What is India's caste system?

Vakavaka Pakapaka wrote:Looks like this BBC guy paid some money to the great-great-great-great-great grandson of Manu mian for the information that castes come from Brahma (of the Hindu trinity).

The four varnas were described in the Purusha sooktam (of Rg Veda).

........................
BrhaamanOsya mukhamaaseet
Baahoo raajanyah kritah
Uuru tadasya yadvaisyah
PadbhyAAgm suudrO ajaayata
.....................

Seva Lamberdar wrote:

Vakavaka Pakapaka wrote:Looks like this BBC guy paid some money to the great-great-great-great-great grandson of Manu mian for the information that castes come from Brahma (of the Hindu trinity).

The four varnas were described in the Purusha sooktam (of Rg Veda).

........................
BrhaamanOsya mukhamaaseet
Baahoo raajanyah kritah
Uuru tadasya yadvaisyah
PadbhyAAgm suudrO ajaayata
.....................

Totally wrong representation (figure) above about "Purusha", because it is not in anyway according to hymn 10.90 in the Rig Veda (as stated below, Purusha Sukta). For example, where are a thousand heads, a thousand eyes and a thousand feet, etc. (including the Sun from the eyes and the Moon from the mind) in the above figure, as indicated in Purusha Sukta below.

Purusha Sukta (Rig Veda: 10.90)  :
  
1. A THOUSAND heads hath Puruṣa, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet.
On every side pervading earth he fills a space ten fingers wide.
2 This Puruṣa is all that yet hath been and all that is to be;
The Lord of Immortality which waxes greater still by food.
3 So mighty is his greatness; yea, greater than this is Puruṣa.
All creatures are one-fourth of him, three-fourths eternal life in heaven.
4 With three-fourths Puruṣa went up: one-fourth of him again was here.
Thence he strode out to every side over what cats not and what cats.
5 From him Virāj was born; again Puruṣa from Virāj was born.
As soon as he was born he spread eastward and westward o’er the earth.
6 When Gods prepared the sacrifice with Puruṣa as their offering,
Its oil was spring, the holy gift was autumn; summer was the wood.
7 They balmed as victim on the grass Puruṣa born in earliest time.
With him the Deities and all Sādhyas and Ṛṣis sacrificed.
8 From that great general sacrifice the dripping fat was gathered up.
He formed the creatures of-the air, and animals both wild and tame.
9 From that great general sacrifice Ṛcas and Sāma-hymns were born:
Therefrom were spells and charms produced; the Yajus had its birth from it.
10 From it were horses born, from it all cattle with two rows of teeth:
From it were generated kine, from it the goats and sheep were born.
11 When they divided Puruṣa how many portions did they make?
What do they call his mouth, his arms? What do they call his thighs and feet?
12 The Brahman was his mouth, of both his arms was the Rājanya made.
His thighs became the Vaiśya, from his feet the Śūdra was produced.
13 The Moon was gendered from his mind, and from his eye the Sun had birth;
Indra and Agni from his mouth were born, and Vāyu from his breath.   ............

truthbetold wrote:Vp and seva,

Please help us understand how your explanation contradicts the figure posted to start the thread.

It is common sense that head is considered to be higher stature than feet. It is clearly an attempt of the writer to show relative importance of different groups(castes).

truthbetold wrote:Vp and seva,

Please help us understand how your explanation contradicts the figure posted to start the thread.

It is common sense that head is considered to be higher stature than feet. It is clearly an attempt of the writer to show relative importance of different groups(castes).

Seva Lamberdar wrote:

truthbetold wrote:Vp and seva,

Please help us understand how your explanation contradicts the figure posted to start the thread.

It is common sense that head is considered to be higher stature than feet. It is clearly an attempt of the writer to show relative importance of different groups(castes).

TBT, try this link, http://www.geocities.ws/lamberdar/_caste.html

Notwithstanding the above sketch (essentially in terms of positions on a human body and using the crude Sanskrit translation of Purusa Sukta), the symbolism in the Pususha Sukta (Rig Veda: 10.90) is basically functional (as explained in the above link, according to the needs of society / tribe): brahmins being the mouth of society, kshatriya as the arms of society, vaishya as thighs or supports for society, and sudra as the new additions (newcomers) to the society (basically arriving on foot or by walking).

confuzzled dude wrote:

Seva Lamberdar wrote:

truthbetold wrote:Vp and seva,

Please help us understand how your explanation contradicts the figure posted to start the thread.

It is common sense that head is considered to be higher stature than feet. It is clearly an attempt of the writer to show relative importance of different groups(castes).

TBT, try this link, http://www.geocities.ws/lamberdar/_caste.html

Notwithstanding the above sketch (essentially in terms of positions on a human body and using the crude Sanskrit translation of Purusa Sukta), the symbolism in the Pususha Sukta (Rig Veda: 10.90) is basically functional (as explained in the above link, according to the needs of society / tribe): brahmins being the mouth of society, kshatriya as the arms of society, vaishya as thighs or supports for society, and sudra as the new additions (newcomers) to the society (basically arriving on foot or by walking).

How did the brains, shoulders and thighs arrive, by Pushpak Viman? Do you think those trekkers that arrived later were legals? Sounds like they were definitely illegals, brought in drugs, crime, were rapists. And some, I assume, were good enough to perform menial jobs.