Some sweeping generalisations.
The Dalits reject Hinduism and embrace Buddhism as per Ambedkar’s advice, or get converted to Christianity. Given the treatment they have received over the years, who can blame them?
The Sudras (the richest castes) accept Hindusim and reject the supremacy of Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaisyas. They specially hate the brahmins. They perform rituals at which they employ brahmin priests, even as they loathe and dominate them. I have seen them yell at a priest in the Simhachalam temple, using the singular form of address, even as they required his services to perform the seva. So they believe in the efficacy of the procedure, in the ritual, in the mantra, just not in the intention and superiority of the brahmin priests. However in secular matters they have no problems in employing brahmins in their enterprises or in befriending and helping them. They rightly recognise their own material superiority and want others to accept it.
Vaisyas are pro-Hindusim, resentful of brahmin supremacy, and look at the philosophy, history and science of Hinduism more than the ritual.
The kshatriyas are a dignified and cultured bunch and I have never found a single one of them who ever expressed any view on this matter in a personal capacity.
Brahmins are pro-Hinduism. They are interested in the meaning behind the rituals. They are interested in the philosophy, science and history of the scriptures. They are more westernised and less ritualistic than the sudras. They are very uncomfortable about caste history. They cannot quite understand why anyone needs to hate someone who has no money or power or status. I think it is easy to hate someone who has no power or money or status, they can’t hit back can they? And yet deep in their persecuted, maligned and suffering hearts, they “know” they are special, as are their rituals, mantras and philosophy. They “know” that the others don’t have it and that the present hardships are to be endured in Krishna’s name. They “know” they have a special relationship with God and “this too shall pass”. If this doesn’t sound Jewish, then what does? It is this “knowledge” that makes them hated even though they have no power or money or status or even love and livelihood. What is that unshakable knowledge? It is “Tat Tvam Asi”.
I know I have made some sweeping generalisations.
Comments on: "Views of Castes on Hinduism : Some sweeping generalisations." (5)
Is there such thing called ‘The brahmin supremacy’ at all? Was there a systematic oppression? Was there a caste ‘system’?
Note: I am not a brahmin
‘Brahminism’, ‘Brahmin supremacy’, priesthood etc., existed only in the imaginations of early travelers that visited India and the colonial masters. The ‘Indology’ crap intellects then bequeathed these notions to our half baked intellectuals and they continue to recite these slogans without understanding what they are talking about.
Discrimination is everywhere. There are ‘upper’ and ‘lower’ castes in Dalits too. irrespective of caste – there is discrimination.
Lets forget about brahmins. I am yet to see a true ‘sudra’ in my life
I would value your comments on these two pieces as well… if you would…
Satya
http://ancientindians.wordpress.com/devas-and-brahmans/
http://ancientindians.wordpress.com/jati-varna-rama-krishna/
No where in the Hindu texts is there support for a hierarchical , hereditary caste system. This is a discussion of job classifications for persons best suited to professions. The ignorance and illiteracy of the population due to the suppression of the Hindu population brought about the state of current thinking by ignorant people about caste. This class discrimination was leveraged by the British and Moguls to manipulate and pit sections of the population against each other. Education and Knowledge will eradicate this atrocious behaviour.
http://ancientindians.wordpress.com/sociology-and-social-issues/