In the Vedic age, the grade system was more flexible than it is today. During the Vedic age priesthood had no privileged order. The word vaishya denoted the whole community, it was not specific to commerce or lineage. The rank system prevalent then was vestigial and a persons caste depended on his commerce and not upon birth, this is evident from the hymns of the Rigveda.
The emergence of caste system as a social reality during the Vedic period arouse be linked to numerous reasons. Its development can be credited to the social compulsions of that time. For the Vedic people caste system was a means to unite the multiracial society into unrivaled complex system.
The later Vedic age saw the caste system being justified in the name of worship by those in power and authority. The main aim during that term was to increase the dominance of the priestly class and reduce disputation to the ruling class in matters of political dominance.
This was accomplished in many ways. Firstly, the concept behind the word Brahmin and the unfathomable meaning was changed with the social requirements of the changing times.
The word Brahmin or brahmin portrayed a person who understood Brahman, the one who was one with Brahman or the universe, the highest God, or the one who had the knowledge of Brahman. Later on this word was used to denote a person who was born(p) in a brahmin family or to a brahmin father.
Secondly,the tradition of passing of the Vedic knowledge from one multiplication to another through oral means, made sure at that place was enough scope for manipulation of the vedic mantras. This resulted in the add-on of some new verses, which were deliberately added into the early vedic scriptures to unfreeze the system and ensure the supremacy of the higher castes.
The earliest wing of caste system in vedic society is in the purusha sukta of the Rigveda. This verse must be an addition to the Rigveda later, as thither is no mention about caste...If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Ordercustompaper.com
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