The Caste System 4 Main Rules of the

The Caste System

4 Main Rules of the Caste System � 1. Caste members can socially mix with only those belonging to their caste. � 2. Caste determines where each member can live. � 3. Caste determines what an individual may eat and drink. � 4. Caste determines how each member may earn a living.

�The two most prominent of these rules are those which forbid social movement within the castes and the rules which determine how each person may make a living. Persons who find themselves in violation of either of these two rules know that their punishment will be harsh.

� For example, in 1994 in Bihar, a northern state in India, a girl of a lower caste eloped with an Untouchable boy, the Untouchables consist of all who do not belong to any other groups and are therefore outcastes. � The two were discovered and with the approval of the village council, a stone was used to smash in the boy’s head, while the girl was branded with a burning log and then whipped repeatedly, acts that seem unreal to be occurring in the 1990’s

The Brahmins- Priests

The Kshatriyas- Warriors, Nobles

The Vaishyas- Artisans, Shopkeepers, Merchants

The Sudras- Peasants

Dalits- The Untouchables

�Finally, there are the Untouchables who wander the streets, for they belong to no caste and are therefore refused work that would in turn bring them a source of income. They resort to labors such as street sweeping and toilet cleaning.

Buddhism and the Caste System Buddhism, though similar to Hinduism, disagrees with the caste system. The following quote from Buddha explains this belief: " In this sangha (religious order) all are equal. It is impossible to know Ganga water from Mahanadi Water after both have merged in the sea. In that way, after coming into the Buddhist sangha your caste goes, and all people are equal. ” Despite these strong feelings of the Buddhists, they have been unable to impact a change on the strict caste system, for they are a minority population to the dominant Hindus. � Buddhists disagree with the Caste System, as they believe all are equal. �