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Social Organization in Ancient India: Varna and Jati Systems

Explore the ancient traditions of social organization in Hindu society, including the Varna and Jati systems. Discover the roles of different social classes and how they structured relationships based on occupation, age, and talent. Dive into the four Varnas - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras - and the unique functions they served in the community. Learn about the Karma law, reincarnation, and the pursuit of liberation beyond social structures. Understand the evolution of social dynamics through Vedic literature and the establishment of the Varna system. Delve into the details of the Jati system, its significance in determining social relationships, and the various stages of life according to Hindu beliefs.

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Social Organization in Ancient India: Varna and Jati Systems

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  1. HINDU HOLY POWERS RELATIONSHIPS, SOCIETY, COMMUNITY: THE HOLINESS OF BEING TOGETHER

  2. THE ISOLATION OF ANCIENT INDIA

  3. AN ANCIENT TRADITION INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION • 3500-1500 BCE

  4. AN ANCIENT TRADITION 1500-800 BCE VEDIC LITERATURE DEVELOPES

  5. AN ANCIENT TRADITION 600-200 BCE COMPOSITION OF UPHANISHADS

  6. AN ANCIENT TRADITION THE ARYAN INVASION • 1900-1600 BCE DECLINE – INDUS VALLEY CIV • C. 1500 BCE ARYANS BEGIN TO INFILTRATE FROM CENTRAL ASIA

  7. THE HINDU WAY OF LIFE TRADITIONALLY, TO BE HINDU MEANT • TO LIVE IN (H)INDIA • TO BE PART OF THE “CASTE” SYSTEM

  8. ORGANIZING SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS WHAT MIGHT BE SOME WAYS TO DO IT? WHAT IS IN YOUR PISTIS?

  9. ORGANIZING SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS WHAT MIGHT BE SOME WAYS? • FAMILY? • SOCIAL RANK? • OCCUPATION? • INDIVIDUAL TALENT? • AGE ?

  10. THE “VARNA” SYSTEM • THE INDO-ARYANS SEEM TO HAVE BROUGHT WITH THEM A THREE PART SOCIAL SYSTEM: • PRIESTS • MILITARY • AGRICULTURE AND TRADE

  11. THE “VARNA” SYSTEM • OVER TIME THEY ADDED ANOTHER LEVEL FOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF INDIA WHOM THEY HAD SUBJUGATED. THE SHUDRAS • THESE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE LIKELY ALREADY HAD A SIMILAR SYSTEM, THE “JATI” SYSTEM • CLOSED ENDOGAMOUS GROUPS BASED ON OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALIZATION

  12. THE “VARNA” SYSTEM

  13. THE “VARNA” SYSTEM IN THE VEDIC LAW OF MANU, THE IDEAL SOCIAL SYSTEM IS COMPOSED OF FOUR VARNAS THE “TWICE BORN”: • BRAHMINS- PRIESTS AND SCHOLARS • KSHATRIYAS- WARRIORS AND RULERS • VAISHYAS- IN COMMERCE AND TRADE _____________________________________ 4. SHUDRAS- LABORERS

  14. BRAHMINS PRIESTS AND SCHOLARS • INTELLECTUAL AND SPIRITUAL LEADERS • PHILOSOPHERS • ARTISTS • TEACHERS

  15. KSHATRIYAS WARRIORS AND RULERS • ADMINISTRATORS • ORGANIZE PEOPLE AND PROJECTS • MILITARY • POLITICIANS • POLITICAL LEADERS

  16. VAISHYAS COMMERCE AND TRADE • PRODUCERS • ARTISANS • TRADES PEOPLE • FARMERS • SKILLED WORKERS

  17. SHUDRAS- LABORERS • FOLLOWERS • SERVANTS • UNSKILLED LABORERS

  18. THE “VARNA” SYSTEM IN SOME OF THE VEDIC LAW BOOKS, THERE IS A FIFTH GROUP CALLED 5. DASYUS (“ALIENS”) • HUNTERS, FISHERMEN, LEATHER WORKERS, EXECUTIONERS, HANDLERS OF CORPSES • CONSIDERED UNCLEAN • “OUTCASTES”: LIVE OUTSIDE VARNA SYSTEM • “UNTOUCHABLES” VS. “HARIJAN”

  19. THE “VARNA” SYSTEM • THE LAW OF KARMA- A MORAL UNIVERSE • REINCARNATION- YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT • PICK UP WHERE YOU LEFT OFF • MOKSHA- SOONER OR LATER EVERYONE WISES UP AND ACHIEVES LIBERATION • THIS WORLD DOES NOT LAST • TRUE FULIFLLMENT LIES BEYOND

  20. THE “VARNA” SYSTEM IS THERE A COSMIC DIMENSION OR REAL, LASTING MEANING TO HUMAN BEING AND ACTION?

  21. THE JATI SYSTEM

  22. THE “JATI” SYSTEM • “JATI” MEANS “BIRTH” • THE PROPER TERM FOR “CASTE” (Pg = race, lineage) • GEOGRAPHICALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY LIMITED • LARGE KIN GROUP W/ OWN CUSTOMS, DRESS, DIET, BEHAVIOR • DETERMINES RELATIONSHIPS IN AND OUT

  23. LEADING A HOLY LIFE • YOGAS: DIFFERENT PATHS FOR DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS (in next segment) • STAGES OF LIFE- HOW OUGHT WE TO LIVE?: • STUDENT: ACQUIRE PISTIS FOR YOUR DHARMA

  24. LEADING A HOLY LIFE HOUSEHOLDER: FAMILY, VOCATION, COMMUNITY • ENACT YOURDHARMA • ENGAGE PLEASURE IN FAMILY • ACHIEVE SUCCESS THROUGH VOCATION • DUTY IN COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

  25. LEADING A HOLY LIFE RETIREMENT: • WITHDRAW FROM SOCIAL OBLIGATIONS • PURSUE ENDS OF PERSONAL INTEREST • SPEND TIME WITH THE YOUNG • LOOK INTO THE MEANING OF LIFE’S JOURNEY • THEN THE FOREST DWELLER • SIMPLICITY AND DEPTH

  26. LEADING A HOLY LIFE SANNYASIN • EXPANDING ONE’S IDENTITY BEYOND SOCIAL OR EARTHLY PURPOSE • FINDING ONE’S LINK WITH THE ABSOLUTE • NO EARTHLY GOAL • LEAVING ALL BEHIND

  27. RESOURCES Smith, Huston. The World’s Religions. New York: HarperCollins, 1991. Nielsen, Niles C., Jr., et. al. Religions of the World. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1988. 2nd ed.

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