What is caste ? When Portuguese travelers visited India, they first encountered caste system or race based social discrimination in 16th century. They used a Portuguese term that is “casta” which means “race”. Today, the term caste is used to describe the division of societies on the basis of social hierarchy, not only in Asia but all over the world. It is believed that only four castes exist which are divided on the basis of Brahma’s divine genius.
The four existing castes are :-
Priests and Teachers (Brahmans)
Rulers and Warriors (Kshatrias)
Merchants and Traders (Vaishias)
Workers and Peasants (Shudras)
In this summer project, we focus on the apparent lower most caste that is “Shudras”.
Caste System Castism, …show more content…
Hence as the families grew, so did the society but the Caste System or Varna still prevailed. As the society grew, communities started forming due to which “Shudras” were highly mistreated and secluded. They were considered the ones with the polluted and dirty professions and the “Brahmanas” were very particular about cleanliness. So the “Shudras” were made the permanent members of the outcast. Apparently this is the only reason that the lower caste or also known as Untouchables are not only allowed to enter the temples or touch the upper class people but also made to stand at quite a distance from the upper class or the castes superior to them.
What is an Epic? An epic is a genre of classical poetry which was first originated and used in Greece. It is a long narrative poem, elevated in style which consists of gods or supernatural elements taking part and affecting the outcome. Also in an epic hero’s failure or his win decides the fate of the whole nation and country. An epic is more of a story based on a high born king or hero with superhuman strength and military power rather than on peasants, farmers or commoners. Mahabharata, written by Ved Vyasa and the Ramayana written by Valmiki are the oldest and longest forms of Indian epic …show more content…
Not only being a moral teacher, Ramayana, the soul of India is also a very important Hindu Literature. It teaches how to value relationship; it depicts an ideal father, ideal wife, ideal brother, ideal servant and an ideal king. In Ramayana the verses written, are thirty two – syllable meter called anustubh. It contains 23,000 shlokas, 7 cantos (kanda) also including the Uttara Kanda. According to the religious theories and beliefs, there was a highway robberer named Ratnakar who used to kill the wanderers after robbing them. Once he tried to rob the great sage Narada. The sage asked Ratnakar if his family would share his sins, because their survival is the premier reason he used to steal. The robber gave an affirmative answer but the sage asked him to once confirm it from his family. The robber felt completely dejected, heartbroken and disappointed when his family bluntly refused to share his sins with him. From the day onwards he understood the true mantra and ultimate truth of life. Since Ratnakar once being a murderer was not allowed to chant the mantra with the word “ rama” in it, hence Narada asked him to chant “mara” the phonetic anagram of the word Rama. He meditated with so much of devotion and paid no heed to the growing ant – hills around him. Finally a day came when a voice declared his penance successful and gave him the name “Valmiki”
The four existing castes are :-
Priests and Teachers (Brahmans)
Rulers and Warriors (Kshatrias)
Merchants and Traders (Vaishias)
Workers and Peasants (Shudras)
In this summer project, we focus on the apparent lower most caste that is “Shudras”.
Caste System Castism, …show more content…
Hence as the families grew, so did the society but the Caste System or Varna still prevailed. As the society grew, communities started forming due to which “Shudras” were highly mistreated and secluded. They were considered the ones with the polluted and dirty professions and the “Brahmanas” were very particular about cleanliness. So the “Shudras” were made the permanent members of the outcast. Apparently this is the only reason that the lower caste or also known as Untouchables are not only allowed to enter the temples or touch the upper class people but also made to stand at quite a distance from the upper class or the castes superior to them.
What is an Epic? An epic is a genre of classical poetry which was first originated and used in Greece. It is a long narrative poem, elevated in style which consists of gods or supernatural elements taking part and affecting the outcome. Also in an epic hero’s failure or his win decides the fate of the whole nation and country. An epic is more of a story based on a high born king or hero with superhuman strength and military power rather than on peasants, farmers or commoners. Mahabharata, written by Ved Vyasa and the Ramayana written by Valmiki are the oldest and longest forms of Indian epic …show more content…
Not only being a moral teacher, Ramayana, the soul of India is also a very important Hindu Literature. It teaches how to value relationship; it depicts an ideal father, ideal wife, ideal brother, ideal servant and an ideal king. In Ramayana the verses written, are thirty two – syllable meter called anustubh. It contains 23,000 shlokas, 7 cantos (kanda) also including the Uttara Kanda. According to the religious theories and beliefs, there was a highway robberer named Ratnakar who used to kill the wanderers after robbing them. Once he tried to rob the great sage Narada. The sage asked Ratnakar if his family would share his sins, because their survival is the premier reason he used to steal. The robber gave an affirmative answer but the sage asked him to once confirm it from his family. The robber felt completely dejected, heartbroken and disappointed when his family bluntly refused to share his sins with him. From the day onwards he understood the true mantra and ultimate truth of life. Since Ratnakar once being a murderer was not allowed to chant the mantra with the word “ rama” in it, hence Narada asked him to chant “mara” the phonetic anagram of the word Rama. He meditated with so much of devotion and paid no heed to the growing ant – hills around him. Finally a day came when a voice declared his penance successful and gave him the name “Valmiki”