Ramanisblog

Tag: Caste

  • Inter Caste Children Gotra Anuloma Pratiloma Details

    I have written quite a few articles on Caste and its rationale.

    Also the Gotras,which identifies an individual.

    The concept of Gotra in Hinduism is unique in that it traces your ancestry and guides you the exact practices to be followed as mentioned in the Vedas,the scriptural authority of the Hindus.

    Hinduism lists forty smaskaras,the duties to be performed by an individual.

    This starts from birth and ends after cremation.

    One of the important rites is marriage.

    Hindu Smritis list seven types of marriages.

    They are,

    Eight types of Marriages.

    1.Brahmah Vivaah

    2.Prajapatya Vivaah.

    3.Arsha Vivaah.

    4.Daiva Vivah.

    5.Asura Vivaah.

    6.Gaandharva Vivaah.

    7.Raakshsa Vivaah and

    8.Paisaacha Vvaah

    Interestingly,Tamils also list eight types of marriages.

    Varna Dharma,which is loosely translated as Caste,which is incorrect,depends on Disposition and conduct and is not based on Birth.

    There are four Varmas.

    Brahmana,

    Kshatriya,

    Vaisya and

    Sudras.

    One is expected to marry in the same Varna,as it facilitates better integration of individuals who are getting married,The Life Style being compatible, similar and not totally divergent.

    If one marries in the same Varna,there would be no confusion in assigning Gotra.

    In the Vedic system,which was mostly Patriarchal,the Husband’s Gotra is assigned.

    In Matriarchal society,as was in Vogue in Kerala,India,the wife’s Gotra was assigned.

    However predominant was Patriarchal.

    Now if one were to marry from the other Varna,how to determine the Gotra and Caste?

    If A Brahmin man marries from other Varna,it was called Anuloma.

    If A Brahmin woman marries from the other Varna,it is Pratiloma.

    This is also said this.

    ‘Anuloma is marriage between a sudra woman and higher caste man. Pratiloma is marriage between a sudra man and higher caste women.‘

    As to the Caste to which the child belongs to,is normally, the Varna,Caste of the father.

    If A Brahmin man marries a woman of other Varna,the Varna of the Child is Brahmin at Birth.

    But to be qualified as Brahmin depends on Disposition and Character.

    The general perception that the Varna or Caste is based on the Higher Caste does not seem to be supported in Vedic Thought,though Some subscribe to this view.

    I am of the view,in the case of conflict in interpretation between Vedas,Sruthi and Smriti,the last word is that of Shruthi,Vedas.

    Therefore,the automatic assignment of Gotra,based on Varna hierarchy is not in tune with the spirit of the Vedas.

    That is, in the case of inter- varna marriages,the Gotra need not be assigned to that of the father,if he is considered Higher in Caste.

    Hence those who follow the Patriarchal system need not assign father’s Gotra to the child.,in the case of inter-varna marriages.

    Varna may be assigned later based on Disposition and Character and based on Varna ,the Gotra may be assigned.

    Generally speaking Siva Gotra is not found among Brahmins,who follow the Vedic Fire worship,

    I have observed that Vishnu Gotra is found among people who do not worship Agni,Fire.

    Gotras bearing God’s names seem to belong to this group.

    Otherwise,Gotra names are from Rishis, Saptha Rishis.

    As the disposition of children born of inter-varna are not determined soon after birth, I think God’s,Siva, Vishnu name are assigned initially.

    However this procedure may not really provide the Veda Shaka details.

    This article is exploratory and scholarly inputs with credible sources may be sent .

    It is of interest to note that Viswamitra,who gave the most important Mantra Gayatri, has been credited with two Gotras.

    Kaushika and Viswamitra.

    Kaushika Gotra is assigned to descendants of Viswamitra,when he was a Kshatriya King, Kaushika.

    And Viswamitra Gotra to his descendants born to him after he became a Raja Rishi,Brahmana.

  • Twelve Castes Among Ancient Tamils

    The classification of society into four, based on disposition of individuals is an unique concept of Hinduism.

    This is used to vilify Hinduism as practicing Caste is.

    That this concept is incorrect has been explained in my articles on Caste.

    The fact that Tamil is against Sanatana Dharma and Arya Invasion theory has been proved wrong.

    Please read my article ‘The Fraud called Arya Invasion Theory.

    There have been concerted attempts to portray that the ancient Tamil Society did not have Caste system and Tamils did not have Caste system at all and all were treated equal.

    A perusal of Ancient texts like Tholkappiyam and other Sangam Literature indicate that not only were there the the four Varnasrama of the Vedic period, Brahmana , Kshatriya, Vysya and Sudra, but there were seven castes.

    ‘The Tamil and Sanskrit Grammar are said to have been revealed simultaneously to Agasthya and Panini by Lord Shiva! Though the literary proof for this claim can be had only in the post 15th century AD period, it cannot be denied that both Tamil and Sanskrit grammar have commonality in many ways. Yet another information that I want the readers of this mail-chain to know is that this Tamil Grammar work does say that the 4 varnas were there among the Tamil speaking people and adds 3 more categories, making it a 7- class society. The additional three are – astrologers, sages andPorunar (kshatriya vratyas). There was a separate class of astrologer called by a generic term “ARivan” – which is a Tamil equivalent of Daivajna.‘

    Jayashree Saranathan blog

     

    ‘ Greek Traveler and Historian Megasthanes records these seven castes in his book Indica.

    The Link for the book. <a href=””>Ancient Indian History and Civilization by Surendranath Jain

    ‘ 1. Maruta makkal or tribes of ploughmen (ulavar) inhabiting fertile, well-
    watered tracts (panai) and living in villages called ur,
    2. Kuravar makkal (or hill people who are foresters, make charms, and tell
    fortunes and may come out of the forest to work in the panai,
    3. Mullai makkal (or pastoralists, also called ayar (cowmen), kovalar
    (shepherds), and idaiyar (cowherd or shepherd),
    4. Neytal makkal ( or fishing people living in large coastal villages called
    pattinam or small ones called pakkam, and
    5. Palai makkal or people of the dry plains called eyinar. maravar, and veIar
    who are hunters of both the dry plains and the forest.’

    It appears that there were four castes, then further divisions took place.

     

    It became seven and then twelve.

    There were overlapping of castes as well.

    Over a period some castes merged and some emerged.

    This fact emerges from a reading of ancient Tamil Literature.

     

  • Meaning Of Asrama Hinduism Four Stages of Life

    One goes through Life.

    IT is a dynamic process, where the environment changes, relationships are acquired, lost, brushed aside, wealth earned lost and retrieved.

    One is after something and after acquiring it he loses interest in it, be it things people or relationships.

    Man hopes, despairs and hopes.

    Values change, both individually and at the social level constantly.

    Though born alone and shall depart alone, one acquires Name, Fame and Relationships,

    Only to Go alone, finally.

    In the process, one changes and his position undergoes change.

    If one were to classify these changes broadly to accommadate people of all Races, Religions, Faiths, Economic and social status, one can suggest ways to realize the Reality or God.

    For realization is by the Individual and hence it depends on his Dispositions, Varna Character.

    Your disposition towards things change as your Station or position in your changes.

    No one remains the same from Birth to Death.

    IT is the Universal Law.

    Change.

    If you do not change, you perish.

    IT is Survival of the fittest and adaptation to circumstances and environment.

    As one’s attitude to things and people change with changing circumstances, one has to take into account this while suggesting means to realize Self, Really or God.

    Hinduism classifies Stages, Stations of one’s Life.

    Irrespective of one’s Race color, Religion, Economic Status, one has to go through the following stages.

    Brahmachari a, the Celibate State, Stage,

    Gruhastha, Married Stage,

    Vanaprastha, Retired Life and

    Sanyasa, The Stage of Renunciation.

    These are the four stages of Man.

    Each stage has its specialities.

    Accordingly each stage has been prescribed a method for Realization og Self, God.

    These stages are called Asrama.

    Asrama means a place one takes refuge in.

    IT also means Station.

    That is a status or stage in one’s Life.

    This is the meaning of the term Asrama used in Hindu texts, including the Vedas, Bhagavad Gita.

    This is the term used along with Varna as Varnasrama Dharma.

    While Varna addresses Dispositions of individuals in general, Asrama denotes the stage at which the individual finds himself in Life.

  • What Is Varna of Varnasrama in Hinduism, Explanation.

    The term Varna means Color in Sanskrit.

    The deeper meanings are Hues, Dispositions.

    Sanskrit is rich language with words meaning different concepts based on the subject that is dealt with and the context in which words are used.

    While discussing mundane subjects like Physics, Varna means Color and when dealing with aspects of color, it denotes Hues, refinement of colors.

    While dealing with philosophy, Varna means disposition.

    Human beings have various Feelings, emotions, drives and dispositions.

    Dispositions are those which impel one to Act or Feel.

    These Dispositions are both Genetic and Acquired.

    In the case of Acquired Disposition, it is called Vaasana , a general term meaning Olfactory Sensation.

    In this context, it denotes the acquired tendencies/dispositions which are the results of Actions performed by the Individual.

    In Hinduism both Free Will and Determinism are accepted.

    So these Dispositions make one act and feel

    Some actions are the result of Dispositions or Vasana, which are the outcome of actions performed in this birth and some due to actions performed in earlier births.

    This factor is called Varna.

    Human beings are impelled to Act.

    This action springs from Dispositions.

    Disposition is the tendency to lean towards something or some action.

    Some tend to act emotionally, some rationally.

    Some like certain things, are disposed to certain disciplines, be it Arts or Science.

    Some are kind, gentle.

    Some, aggressive, passionate and

    Some Docile.

    This forms the basis of Character, Disposition.

    These qualities are not present wholly present in one.

    One quality is dominant.

    In some The quality of being gentle is present predominantly and the other qualities remain dormant and present to a lesser extent.

    And this admixture of Qualities change during one’s lifetime and changes even from minute to minute.

    This change is due to factors like Food, the Environment and the social group in which one mo ves.

    I shall be writing on this in another article.

    These dispositions, called as Varna determine one’s natural tendencies.

    These form the basis for one’s Nature, Swabhava.

    These are the Three Gunas of individual.

    They are,

    Sattva

    Rajas and

    Tamas .

    Please read my articles on these for details.

    As these three gunas form the basis for human actions, the term Varna is used to denote Human Tendencies.

    As tendencies are the basis for actions, vocations, society was based on this principle of Varna.

    And this is the meaning of the term Varna used in Indian texts, including the Vedas and The Bhagavad Gita.

  • Six South Brahmin Groups Settled by Parashurama From Narmada

    I have observed in some of my articles that while we seem to have attempted to explore Indian civilization on the banks of Rivers , Sarasvathi, Ganga and Sindhu we are yet to explore the rivers mentioned repeatedly in the Vedas, Puranas and Ithihasas.

    Parashurama .jpg
    Bhargava Rama, called Parashurama .Avatar of Vishnu

    Also the rivers mentioned by  regional classics.

    The Rivers are.

    Ganga

    Yamuna,

    Godavari,

    Sarasvathi,

    Narmada,

    Sindhu,

    Kaveri.

    • ‘Gangesca yamuneschaiva Godavari Sarasvathi
    • Narmade Sindhu Kaveri Jalesmin Sannithim kuru,

    Snanan Mantra. MANTRA FOR TAKING BATH.

    There are Vaigai, Tamraparani in the present Tamil Nadu and there are references in Tamil classics about Pahruli, Nadu and Peru rivers.

    The Vaigai is closely associated with Lord Shiva and the present Madurai is on the banks of Vaigai river.

    Tamraparani river is in Thirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu and is associated with Sage Agastya and Shiva.

    Pahruli and the other two rivers have submerged and their probable location is near Madagascar.

    I am trying to attempt some of the civilizations on these river banks.

    Narmada is a holy river in the western part of India and one finds Shiva more prominently.

    And Dwaraka of Krishna was in the present Gujarat.

    Hindu texts mention two migrations from this valley.

    Both due to Tsunami.

    Latest Tsunami after Mahabharata War resulted in Sage Agastya bringing 71 Families from there and settling them in the present Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

    These settlers in Tamil Nadu ruled the border areas of Karnataka, Coimbatore, Dharma puri, Salem and Erode areas as Velirs, small kingdoms under the three great kingdoms of Chera, Chola and Pandya

    .I have written on this.

    Another migration seems to have been there before Ramayana period and this seems to have been led by Bhargava Rama, popularly known as Parashurama.

    He shifted families from the Narmada Area to the south , to Kerala, Konkan coast Maharashtra and Goa.

    Detailed post on this follows.

    Parashurama, born a Brahmana took upon the responsibilities of a Kshtriya by waging war against Kshatriyas.

    He settled the immigrant families from Narmada and settled them in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

    These six groups of Brahmins settled by Parashurama are,

    1. Anavil

    2. Dravidulu.

    3. BHumihar

    4. Tyagi.

    5. Chitpuvan and

    6. Nambbodiris.

    The practices of these Brahmins differ slightly from Vedic Brahmins.

    ‘Parashurama is worshipped as mūlapuruṣa, or male ancestral founder by some Anavil , Dravidulu, Bhumihar,Tyagi ,Chitpavan , Nambudiri Brahmin communities. Along with the sages Vyasa, Kripaand Drona’s son Ashwatthama, Parashurama is considered to be foremost among the rishis in the Kaliyuga.Parashurama will also become one of the saptarishi in the 8th Manvantara

    This, coupled with the regions the were settled is a mine of History which I shall write in detail.

     

    ‘Reference and citations.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parashurama