Sunday, October 20, 2013

Society & One-Legged Dharma-Part 4- Thoughts on Jati-Varna System

________________________    
Nithin Sridhar
____________________ 


I will pen-down my comments and opinions on various social issues under the title "Society & One-Legged Dharma" pointing out how most of the ills of the society has been caused due to forsaking of Dharma by people. In Hindu scriptures, the Dharma represented by a Bull is said to stand on four legs in Satya Yuga, when most people practiced and lived life by Dharma. "Four-Legs" denotes that Dharma was firmly established in society. On the other hand, it is said that,in Kali Yuga, Dharma stands only on One-Leg. We have been witnessing this in our society, where qualities like truth, non-violence, compassion, honesty have lost their value and replaced by untruth, deviousness, corruption, violence etc.
The series of writings under this title is my humble attempt to revive Dharma by making people become aware of them.
-Nithin Sridhar

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 Thoughts on Jati-Varna System
 
In the ideal Varna System, Jati is for vocations and not vice-verse. In a society there are multiple jobs that must be done by different groups of people. Only then, there will be smooth functioning. If every person is competing for some jobs and some other jobs are neglected, there will be unemployment, jealousy etc in the society.

Hence, in order to achieve effective division of labor Jati system was create. Jati refers to a group of people involved in a specific job. It was made hereditary as by this, it was easy to pass the skills required from father to son, generation to generation. Varna's as you know is determined based on Guna and based on it certain Duties/Dharmas has been allotted. But, a child's Guna is most affected by the environment in which it grows. Hence, the Jati was designed such that, generation after generation grew in that particular environment and did those jobs and contributed to the society. They lived a happy and content life. There was no jealousy, hatred or violence. As No Job can be said to be inferior or superior to another, no Jati was considered inferior or Superior. Hence, there was progress and harmony.

Of course, all these are in an Ideal Society with Varna-Jati System in place. But, this system has been decaying for many centuries now. In fact with each Yuga, Dharma declines. Yet, it can be seen that, even till few hundred years ago, till the time of coming of British, there was very less caste violence. The untouchability etc had already taken its ugly form. Yes. But, the situation was still better than today. After the arrival of Britishers, the situation became worse. People abandoned their dharma/duties. They all started competing for luxuries imported from the west etc. People left their Jati Dharma- heredity vocation and duties but held on to the Jati names. This was like cutting of head itself because of headache. Every system over time may develop some branches that decay. The solution is to take corrective actions and set right the mistakes and not abandoning the whole system. In India's case, because of development of social discrimination and rigidity in the Varna-Jati system and because of the temptations of the material comforts, people abandoned the whole system.This is the root of current mess. Today Jati is only in a name to be invoked during elections. The concept of simple life, Sva-Dharma as applicable to each Individual have been completely abandoned.

According to Sri Chandrashekara Saraswati Swamiji, the major blame lies with Brahmins, who first abandoned their Dharma. It is Brahmin's dharma to study scriptures, learn vedas and all the rituals and practice them, teach them and living life in a humble and simple way. They guided society by example. When, they abandoned their Dharma for material comforts, then even the other Jatis followed. Hence, the whole system ended in a mess full of jealousy, discrimination etc. In fact, it must be added that, for many centuries before British had come,the Caste system had become rigid. The Jatis were not supposed to be too rigid. And discrimination had already lifted its head. Hence, the society had marched towards slow decay.

The Ideal solution should be that everybody should return back to Varna/Jati system in its Original form devoid of distortions. Doing so, will remove all the present conflicts and other problem. But, of course this is not practical immediately. It may take a long time. So, he suggests that for the sake of protection and propagation of Dharma, a set of people must be fully dedicated for learning, practicing and teaching. He says, at least Brahmins must return back to their Dharma of Vedic learning. Brahmins must let their children learn Vedas and live life by teaching and performing Vedic rituals. Or a new Caste of Brahmins be created for the study and practice of Vedic Dharma. If this happens, may be in some future by seeing the example of Brahmin Jati who are doing their duties in humble and simple way, the other people of society will also return to the Varna fold.

But, till then everybody can try to live life in a simple way even in the midst of luxuries. Everybody should try to be content with what God provides. Everybody should earn money through Dharmic means and not by corruption or bribery. Everyone should try to practice Samanya Dharma- Truth, Non-Violence, Cleanliness, Control of Mind etc.

Hence, those who have desire to gain wealth must do so in a Dharmic manner with an attitude of surrender to God. Those who are in political power must perform their work in a unbiased way for welfare of society again with attitude of Surrendering to Lord. This same is applicable to everyone in all the jobs be it defense or corporate sector. Everyone should do their work in dedicated way and try to be content with what they have. This is not to say they should not desire for better life but such a desire should be fulfilled by honesty and hard work. And people should perform some form of sadhana/bhakti and learn to control their desires.

And among the vast masses, if a few feel desire to learn scriptures, they should learn and practice them and propagate them. Society as a whole must make little efforts in protection and propagation of Vaidika Dharma. Only Dharma can save us.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Society & One-Legged Dharma-Part 3- Eleven Points on Dharma

________________________    
Nithin Sridhar
____________________ 


I will pen-down my comments and opinions on various social issues under the title "Society & One-Legged Dharma" pointing out how most of the ills of the society has been caused due to forsaking of Dharma by people. In Hindu scriptures, the Dharma represented by a Bull is said to stand on four legs in Satya Yuga, when most people practiced and lived life by Dharma. "Four-Legs" denotes that Dharma was firmly established in society. On the other hand, it is said that,in Kali Yuga, Dharma stands only on One-Leg. We have been witnessing this in our society, where qualities like truth, non-violence, compassion, honesty have lost their value and replaced by untruth, deviousness, corruption, violence etc.
The series of writings under this title is my humble attempt to revive Dharma by making people become aware of them.
-Nithin Sridhar
______________________________________________________________


Eleven Points on Dharma

 1. Much of the ills of the present society can be solved if people simply start adhering to the tenets of Dharma.
2.The problems of corruption,black-money, illegal mining,scams would not have happened if people had followed Asteya-Non Stealing.
3.The caste discrimination, Dowry burning,religious riots, Honour killings would not have happened if people adhered to Ahimsa-Non Violence.
4. The condition of Ganges, the problems of toilet, sanitation,pollution etc are due to non adherence to Shaucha- Cleanliness.
5. Rape, Murder, Family Dispute, Property Dispute etc are due to Non-adherance to Ahimsa, Asteya & Indriya Nigraha.
6. Ahimsa includes not causing harm through mind, words or actions. Hence, all such incidents of violence could be avoided.
7. Indriya Nigraha- by controlling one's mind & senses- greed, lust etc can be suppressed avoiding rape, sexual assault, etc
8. The rape & other assaults like eve teasing, acid attack, dowry burning etc have their source in lust,ego & desire to dominate.
9. If, people start following Ahimsa & Indriya Nigraha in thoughts, speech & Violence,most crimes against women will not take place.
10. The very discrimination & related violence in name of caste, language, religion will be absent if people practiced Ahimsa.
11. Hence, the solution to the problems that affects India is in the Revival of Dharma.

Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah.

 

Friday, October 04, 2013

Society & One-Legged Dharma-Part 2- Nava-Ratri-Celebration or Exhibitionism?

________________________  
Nithin Sridhar
____________________

I will pen-down my comments and opinions on various social issues under the title "Society & One-Legged Dharma" pointing out how most of the ills of the society has been caused due to forsaking of Dharma by people. In Hindu scriptures, the Dharma represented by a Bull is said to stand on four legs in Satya Yuga, when most people practiced and lived life by Dharma. "Four-Legs" denotes that Dharma was firmly established in society. On the other hand, it is said that,in Kali Yuga, Dharma stands only on One-Leg. We have been witnessing this in our society, where qualities like truth, non-violence, compassion, honesty have lost their value and replaced by untruth, deviousness, corruption, violence etc.

The series of writings under this title is my humble attempt to revive Dharma by making people become aware of them.

-Nithin Sridhar
______________________________________________________________


Nava-Ratri- Celebration or Exhibitionism?


 Those who will be celebrating Nava-Ratri, the nights of the Goddesses, the nights of the Shakti, should stop a moment and conduct a deep review of their own actions. Does the men in society conduct themselves the way they should with respect to women? Is it proper on the part of those Men who indulge themselves in harassing, eve-teasing, raping, or dowry burning etc etc? Is it right on the part of Women who themselves suppress other women, impose on them restrictions? Is it right on the society as a whole-both men and women to blame the victimized women during any issue of sexual assault?

Does our Bhakti towards Devi depicts genuine love and devotion or is it mere hypocrisy? How many of the people celebrate Nava-Ratri/Durga-Puja due to genuine love and surrendering and not just for the sake of doing it in the name of tradition that has come down to us from past?

How many people who Pray for MahaKali pray for induing in them an understanding of Righteousness and not for selfish desires to be fulfilled? How many of us pray Maha-Lakshmi for prosperity and wellness of the world and not just for wealth and money for one's own-self? How many pray to Maha-Saraswati for Spiritual upliftment and Transcendental knowledge and not for a son/daughter to be able to pass engineering and earn in millions?

Are the people really interested in doing Real Worship? If they did, why are they only indulged in Hypocrisy, Exhibitionism and entertainment? Why has the devotional element disappeared Nava-Ratri and has been reduced to visiting Durga pandals, Dasara Exhibition, Dandiya dance? I am not suggesting that Dasara Exhibition or Dandiya is wrong. I am only aghast at the absence of devotional elements from it.

A true devotee of KaLi will always care for righteousness. Kali is the personification of Kriya Shakti. Hence, such a person would ever try to be a Karma Yogi. He would try to practice Dharma in his every word and action. How many people are living like that? How many even care?

A true devotee of Lakshmi will always be concerned about the wellness of the whole Universe. He would by his mere Will work towards Universal Goodness. Lakshmi is personification of Ichha Shakti. How many of us are interested in guiding our Will and Desires by Dharma? Are we not all indulged in fulfilling Selfish desires and fantasies?

A true devotee of Saraswati would be ever indulged in gaining and spreading the Knowledge. He would be ever indulged in studying and understanding scriptures and Dharma and will spread and guide others in doing the same. Saraswati is the very personification of Brahma-Jnana. How many even care to study Gita? What more, the parents even prevent their children from studying scriptures.

In the light of such behavior and mentality prevalent in the society, how many are performing "Real" Nava-Ratri in the sense that out of love, devotion and surrender with sense of righteousness/Dharma and Selflessness? What good is any Puja, any celebration when it is done only as an exhibition and for the approval of others and not for the pleasing of the God and spiritual welfare of the world?