The society be atheist or theist is classified into different categories. So to say a society is built by different classes of people who come together to serve different purposes and thus contribute in various ways to the society.
Similiarly, the society according to the Sastras is classified into four varnas namely-
Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya & Sudra
All of these varnas are created by Bhagvan himself as stated in Srimad Bhagvad Gita (part of Mahabharat’s Bhishma parva) a well-known Hindu scripture.
Bhagvad Gita 4.13-
Catur-varnyam maya srstam
Guna karma vibhagashah
Tasya kartaram api mam
Viddhy akartaram avyayam
Translation- The four varnas are created by me in accord to their prescribed duty and three modes of material nature (Sattva, Rajas & Tamas). I being the creator of this remain unchangeable and non-doer.
Now in the same scripture Bhagvan states the different qualities of each varna in the 18th chapter of Bhagvad Gita.
The qualities of a Brahmin as told in Bhagvad Gita 18.42 are-
Samo damas tapah saucam
Ksantir arjavam eva ca
Jnanam vijnanam astikyam
Brahma-karma svabhava-jam
Translation- A Brahmin possess peace, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and faith in the vedas.
Kshatriya’s qualities are listed as follows in Bhagvad Gita 18.43
Shauryam tejo dhritir dakshyam
Yuddhe capy apalayanam
Danam isvara bhavas ca
Ksatram karma svabhava jam
Translation- A Kshatriya’s natural qualities are being heroic, powerful, determined, excellent, brave in war, generous and a leader.
Similiarly the qualities of Vaishyas and Sudras are described in the next verse og Bhagvad Gita 18.44
Krisi go raksya vanijyam Vaisya karma svabhavajam
Paricaryatmakam karmam
Sudrasyapi svabhava jam
Translation- Agriculture, protection of the cows and business are prescribed work for the vaishyas, and for the sudras the dharma is labor and service to others (other varnas).
The four varnas have been stated above now we shall now about the four ashrams.
The four ashrams are-
Brahmacarya, Girhastha, Vanaprastha and Sannyas.
Brahmacarya- It translates to the word celibacy but brahmacarya is not only celibacy but more than that. Brahmacarya is to be followed in the earliest stage of life which is until the person attains the age of 25(at least), as stated in Manu smriti in this period one shall learn the Vedas from the Acarya.
Manu smriti 3.2-
ṣaṭ triṃśadābdikaṃ caryaṃ gurau traivedikaṃ vratam |
tadardhikaṃ pādikaṃ vā grahaṇāntikameva vā || 1 ||
Duties relating to the Three Vedas should be observed under the Preceptor for thirty-six years, or for half that period, or for a quarter, or precisely till they have been got up.
After this comes the stage of Grihastha, Also to be noted after Brahmacarya a student may choose to enter Grihastha or remain a brhamacari and take sannyas later on.
Manu smriti 3.2
vedānadhītya vedau vā vedaṃ vā‘pi yathākramam |
aviplutabrahmacaryo gṛhasthāśramamāvaset || 2 ||
Having learnt, in due course, three Vedas, or two Vedas, or one Veda, he should enter upon the state of the householder, having never deviated from the vows of studentship.
Grihastha means household life, where a person marries a suitable wife and then procreates santan or children as it is the duty of a householder to beget offspring for carrying on Pinda-daan and Pitra-puja. This asram has to be followed for the next 25 years, whereas Manu smriti also states that one should be a grihastha until he gets grey hairs (due to old age), wrinkles on his face.
After that a person shall take up to Vanaprastha ashram in which a person shall leave the house and go to the forest to practice tapasya for moksha as told by Manu in Manu smriti chapter 4.
Vanaprastha literally translates into going to the forest, during this phase of life one shall go to the forest and cut his contacts in the world and shall take up to penances. One shall strive to control his urges, and again practice brahmacarya or celibacy.
Then comes the next Asram which is known as Sannyas. Bhagvad Gita explains sannyas as following (6.1)
Sri Bhagvan uvaca
Anasritah karma-phalam
Karyam karma karoti yah
Sa sannyasi ca yogi ca
Na niragnir na cakriyah
Sri Bhagvan said- The unattached to the fruits of his work and one who performs karma in obligation is a true sannyasi and a yogi. Not the one who lights fire and performs no duty.
Here Bhagvan explains the inner state of a Sannyasi, any person can attain sannyas.
Now we also find the description of Sa-linga-sannyas or accepting the renounced order of life with certain symbols. Some common symbols of a sannyasi are- Danda (Tridanda or ekdanda), Kaupin (loincloth) etc.
This kind of sannyas shall be accepted by people born in a Brahmin family.
I hope the readers were able to understand the basics of Varnashram Dharma. In the upcoming blogs we shall discuss on each varna their samskars in much detail.