VARNASRAMA  DHARMA

The  principle of Varnasrama Dharma is one of the basic principles of  Hinduism. It is also prevalent throughout the world according to  Guna-Karma (aptitude and conduct), though there is no such distinct  denomination of this kind, elsewhere.

The  duties of the castes are Varna Dharma. The four castes are Brahmana,  Kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudra.

The  duties of the stages in life are Asrama Dharma. The four Asramas or  orders of life are Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sannyasa.  These duties are as follows:

VARNA  DHARMA

There  are three qualities or Gunas, viz., Sattva (purity), Rajas (passion) and Tamas (inertia).  Sattva is white, Rajas is red and Tamas is black. These three  qualities are found in man in varying proportions.

Sattva  preponderates in some persons. They are Brahmanas. They are wise  persons or thinkers. They are the priests, ministers or philosophers  who guide kings or rulers.

In  some, Rajas is predominant. They are Kshatriyas. They are warriors or  men of action. They fight with the enemies or invaders and defend the  country.

In  some, Tamas is predominant. They are Vaisyas or traders. They do  business and agriculture and amass wealth.

Sudras  are service providers. None of these qualities is highly developed in  them. They serve the other three castes.

In  a broad sense, a Sattvic man, who is pious and virtuous and leads the  divine life, is a Brahmana, a Rajasic man with heroic quality is a  Kshatriya, a Rajasic man with business tendencies is a Vaisya and a  Tamasic man is a Sudra. Hitler and Mussolini were Kshatriyas. Ford  was a Vaisya.

Serenity,  self-restraint, austerity, purity, forgiveness, and also,  uprightness, knowledge, Realisation and belief in God are the natural  duties (dharma) of the Brahmanas. Prowess, splendour, firmness,  dexterity, and also, not fleeing from battle, generosity and  lordliness are the natural duties (dharma) of the Kshatriyas.  Agriculture, cattle-rearing and trade are the natural duties (dharma)  of the Vaisyas. Action consisting of service is the natural duty  (dharma) of the Sudras.

The  underlying principle in caste system or Varna Dharma, is division of  labor among different people, according to their aptitude, capacity  or quality. The Brahmanas were in charge of spiritual and  intellectual affairs. The work of political administration and  defense was given to the Kshatriyas. The Vaisyas were entrusted with  the duty of supplying food for the nation and administering its  economic welfare. The Sudras did menial work. This division of labor  began in Vedic times when Character Determined the Caste

USE  AND ABUSE OF THE CASTE SYSTEM

The  Hindus survived many a foreign conquest on account of their caste  system. But class jealousies and hatred crept in the system losing  the spirit of co-operation. The Hindu society became sectarian in the  name of the caste system. Hence there is degradation in India. All  castes fell from their ideals and forgot all about their duties. The  greed and pride of man created discord and disharmony. There is  nothing wrong in Varna dharma. It is arrogance and haughtiness in men  that have brought troubles.

ASRAMA  DHARMA

The  duties or dharma of the four Asramas or orders of life are:

Brahmacharya:

The  first stage, Brahmacharya, is the period of study and discipline

Grihastha:

The  second stage is that of the Grihastha or householder. The household  stage is entered at marriage, when the student has completed his  studentship and is ready to take up the duties and responsibilities  of a householder’s life. Of all the Asramas, this is the most  important, because it supports all the others. As all creatures live  supported by the air, so the other Orders exist supported by the  householder. As all streams and rivers flow to rest in the ocean, so  all the Asramas flow to rest in the householder. The Grihastha is the  very heart of Aryan life. Everything depends on him.

Marriage  is a sacrament for a Hindu. The wife is his partner in life. She is  his Ardhangini. He cannot do any religious ritual without her. She  stands by his left side when he performs any religious rite. When the  householder sees that his sons are able to bear the burden of his  duties, when his grandsons are around him, he should know that the  time has come for him and his wife to retire from the world and spend  their time in study and meditation.

Vanaprastha:

The  next stage is that of the Varnaprastha. Brahmacharya is a preparation  for the life of the householder. Even so, Vanaprastha is a  preparation for the final stage of Sannyasa. After discharging all  the duties of a householder, he should retire to the forest or a  solitary place and begin to meditate in solitude on higher spiritual  things. He is now free from social bonds and the responsibilities of  life. He has ample time for study of scriptures. His wife may go with  him or remain with her sons.

Sannyasa:

The  fourth and the last stage is that of a Sannyasin. When a man becomes  a Sannyasin, he renounces all possessions, all distinctions of caste,  all rites and ceremonies and all attachments to any particular  country, nation, or religion. He lives alone and spends his time in  meditation. He lives on alms. When he attains the sublime state of  deep meditation he rejoices in his own Self. He is quite indifferent  to sensual pleasures. He is free from likes and dislikes, desire,  egoism, lust, anger, greed and pride. He has equal vision and  balanced mind. He loves all. He roams about happily and disseminates  Brahma Jnana or Knowledge of the Self. He is the same in honor and  dishonor, praise and censure, success and failure. He is now Ativarnasrami, i.e., above  Varna and Asrama. He is quite a free man. He is not bound by any  social customs and conventions. Such a Sannyasin is an ideal man. He  has attained perfection and freedom. He is Brahman Himself. He is a  Jivanmukta or a liberated sage. Glory to such exalted personages who  are living Gods on earth!

In  conclusion the scriptures tell us:

Follow  your Dharma with zeal and enthusiasm. Discharge your duties  faithfully. Develop all the virtues which constitute Dharma. Never  deviate an inch from the path of righteousness. Stick to Dharma with  all your heart, with your entire mind and with all your soul.  Performance of one’s duties brings happiness, quick evolution and  freedom. You will soon attain immortality, eternal bliss, supreme  peace, perennial joy, absolute freedom and perfection. Glory to  Dharma, the supreme light that leads you to the kingdom of eternal  bliss and everlasting peace. May the eternal Dharma of Hinduism be  preserved for ever! May all Hindus be consolidated by the bond of  true love!!

III  - Avatar (Incarnation)

8.  Question

6.  Balarama is the ninth avatar of lord Vishnu. Why did lord take two  avatars-krishna and balarama in the same Yuga? And why was balarama  avatar so aggressive?

Response

Balarama  was the elder brother of Krishna, conceived by Devaki as her seventh  child of Vasudeva. When the child was in the womb he was taken out by  divine power and placed in the womb of Rohini, the elder wife of  Vasudeva. So he was born as the son of Rohini. As he was  extraordinarily strong he was called Balarama. As per the puranas Balarama was the incarnation of Adisesha the serpent on which Vishnu  is resting in the ocean of milk. He came down to help Krishna, an  avatar of Vishnu. He was an expert in fighting with gada or mace and  plough. Thus Krishna and Balarama go together in scriptures (as is  the case of Vishnu and Adisesha). They both play significant roles in  the Mahabharata.

Also  read
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2.Five Elemental Women
3.Demystifying Caste
4.Question    and Answers Indian Civilization