Origin of the Indian Caste System


The blame goes to Purushsukta of Rig Veda that the Varna system is created from the sacrificed body of the Lord himself. It suggests that the Brahmin was first to born from the head of the Lord and the Shudras were last born from his legs. This is a myth that has haunted Indian social system at the least from last thousand years as it gave sanctity to the notion of birth based inequality. However whatever Purushsukta or later Smritis command,the social facts were contrary to that.
The early states, whether democratic or monarchist, were made of small tribes consisting of just few thousand citizens. The religion then was commanded by the King or head of the state of those times. Social order was changing from matriarchal to patriarchal society with invention of agriculture. King was the Chief priest (Chief priest as in Sindhu,Hatti,Sumer etc..culture). The need of priestly class was not felt then because the state itself constituted of moderate population. It does mean that the Purushsukta’s declaration about Brahmin being born first is incorrect.

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