caste system. Priests of the indigenous system were mixed with brahmins, warriors into kshatriyas, traders and agriculturists into vaishyas, and the rest clubbed as shudras. This is when the Aryan 'varna' system became hereditary. Shudras perhaps made 10-15% of the society."
In addition, I would like to state that there was no question about people being lords in Hinduism. Even the king was not a lord. He too was a member of the society, who worked within the framework of rights and obligations as mentioned in our law books. It was his business to see that his people are happy and safe. If a king faltered in his duties, then his punishment was greater than the others. As perhaps you know, India had some of the oldest democracies in the world. These were known as 'Janapadas' and there were sixteen in Buddha's time (600 BC). These republics had different traditions, some were managed by councils, in some kings were chosen by majority, some had hereditary kingship dependent on acceptance of the populace. Even the Shudras were not slaves, only that they may have been in employment of other people.
Please feel free to check with me again in case you require any more explanations. With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Aupmanyav
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