Hinduism Impact On Society

In Ancient India there was a social system named the caste system. The caste system includes of five different parts. These five castes are the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, Sudras, and the Untouchables which are not in the caste system, but below it. This system is based on skin tone. Castes are sometimes called Janti, which involves the color of their skin.

Hinduism is almost like a lifestyle in India. Hinduism has had a great societal impact on Indian culture. One of the more interesting impacts Hinduism had on society was the position of women. They ultimately were given a slightly higher position in society than they previously had. Hinduism has also impacted India through the caste system. The caste system was originally created to form a society where all people took on important roles based on their abilities. However, in later years they became assigned based on status. Buddhism made a unique impact on India because it practiced complete equality and rejected the caste system.

What is Hinduism? Hinduism is a culture followed by many people from South Asia. It teaches us the meaning of human life and goals. One of the key aspects of Hinduism is to show a man or a woman in a society what responsibility he or she holds. Some people feel that Hinduism is a religion which is not accommodative to other religions; Therefore, Hinduism is a culture which allows the intervention of other cultures and India is an example for it. India is a country that allows the existence of several cultures. Hinduism also discusses religious or spiritual aspects like morality and identity. It discusses these aspects through metaphysical and existential terms. Hinduism is an in-group that allows a person to choose a certain god and pray to him or her, it has an open architecture of multiple gods that anyone can preach to. This architecture has its disadvantage as it could incite riots between groups that supports a god with another group that supports a different god.

Caste systems are a fundamental part of Hinduism. The main caste system in place is known as the varna system, which is composed of five different castes. Our textbook says that, “The word varna refers to a system of hierarchical social organization,” which helps to explain the fundamental function of castes. The original four parts of the varna system are outlined in the poem Purusha Sukta, which describes the, “primordial sacrifice of the cosmic man.” The highest class, composed of priests, came from his mouth; the next class were the warriors and kings, which came from his arms; next came the commoner, which came from his thighs; finally, the final and lowest class, the servants, came from his feet. These castes serve as very rigid social groups in which people are generally bound to for the rest of their life (although people hope to be reincarnated into a higher caste in their next life) in which each one has specific duties. The highest caste is charged with conducting the most sacred of matters, including religious rituals and learning about the sacred text of Hinduism. The second highest caste is made up of the kings and warriors who were given the task of ruling and protecting the masses. The second-lowest caste is composed of common, everyday people that includes a plethora of roles, such as students, teachers, doctors, lawyers, etc. The lowest class is made up of all the people who have been charged with forever performing the filthiest, disgusting, and menial

In ancient Hindu culture, there existed a caste system with five levels of classes. The Brahmin, the priests, were the highest and had considerable importance because of their religious ties. Below them were the Kshatriyas, or the warrior class, who were more

Although now banned, India’s social structure is still burdened with inequalities and hierarchies known as the caste system. The caste system is a class structure determined by birth, and is derived from Varna, and idea taken from Hindu literature. Society was divided by labor and comprised of four occupational groups (Fisher 98). These four groups were the Brahmins, the priests or spiritual class; the Kshatriya, the nobility or ruling class; the Vaishya, the merchants and farmers; and the Shudras or servants. There was also a group outside of the caste system known as the Dalits. Eventually these groups became

In total, the Caste System has four main castes(or Varnas). First off, the Brahmins, who are priests, and scholars. They are the highest ranking people in the traditional Hindu caste system. Secondly, the

The article “How Does India’s Caste System Work” states that “Sanskrit texts from the second millennium BC refer to a practice of dividing individuals into social groups called “varnas - the term’s precise meaning is unclear but it seems not only to suggest classification

The central problem for human existence according to Hinduism is Karma. Karma refers to your actions, which will determine which caste you are re-born into. Caste is the name given to the system or levels of the Hinduism society. At the bottom of society or the lowest class are the servants (Sudras). These people serve the upper classes. These people can only hope that their karma will cause a promotion in their next life to a higher caste. The next level up is the common people (Vaisyas). These people form the bulk of the Indian society. Next is the Warrior-Kings (Ksatriya). These people are believed to be the descendants of the original commanders of the ancient Vedic state. At the top of society are the Priests (Brahmans). These people are

The next level of people in the caste system would be Kshatriyas who are the warrior class. They are to protect the people and worship the Brahmins who are above them. These people were looked upon to protect those who follow them and preserve the caste

caste system was a crucial element which was looked upon by several during times of

They classify each religion of one’s social status of which they were born into. People are born into the caste or level of their parents. There is no mobility across the caste lines during an individual’s lifetime. Each level is divided into a number of sub-levels, each of which is called a jati. Just as the levels provide a social hierarchy in society at large, the different jati’s provide a social hierarchy within a level. This system of varnas and jatis serves two important functions. First, it assigns occupations. The varna and jati to which one belongs is usually identified with an occupation. Within the Vaishyas, for instance, there are jatis of bakers, sheep herders, metal workers, and so

Imagine a religion so old that it is said to be timeless and has always been there, even before humans set foot on the Earth. It’s mindboggling to think that the knowledge of everything is floating in the space of the universe and the mind is just a way of reaching it. Hinduism is a very complex religion, yet it still sets one ultimate goal for the soul. To deeper understand Hinduism we must reveal its origin, doctrines, customs, and culture.

When thinking of Hinduism, one is immediately reminded of karma, reincarnation, and India. It is the third largest religion in the world. In reality, there is no single definition of what Hinduism actually is. Being a religion that is built on an undefined background, the only solidarity that holds the ‘idea’ of Hinduism together is the basic ideals that the many sects are based on, which creates an animistic basic religion, or a collection of overlapping religions that we call Hinduism today.

Hinduism was launched into modernity as a consequence of both the introduction of Muslims into the culture as well as the later British Colonial Project in India. Subsequently, Hinduism has evolved immensely on a social as well as a political front over the last 500 to 800 years (Lorenzen 631), altering the way that both insiders and outsiders define Hinduism through themselves. Analyzing Modern Hinduism today, then becomes a job of working backwards chronologically in order to compare the identities of Hindus nationally, internationally and regionally; recognizing how these identities relate to outsider perspective and Hinduism at its origin. In order to do this, classifications can be made by approaching Indian history through a variety of frameworks in order to address problems tied to the Academy and its approach to religious studies - especially concerning Hinduism. By utilizing lenses such as the insider/outsider debate, Hijra identity, Hindutva nationalism, and Dalit religion, scholars and practitioners alike are able to note the presence of inclusion and exclusion in Hindu society and identify how this notion addresses the question: “What is Hinduism?”.