Caste and Vaishnavism.
M.Ranganathan
What is the relevance of caste to Vaishnavism ? I remember a long time
ago my father mentioned that Ramanujacharya - when he founded (or
rather reformed) Sri Vaishnavism, decreed that all who behaved like
Brahmins would be considered Brahmin. Therefore, one is not born a
Brahmin but becomes one by his/her actions. Thus, amongst Tamil Sri
Vaishnava Brahmins at least, you have Brahmins of all hues and ethnic
characteristics. It is ironic that the very community which was formed
on such equalitarian principles later became the most insular Brahmin
community in India. That is, however, a different story.
Now I am a particularly ignorant Sri Vaishnava and happen to be born a
Brahmin although by Ramanujacharya's definition, I can scarcely be called
one. I would, however, be grateful if someone can further expand on
Ramanujacharyas views on the subject of caste. Incidentally, where can
one find english translations of his works ?
Thanks.
Ranga.
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
This posting brought to you via the SRV auto-moderator, v 1.22, 2/6/96
Send message with 'help' (no quotes) in body, to s...@atlantis.mae.cornell.edu
(Please remove this signature from follow-ups to avoid posting rejection)
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Vivek Sadananda Pai
Haribol,
In article <4fla14$2...@newsstand.cit.cornell.edu>,
M.Ranganathan <ra...@cs.umd.edu> writes:
|>
|> What is the relevance of caste to Vaishnavism ?
If by caste you mean the current Indian concept of caste, then the
answer, pure and simple, is none. Vaishnavas have ignored this form
of "caste" as a physical, and not a spiritual designation. An example
which in my mind suffices is the one of Haridas Thakur. He was
born into a Muslim family, so the "caste brahmins" wanted nothing
to do with him. Here, the term "caste brahmins" refers to those people
who believe in caste conferred by birth.
Haridas wasn't deterred by this at all, and when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
appeared, He accepted Haridas, to the dismay of some of the caste
brahmins. So, if you're a Gaudiya, then this example alone should be
enough to reject the idea of caste by birth.
|> I remember a long time
|> ago my father mentioned that Ramanujacharya - when he founded (or
|> rather reformed) Sri Vaishnavism, decreed that all who behaved like
|> Brahmins would be considered Brahmin. Therefore, one is not born a
|> Brahmin but becomes one by his/her actions.
Definitely true - the system used by the Vaishnavas (all sampradayas,
I believe) is the varnashrama system set forth by Krishna. Your place
in this classification scheme depends on your actions, not on your
parents.
Incidentally, I've also heard that in the Kali Yuga, all regular
people are born shudras, and have to "attain" brahminhood by their
actions.
|> Thus, amongst Tamil Sri Vaishnava Brahmins at least, you have
|> Brahmins of all hues and ethnic characteristics.
Well, also the same among the Gaudiyas ;-)
Actually, I guess that should be a huge grin, rather than just a wink.
|> It is ironic that the very community which was formed
|> on such equalitarian principles later became the most insular Brahmin
|> community in India. That is, however, a different story.
Well, it's not surprising - I'm willing to bet that most of the major
Acharyas had people who opposed them on this point among others.
|> Now I am a particularly ignorant Sri Vaishnava and happen to be born a
|> Brahmin although by Ramanujacharya's definition, I can scarcely be called
|> one. I would, however, be grateful if someone can further expand on
|> Ramanujacharyas views on the subject of caste. Incidentally, where can
|> one find english translations of his works ?
I'll leave this up to a Sri Vaishnava, since I'm not qualified to
answer.
ys,
Vivek