Caste system of those days was based on the kind of work people did..!! They are called four-Varnas viz.,
- Brahmins
- Kshatriyas
- Vaishyas
- Shudras
Varna means different shades and textures and is derived from the three gunas, or three primary attributes of nature sattwa (mode of goodness), rajas (mode of passion) and tamas (mode of darkness/ignorance).Brahmins being mostly sattwic in temperament, able to perform purity in mind and habits, acquire divine knowledge and wisdom which they can impart to others. The Vaishyas are the trading and business class and are a mix of rajas and tamas. They deal with wealth and how to maintain its flow, sustenance and prosperity. The Kshatriyas are mostly rajasic, possessing a fighting, passionate spirit used to protect dharma (brahmins knowledge) and the people. They are the rulers, kings, politicians, upholders of the law, military, police. The Shudras are a mix of tamas and rajas, and are the working class people, labourers or the artisans. They are the foundation of society providing what is needed at the ground, base level.
Brahmins are supposed to be clean in mind and body. Cleanliness of mind is atained by chanting of mantras without a gap and thinking about God prevents any irrelevant thought. This is prescribed for Brahmins because they are the ones who are supposed to be propagating the religion and practising it without any fail.They are the ones who are supposed to be indulging in "worship of God" in temple and performing such actions and works to "please" God. As a result of which brahmins of those days were considered as the "upper caste".Those brahmins did practise cleanliness in mind and body to keep the sanctity of the temple. So,they saw certain things which will help them maintain the decorum.Obviously,they can't eat meat and go to temple and touch the idol.Let the idol be a stone image,but the sacredness of the idols is well-known by each and every Hindu.
I don't know if this - the KAL YUG which has resulted in the defamation of the Brahmin clan or is it like a tit-for-tat by the so-called downtrodden people of the society! The reservations made in favor of certain castes against brahmins is really dis-heartening. Just the reason that "those days you people ruled,so you can't get the best of education from IIT's or any other institution for that matter if you can't afford". There are people in brahmins who realyl deserve the best but only because they don't have the means,does'nt make them undeserving.
Well.. Government's reservations might not lead us anywhere.But it does not make us any lower than the others..!! We are and still will be "BRAHMINS".
