[Thread]

The Ancient Varna System has often been misinterpreted by Academics as the source of modern day Caste System or perhaps it's initial phase

But what is the truth?

Is Varna based on birth or worth? Let's see-

First let's see the meaning of the word Varna

वर्ण is made from root वॄञ् वरणे and अच् प्रत्यय as per अदर्शआदिभ्योऽच् sutra of Ashtadhyayi

And वरण essentially means CHOICE.

Depending on the context, it can have several meanings like color, gold, quality, nature, group, etc.

Nirukta II-3 says the word वर्ण (Varṇā) is derived from the root वृ (Vrī), which means ‘to choose, to appoint’.

It therefore, means ‘one to be chosen’, ‘worthy of choice’, or, ‘that to which one is appointed or elected with due regard to his attributes and works’.

Now let's proceed to what Hindu scriptures say about Varna:-

The most often quoted verse with regard to Chaturvarnyam is the Purusa Sukta hymn from RigVeda which says:-

The Brahmana became its mouth, Kshatriya the arms, Vaishya its thighs and the Shudra its feet. (10.90.12)

The general connotation of it is that the feet is lower than the head and hence the Shudra is inferior to the Brahmana (pic 1)

But this interpretation is incorrect since the Purusa has been always envisaged as lying down (pic 2)

Hence all four classes are fundamentally equal.

The underlying meaning of it is that just as every part of the body works to serve the whole, similarly every class of the society viz. Brahmins (intellectuals), Kshatriyas (administrators), Vaisyas (businessmen) & Sudras (artisans), work for the benefit of the society as a whole

Now the question that arises in everyone's mind is - does the varna depend on one's birth or on one's deeds?

In श्रीमद् भगवद् गीता, Krishna states

The fourfold system of varnas, was created by me in accordance to one's qualities and actions (4.13)