Myths about Hinduism
Hinduism has a discriminatory caste system[edit]
The caste system as it exists today, is thought to be the result of developments during the collapse of the Mughal era and the rise of the British colonial regime in India.[1][2] Rigveda the oldest known Sanskrit text of Hinduism has a chapter on Purusha Sukta that defines the ideal qualities of the Universal Man (Purusha)[3] as Brahman wisdom as his head, Rajah nobility as his arms, Vaishya business acumen as his thighs, and Shudra conscientiousness as his legs. These four qualities are present in an ideal man. These definitions of qualities were misinterpreted[4] as the basis for caste system.
Skanda Purana says Everyone is born shudra. You need to go through the discipline and rigor of years of training (dwija) before you can have the privilege of getting angry or pleased with another human.
Megasthanes a Greek historian visited India during the period between 302 B.C.E to 288 B.C.E found that the society was classless, all the citizens had equal rights.[5] He found the society had grouped people on varna system which is completely different than the caste system. The philosophers were neither masters nor servants.[6]
There are innumerable references of varna system being followed in India. Vyasa the divine sage of India who composed the Mahabharata a great Sanskrit epic widely followed by Hindus, was the son of a fisherwoman who belonged to shudra varna. Harihara I and Bukka founders of Vijayanagara empire were shepherds who became kshatriyas.Harishchandra a king from the Ikshvaku dynasty became a shudra. Kanakadasa a poet, philosopher was born in a chieftain family. Kalidasa a great poet of Sanskrit was born in a shepherd clan. Molla a famous Telugu poet was born in a potter's family.
Hinduism is the major religion of Bali island which is in Indonesia. The balinese people received hinduism during the first century A.D. Balinese Hindus do not have caste system they follow agama Hindu philosophy.
References[edit]
- ↑ de Zwart, Frank (July 2000). "The Logic of Affirmative Action: Caste, Class and Quotas in India". Acta Sociologica. 43 (3): 235–249. doi:10.1177/000169930004300304. JSTOR 4201209.
- ↑ Bayly, Susan (15 July 1999). Caste, Society and Politics in India from the Eighteenth Century to the Modern Age. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-26434-1. Search this book on
- ↑ "The Purusha Sukta". Swami Krishnanda. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help);|Authors list=missing|1=(help) - ↑ "What is India's caste system". BBC News. 19 June 2019. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Indika.
|Authors list=missing|1=(help) Search this book on
- ↑ "Indica (Megasthenes)", Wikipedia, 2020-03-20, retrieved 2020-04-14
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