FOUR FOLD DIVISION OF SOCIETY OR CASTE SYSTEM?

​If Shri Krishna, the exponent of the four-fold division of the society, were to descend on earth and see the state of the social structure, he would be shocked to see what people have done to this society. Evils have crept into the society because of vested interests, greed, lust for power and animalistic nature of some of the so-called guardians of the society themselves. Originally Krishna never proposed untouchability, discrimination, harassment and social violence. Even a layman can understand that Lord Krishna, who reigned in this world some 3,500 years ago, is much above these petty prejudices and no texts coming out of his lips ever spell anything otherwise. 

The four-fold division of society which is prevalent in the Indian sub-continent as the infamous caste system is originally intended to serve the human society more efficiently where each strata of human lives performed their duty in peace and in dignity. The four groups included Brahmans or the class of people like, teachers, philosophers, politicians and visionaries, the second group were the Kshatriyas or those who defended the society as soldiers, policemen and guards. The third group were called the Vaishyas who were producers of food grains, industrial products etc. And the fourth order was that of shudras who served all the four groups as tailors, carpenters, mechanics, cobblers, black smith etc. It is my assertion that any society in the world consciously or unconsciously have the same four-fold pattern of social division be they in Japan, America, Australia, China, Africa, Middle east or anywhere. Call it social division or division of labor, one can easily visualize that all society run on these patterns.  The BIG difference, however, is that a cobbler in United States enjoys the same dignity as the President where as they are looked with disdain, humiliation and hatred in the country where the system originated. No society can remain intact without some kind of order. The point I am trying to pursue further is that there must be dignity for all, social harmony, intermingling of the so-called caste groups and freedom to undertake any trade on the basis of personal choice and capabilities.  
 
One of the most authoritative statement Krishna makes in the Bhagawad Gita is that 'I composed the four groups in the society on the basis of quality and action performed'.Krishna categorically states here that the social structuring has been done with twin criteria – quality and action performed and not on the basis of birth. This shatters the pundits' view that they are of the high order because of birth which is a sheer lie intended to protect their egoistic, lust for power, and greedy credentials of their clan. They have continued to throw dust into the society's eye for too long and it is time for all people to realize that A HUMAN BEING IS A HUMAN BEING and there shall not be any compromise on that. 
 
There have been many instances where it talks about the true concept of the social division in the Bhagawad Gita. It states 'the one who sees God equally in a cow, elephant, dog, dog-eater and a priest is a real gnani [wise]' Another striking as well as eye-opening verse that comes in the Gita also can be translated as, 'anyone born is ashudra. He raises to higher platform with his samskaras. The one who reads the vedhis a vipra.  The one who knows the brahma [absolute] is a brahman. Can I ask how many of the so-called brahmans know the brahma? This mantra is a guiding light on who is who in the society. Unfortunately, the so-called custodians of the Dharma seem to be lost in an illusion and are groping in darkness to find out what an elephant looks like. 
 
As per the Dharma and the legacy that has come down to us, thousands of Buddhas have been born and they came in the series of great saints, rishis and munis manifesting since distant times in history to the present time. There is such abundance of spiritual knowledge which is slowly loosening the stringent caste system as people are now deciding more for themselves not depending on one village headman or someone else to do that job for them. These great human beings have always shown the way for higher spirituality beyond the realms of physicality. The issue of social order is miniscule and can be easily tackled once a human being is spiritually awakened.  Let me conclude with this great mantra from vedh- sarva khalvidam brahma vasu daivakutumba kam. No scripture can say as vast a statement as this vedh mantra. Its rough translation means - There is brahma everywhere in the infinity and all that is there are our relations. I would like to add that in a natural way our society too is evolving. We cannot compare everything with situation some hundred years ago but still educate our children and caution them against evils, which have been strongly rooted in our society. We try to be progressive yet get hooked up by our age-old conservatism. We have crossed the threshold of the 21st century and the all-round advancement makes it possible to accept the ground reality that we are first humans and then whatever we are.  Let us be sensible enough to realize the true nature of ourselves and arrive at a meeting point that all human beings are made of one and the same ingredient. 
 
                   
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