Varnasrama Dharma - an Ideal culture for Mankind

"Varnasrama Dharma - an Ideal culture for  Mankind"

 

 

A. Introduction:
In Srimad Bhagavata Gita (BG 4.13)  the  Supreme Lord Sri Krishna says that "According to the three modes of material nature and the work associated with them, the four divisions of human society are created by Me." In Chapter eighteen of Bhagavata Gita (BG 18.41 to 18.44) Lord Sri Krishna clearly describes the characteristic and actions of these four Social and four spiritual divisions of the human society. Srimad Bhagavatam nicely elaborates description and importance of Varnasrama Dharma beautifully (SB 5.19.19).

B. The Description and characteristics of the Four Social or Occupational division:
In Srimad Bhagavata Gita (BG 18.41 - 44) Lord Krishna describes the characteristics of four Social or Occupational division of Varnasrama system:

"Brahmana, Ksatriya, Vaishya and Sudra are distinguished by the qualities born of their own natures in accordance with the material modes, O chastiser of the enemy"  (BG 18.41)

" Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness - these are the natural qualities by which the Brahmana work ". (BG 18.42)

"Heroism, power, determination, resourcefulness, courage in battle, generosity and leadership are the natural qualities of work for the Ksatriya". (BG 18.43)

"Farming, cow protection and business are the natural work for the Vaishyas and for the Sudras there is labor and service to others". (BG 18.44)

C. The prevalence of Varnasrama system in our planet and other part of the Universe:
Also, Srimad Bhagavatam ( 5.20.22 & 5.20. 27) describes authentically in chapter of the "Structure of the Universe" that this Varnasrama system is prevalent not only in our blue planet known as Bharata-varsa but also prevalent in other parts of our universe.

"The inhabitants of those islands are also divided into four castes - Rtvrata, Satyavrata, Danavrata and Anuvrata - which exactly resemble brahmana, ksatriya, vaishya and Sudra. They practice pranayama and mystic yoga, and in trance they worship the Supreme Lord in the form of Vayu" (SB 5.20.27)

So, Varnasrama system is prevalent in all the parts of our planet Earth as well as other parts of the material universe in which we are living since the creation of this single material universe. Also, Srimad Bhagavatam and Srimad Bhagavata Gita narrate that prevalence of Varnasrama dharma in India , the Daivi Bhumi, is natural and prevalent since the time immemorial. However, any one and every one of this planet earth can be the participant and member of this divine Varnasrama Dharma.

 

In Srimad Bhagavata Gita (14.16), Lord Krishna says that the "Go-brahmana hitaya Ca" or Cow and Brahmana should be protected by the followers of the Varnasrama Dharma at every cost and as the sacred duty (Vishnu Purana 1.19.65). These two Living Entities - Cow and Brahmana are situated in Mode of Goodness or in the Sattvic quality. All other animals such as monkey, lion and buffalo etc are primarily in the Tamasic quality but Cows and Bulls are created in the Sattvic quality. The dairy products from sacred Cows are in the Sattvic quality. So, the dairy products are an ideal food substance for the mankind since time immemorial. We have to take a serious note that the beef products which transforms into Tamasic and unhealthy diet for anyone. How a culture treats these two Living Entities - Cow and Brahmana - determines the nature of that culture whether that culture belongs to Divine or Demoniac Culture. Modern beef-eating culture of the America , Europe and Middle-eastern countries are gliding themselves and six billions of people of this planet to the abominable and lower species in present life and in their future life. How there will be a peace and prosperity amongst the members of the abominable and lower species in our planet? Present dangerous situation in the USA , Europe , and Middle-eastern and all over the world is the direct karmic effect of the Cow-killing culture and systematic degradation of the Brahminical culture in our world. Therefore, the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna is putting heavy emphasis for the great and sacred protection of these two Living Entities - Cows and Brahmana - by the followers of the Varnasrama Dharma.

 

The researchers and professors of the Insectology in our modern science have discovered that in the colonies of ant-hills and bees-hives there are soldier-ants and soldier-bees as well as the worker-ants and worker-bees. These sub-human species may not need Vaishya ants/bees and Brahmana ants/bees and they may live and survive with only two divisions in their society. But in the human society four divisions are extremely essential. Also, surprisingly, the Nobel Prize winner Sociologists and Anthropologists are very happy to agree with the observation of the Insectologists about divisions of the ants and bees but they are unable to differentiate and recognize the four natural divisions of the human society!! I guess that they do not like the Vedic conclusions and they may be inimical to the Vedic Literature - the original body of knowledge for the entire mankind.

D. Description of the four divisions of human society according to the gross anatomical structure or the gross body:
So, four divisions of the human society according to Gunas and Karma are prevalent and active since the creation of the human society and creation of this universe including our planet Bharat-varsa. The Sanskrit terminologies for these four Occupational and Spiritual divisions are as follow:

Four Occupational Divisions:
1. Brahmana or Intellectual class or the Head of society
2. Ksatriya or Administrative class or the Arms of society
3. Vaishya or Entrepreneurs class or the Belly of society
4. Sudra or Laborer class or the Legs of society

 

Four Spiritual Divisions:

1. Brahmachary-asrama or Student life for first 25 years.

2. Grihasth-asrama or Married life for next 25 years

3. Vanaprasth-asrama or Retired life for middle age for 25 years.

4. Sannyas-asrama or Renounced order for last 25 years of human life.

 

The gross anatomical structure of an average human being is approximately five feet and seven inches in height and 150 lb in weight. The weight and surface area of the head of an average human being is approximately ten percentage, of the arms are about twenty percent, of the belly is about thirty percent and, finally, of the legs are about forty percentage of the human body. So, total 100 % of human body weight and contour of Gross Anatomical structure.

Srimad Bhagavatam (SB 6.1.54) and Srimad Bhagavata Gita (BG 2.17) authentically describe that the Subtle Body is the cause of the formation of Gross body.  The Mental apparatus of the human being is run by three modes of nature - Sattva, Rajas and Tamo Guna since conception up to the death. The Gross and Subtle Body of the Brahmana is conducted by the Sattva Guna, the Ksatriya by the Rajo Guna, the Vaisya by the mixture of Rajo and Tamo guna and, finally, the Sudra by the Tamo guna. These three modes of nature are responsible for all the actions through out their life time. The three modes of nature determine their physical, psychological and spiritual characteristics of four social and the spiritual divisions of the human society. This concept will be described further in detail in the subsequent paragraphs.

E. The percentage of the four Social Divisions in the any human society can be categorize and summarize as follow:

The Percentage or Pyramid of Social Divisions of Varnasrama System in human society as described in the section D:
1. The Percentage of Brahmana or Intellectual class is about 10%.
2. The percentage of Ksatriya or Administrative class is about 20%.
3. The percentage of Vaishya or Business class is about 30%.
4. The percent of Sudra or Laborer class is about 40% in any given human society.

So, total 100% percent of the four Social Divisions are prevalent with every human society during any time and place.

The human society in our planet will not able to function properly if every one is 100% Brahmana, 100% Ksatriya, 100% Vaisya or 100% Sudra. The 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% (plus or minus one or two percentage) of these four natural divisions of the human society are essential for the smooth and efficient functioning for the spiritual elevation in our Blue Planet Earth.

 

F. Description of how these percentages of four natural divisions in the human society are maintained and carried out:

We have experienced that 50% of our human population are male and 50% of population are female with one percent of variation in the Sex differentiation. The percentages of the Varnasrama System are meticulously maintained and carried out at the time of conception with help from sixteen Garbhadhana Samskara as described in the Vedic text books. So, if a Brahmana couple is not careful and they are inattentive in their actions and do not follow the Sixteen Garbhadhana Samskara, they may conceive other varieties of offspring in their family. This is also true and applicable to other divisions of the society. The percentage of the modes of nature at the time of conception determines the off springs of a family. In other words, in one family there may be four sons or daughters born of four different Guna or mentality: one may become of a Professor, one may be an Administrator, one may be a Businessman, or a Janitor. Also, by following the sixteen Samskara by a Brahmana couple, Ksatriya couple, Vaishya couple and Sudra couple they may produce 100%, 75%, 50% or 25% of the progeny in one family. This information should not be misinterpreted as "Hereditary or Jati" or "Caste System" as prevalent in some part of India and other countries and other religions. In Christianity and Islamic faiths: people wrongly believe that by stamping himself or herself as "Christian or Muslim", he or she will get a ticket to go to heaven automatically without any qualification or purification any time and anywhere in this globe. This attitude is the best example of the Caste-system or Jati in our planet right now unfortunately. This is a Caste System or a misconception and certainly not approved within the Varnasrama Dharma and by the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna.

G. The Subtle Body present in heart is origin of three modes of nature and personality of subsequent Offspring:

Srimad Bhagavatam (5.19.19) and Srimad Bhagavata Gita (2.17) clearly mention that the Subtle Body present in the heart is the origin of the three modes of nature - Sattva, Rajas and Tamo Gunas in the heart of an individual - male or female. The Subtle Body is composed of Mind, Intelligence, False Ego, Aggregated Karma and Soul Proper. At the time of conception and Garbhadhana Samskara, the variable percentages of the three modes of nature are the determining factor and they are responsible for the characteristic and personality of the subsequent off-springs. The union of the sperm and ovum of the (married Vedic) couple is significantly affected by the percentage of the Sattva, Rajo and Tamo guna produced by the Subtle Body of the (Vedic) couple. The Original Blue print created at the time of the Union of the SEX CELLS determines the future child - a Brahmana, Ksatriya, Vaishya or a Sudra child. If the Subtle Bodies present in the heart of the (married) couple produce pre-dominantly the Sattva guna, then, the next child will be a Brahmana boy or girl. This is also true with other subsequent child as Ksatriya, Vaishya or Sudra category or personality. The subtle effect of the other planetary system also plays a significant role in the formation of the Original Blue prints. I will not be able to describe this topic. I may beg that some of our scholar of Astrology may provide higher insight in this interesting topic.

 

The modern Genetic Science and their theories primarily are speculative, semi-scientific and the poor imitation of the Vedic concepts or understandings. Presently, the Modern Genetic Science is describing only the subsequent stages for the development of the personality of the next generation or new off-springs. Our eternal and blissful Vedic Literature will provide higher dimension in the fundamental principles of the Modern Genetic Science pretty soon.

 

H. Description of formation of the Original Blue print of the Gross Body and Subtle body of four Social divisions:

Now, we are entering into the deep water of Embryology, the development of Neuro-anatomical structures and Cardiology to understand how the Varnasrama system has been created by the Supreme Lord. The brain of a Brahmana, Ksatriya, Vaishya and Sudra is not at the same category and the brain of each class is differently structured and created at the time of conception and during the intra-uterine developmental stages. In other word, the gross body and subtle body of each class are constructed differently at the time of conception and during the intra-uterine growth or the formation of the Original Blue Print as Brahmana, Ksatriya, Vaishya and Sudra division of Human Society.

 

Srimad Bhagavatam (SB 6.1.54) and Srimad Bhagavata Gita (BG 2.17- Purport) authentically describes that the position of the heart of man and woman of the (married) couple at the time of physical union determines the Sattvic quality of the Brahmana, Rajasic qualities of Ksatriya & mixed qualities of Rajas and Tamo guna of Vaishya and Tamo guna of Sudra. The Subtle Body present in the heart pumps not only blood with all the components (BG 2.17) but the Subtle Body in heart also generates and spreads three modes of nature - Sattva, Rajo and Tamo guna along with the liquid energy- the blood - which determines the formation of the Original Blue Print. This Original Blue print is imprinted with the vital information for each class of man - the next batch or generation of the Varnasrama system.

 

The Cardiologists, Neurologists, Embryologists of the Modern Bio-medical science are unaware of this super-scientific information of the Vedic Literature: the Supreme Science of Sanatana Dharma as beautifully narrated in Srimad Bhagavatam, Srimad Bhagavata Gita and other Vedic text books. If we take the current model or the Modern Concepts of Embryology, Neurology and Cardiology, we will get a very confusing information and concept. If we take the super-scientific concepts of the Vedic Literature: the Supreme Science, then, we will get a transparent and authoritative model or concept. This blissful Vedic wisdom is conspicuously absent in the modern history of the Bio-medical science right now, unfortunately. Vedic wisdom will help modern scientists pretty soon.

 

Short Summary: the Subtle Body present in the heart of an individual person at singular, dual and plural levels is the original cause for the formation of the three modes of nature. The different positions of the heart who pumps the Sattva, Rajo and Tamo guna in different proportions in the blood stream at the time of physical union of the (married) couple is the determining factor for the four classes or divisions of mankind or the formation of the original Blue Print as Brahmana, Ksatriya, Vaishya and Sudra. The detail information about how, when and the subsequent steps and stages of this phenomena or creation of Blue Print with help of Three Modes of Nature will be another topic and it is beyond the scope with this article.

 

The above-mentioned super-scientific, revolutionary and tamper-proof information from the Vedic Literature - Srimad Bhagavatam and Srimad Bhagavata Gita - will certainly change the semi-scientific understanding of the Embryology, Neurology, Cardiology and Psychology & Psychiatry of the modern science.  Current theory of Krebs' cycle and ATP or Adenosine-tri-phosphate enzyme as the "Engine of the Cell" are semi-scientific, confusing and hodge-podge in nature. The Vedic text books will provide higher dimension in the Mechanism and Energy production at the atomic, cellular, molecular and organ levels in the human body and mind pretty soon.

 

These are the super-scientific, tamper-proofed concepts of the eternal and blissful Vedic Literature. We pray and hope that the scientific community in India , America and other places will take advantage of this super-scientific information for the betterment and bright future of the mankind.

 

I. The Four Spiritual Divisions of the human society:

1. Brahmachary-asrama or Student life for first 25 years
2. Grihasth-asrama or Married life for next 25 years.
3. Vanaprasth-asrama or Retired life for the middle age for 25 years
4. Sannyas-asrama or Renounced order of life for the final 25 years of human life.

The above-mentioned four Spiritual Divisions are created by the Supreme Lord primarily to train each and every human being to understand the primary goal of the human existence - to elevate to pure and transcendental stage of Vasudeva Tattva or Vishuddha Tattva and surpassing the three modes of nature such as Sattvic, Rajo and Tamo guna discarding the four animalistic propensities of eating, sleeping, mating and defending behaviors for spiritual elevation and enlightenment. As we know well that the time span for the Spiritual Division is twenty five years for each section in the progressive manner.

 

Description of Four Spiritual Divisions:

Brahmachari stage: the students are provided guidance and training by his or her Spiritual master in all the branches of the Material and spiritual Sciences including twenty four elements of the Gross Body, the Subtle Body, three modes of nature, the Spiritual Science of the Soul, Super Soul and the Supreme Personality of Godhead – the ultimate origin of every thing.

Grihastha stage: the person gets married, practices with family members what he or she has learned during the first quarter of life to progress toward the God-Consciousness or Krishna Consciousness. Restricted sex life is permitted during this quarter only for the propagation of the God-conscious or Krishna Conscious children.

Vanaprastha stage: the person retires from the worldly duties and with his wife he travels to holy places to cultivate the actual understanding of the Spiritual life s/he has acquired during the first two quarters of the life.

Sannyasa stage: the person renouncing every thing including his wife, the most beloved and long-standing companion with his son and relatives. He depends completely on desire and mercy of the Supreme Lord to help other people to develop their God-Consciousness or Krishna Consciousness.

This is a short summary of the actions and characteristics of four Spiritual Divisions of the Varnasrama Dharma in human society created by the Supreme Lord.

So far and in the nutshell, I have described the prevalence, Characteristics, percentages, Pyramid and how four Social and Spiritual Divisions of the mankind are created, maintained and purpose of the Varnasrama system.

 

Srimad Bhagavatam (5.19.19) describes the prevalence of Varnasrama Dharma in Bharata-varsa as follow:

"The people who take birth in this tract of land are divided according to the qualities of material nature - the modes of goodness (Sattva-guna), passion (Rajo-guna), and ignorance (Tamo-guna). Some of them are born as exalted personalities, some are ordinary human beings, and some are extremely abominable, for in Bharata-varsa one takes birth exactly according to one's past karma. If one's position is ascertained by a bona fide spiritual master and one is properly trained to engaged in the service of Lord Vishnu according to the four social divisions ( brahmana, ksatriya, vaishya and sudra) and the four spiritual divisions (Brahmachari, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sannyasa), one's life becomes perfect".

 

Also, Sri Krishna reveals to Uddhava in Srimad Bhagavatam (11.18.45 – 47):

"My dear Uddhava, I am the Supreme Lord of all worlds, and I create and destroy this universe, being its ultimate cause. I am thus the Absolute Truth, and one who worships Me with unfailing devotional service comes to Me. Thus, one who has purified his existence by execution of his prescribed duties, who fully understands My supreme position and who is endowed with scriptural and realized knowledge, very soon achieves Me. Those who are followers of this 'Varnasrama' system accept religious principles according to authorized traditions of proper conduct. When such 'Varnasrama' duties are dedicated to Me in loving service, they are awarded the supreme perfection of life".

 

So, the people of this blue planet Bharata-varsha are divided according to the four natural and scientific divisions created by the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna for Unity in Diversity with cooperation, peace and prosperity.

 

Again, I greatly appreciate your precious time & Hare Krishna.

 

 

Atul Krsna dasa (Atul C. Shah, MD)

Troy, Michigan , USA

March 2, 2011

On day of Maha Shiva-ratri