Hinduism is a universal religion. Its primary emphasis is on universal brotherhood. It views the world as one family. It believes that man is divine in nature and realization of that supreme truth as the primary aim of all human activity. It is therefore unfortunate that for a very long time this religion of great antiquity has been in the clutches a few privileged castes.
It would be a great service to the cause of Hinduism if the present day Vedic teachers identify bright children from the lower castes and start teaching them the Vedas and the Upanishads and allow them to serve God in the temples of India. The strength of Christianity stems from dedicated missionaries who come from all sections of society. The weakness of Hinduism and of Hindu society is caste system, which divides people into divergent and bickering groups and keeps them apart. Perhaps there is no other nation in the world that is as openly and shamelessly as racial as India. To be born in an upper caste is a matter of pride whether the family to which a person belongs deserves it or not. A number of Indians who visit foreign countries often complain about being treated differently on account of their skin color or accent. They overlook the fact that a vast number of people in their own country exhibit a far greater obsession with accent, skin color and caste. Indian film stars put on white makeup, on the screen and off the screen, even if they are black, to look acceptable and desirable. The country’s democracy is not a true democracy, but castocracy, where people vote and leaders are elected on caste lines. The Indian political parties thrive and succeed by appealing to this base emotion of people.
There are countless scholars who justify Hindu caste system quoting chapter and verse from the scriptures, ignoring the fact that they were convenient interpolations or authored by bigoted scholars in an otherwise sacred lore to justify a cruel and unjust system using the very authority of God.
Caste System has been the bane of Hindu society for centuries. In terms of impact, it did much greater damage for a much longer period to a great many people than the slave system of the western world or the witch-hunting practices of medieval Europe. The Hindu caste system was a clever invention of the later Vedic society, justified by a few law makers. The upper castes found it convenient to retain and perpetuate their social and religious distinction and political and economic advantage. With the exception of Saivism and a few ascetic traditions, most of the ancient sects of Hinduism were caste biased.
The idea of staying away from unclean people is understandable in a society that was obsessed with the concept of physical and mental purity. There is nothing unusual with people who are selective in choosing their friends and relationships. It is normal behavior to stay away from people who are found to be socially deviant, untrustworthy or unfamiliar. It is an expression of our social intelligence and self-preservation instinct. Personal hygiene, family background and financial status do matter today in society as it was thousands of years ago. But what was wrong with the Vedic society was it recognized inequalities among men based on birth and family lineage and proclaimed it to be the will of God. This line of thought was perpetuated by Vedic scholars for centuries through the authority of scriptures and fear of divine retribution. They wrongfully created human stereotypes to justify a social structure that favored a few at the expense of many, denying a vast majority of people opportunities to use their inborn talents and pursue their own dreams and aspirations.
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Hinduism is outdated, Hinduism treat human worse than animal. Hindu treat their dogs better than they treat their other followers of Hinduism
Chandalas: The lowest of the sudras were called chandalas or the impure ones. They were treated as untouchables because of their gory religious practices, penchant for sacrifices, magical rites and unclean habits. In ancient times they were not allowed to enter a village or city during day time or walk in the same street where men of other castes walked. Even their shadow was considered impure and their very sight as a bad omen. So they lived mostly on the fringes of society, unknown and uncared for, following some esoteric religion of their own and working mostly in the graveyards and cremation grounds or as hunters, butchers and professional cleaners of human waste.
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Dean Jane Thanks for posting your comment on my blog but have you gone through complete article? This structure was developed more then 3000 years back (1000 BC), I am not saying it this “system information” is not outdated; yes it is and was a long back. Now the system is much upgraded.
By the way “They were treated as untouchables because of their gory religious practices, penchant for sacrifices, magical rites and unclean habits” This was the reason for treating them Untouchables , and just for your information there was hundred and hundred of example in Hindu history that these ‘Shudra’s’ have evolved themselves as the top most level of Brahmins. Examples like: Valymiki, Jabali, where as many example of degradation is there too when if someone is not capable or not practicing that he should be for retaining higher level they degraded them lower levels.
Thanks
Sudeep
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interesting article. you may want to check out http://www.gitananda.org/hinduism/index.php for more on what saints like gandhi and swami vivekananda had to say about hinduism
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Namasthe Jane: You wrote ” Hinduism is outdated, Hinduism treat human worse than animal. Hindu treat their dogs better than they treat their other followers of Hinduism.”
Even though relics of evils of Caste System can be still seen in some parts of India, to condemn the HINDU CULTURE in totality will be exactly like throwing “the baby with the bath water.”
It is unfair to broad-brush indictment of entire Hinduism in the evils beings done by few men here and there.
“Slavery” was part and parcel of the Holy Bible [Old Testament ], and that was the only reason why loving, chruch going white Americans made black Africans slaves. But I agree due to Martin Luther King and others “slavery” is no more in USA.
TREAT YOUR SLAVES JUSTLY AND FAIRLY, KNOWING THAT YOU ALSO HAVE A MASTER IN HEAVEN [Col. 4:11]. “THE SLAVE IS HIS MONEY” [Exodus 21:21]. St. Paul urged one slave ONESIMUS to return to his master. . Columbus a very devout Christian was indeed a missionary who did NOT feel any remorse in taking slaves from America. Spanish did have no problem in making American Indians and Mayans slaves since they were literally following the Holy Bible. Christians gave upon slavery, even though Biblical passages were used by over 200 preachers to justify slavery before the Civil War..
Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America said: “[Slavery] was established by decree of Almighty God…it is sanctioned in the Bible, in both Testaments, from Genesis to Revelation…it has existed in all ages, has been found among the people of the highest civilization, and in nations of the highest proficiency in the arts.” In 1999, Southern Baptist Convention apologize to African Americans for slavery. Like wise we have to give up on caste system.
Similarly, I am sure the evils of “caste system” will be totally eradicated with in very near future.
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I don’t think so. You have to revise your looks. In general your blog is good, but sometimes your posts are creepy.
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Dear Sudeep Sakalle..
intrsting insights..i wud like to hve a chat with u regarding a query to Brahmin v/s inter religion marriages. am going through this issue right now as am in love with a girl from your community… would like to know is there any ‘options’ left for me to convince a traditional brahmin family into this marriage….the girl is inclined to this, but not her parents…
any suggestions ?
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Namasthe Jane: You wrote ” Hinduism is outdated, Hinduism treat human worse than animal. Hindu treat their dogs better than they treat their other followers of Hinduism.”
Even though relics of evils of Caste System can be still seen in some parts of India, to condemn the HINDU CULTURE in totality will be exactly like throwing “the baby with the bath water.”
It is unfair to broad-brush indictment of entire Hinduism in the evils beings done by few men here and there.
“Slavery” was part and parcel of the Holy Bible [Old Testament ], and that was the only reason why loving, chruch going white Americans made black Africans slaves. But I agree due to Martin Luther King and others “slavery” is no more in USA.
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