Law and Religion - Indivisible in India

Last week I posted about my findings while reading from the Mahabharata, an ancient epic poem written in India that contains key beliefs of the Hindu culture. I dedicated this week to reading from the Bhagavad-Gita, a sacred scripture taken from the Mahabharata that is so important to Hinduism that it is often treated as a free standing text. The poem recounts a conversation between Lord Krishna (later revealed to be the Supreme Being himself) and a prince named Arjuna who questions the war he’s fighting against his own cousins. As they stand on the battlefield with both sides ready for conflict, Lord Krishna (often referred to simply as “the Lord”) teaches Arjuna his duties as a warrior in the caste system of India and also instructs him on how to live a righteous life. As such, this text allows us to have a better understanding of Hindu theology and the caste system of ancient India.

The caste system of ancient India consisted of four classes: (in descending order) the priestly class (Brahmins), the warrior class (Kshatriyas), the merchant and peasant class (Vaishyas), and the labor class (Sudras). The Brahmins interceded between gods and men and therefore were entitled to everything. The Kshatriyas were obligated to protect the people from war and injustice. The Vaishyas were expected to tend cattle and cultivate crops. The Sudras existed only to serve the other three classes. Although the caste system was strictly adhered to, the Bhagavad-Gita celebrated the ascension above class, relating that Lord Krishna himself was born into a family of Vaishyas. Lord Krishna (the Supreme Being) invites all classes to follow him, promising equal rewards if not equal opportunity.

"Understand this: no servitor of mine is lost. Even people of low origins, women, vaisyas, nay sudras, go the highest course if they rely on me. So how much more readily holy Brahmins and devoted royal seers! Reduced to this passing world of unhappiness, embrace me! May your thoughts be toward me, your love toward me, your sacrifice toward me, your homage toward me, having thus yoked yourself to me as your highest goal (107)."

All quotes are taken from the translation by J. A. B. van Buitenen of The Bhagavadgita  (find here).

India's caste system

Even so, the extent of your religious worship depended on your class. The Brahmins performed the rites and rituals for themselves and others, being completely versed in the scriptures (the Vedas). The Kshatriyas offered sacrifices and the Vaishyas were permitted to participate in select rituals, but the Sudras were not. The Sudras could not study the scriptures nor observe any rituals nor even hear the sacred chants! Thus, your class determined even your path to salvation. In the Bhagavad-Gita,  Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna his religious duties as a warrior, commanding him to go onward to war and not turn back.

"Or suppose you will not engage in this lawful war: then you give up your Law and honor, and incur guilt. Creatures will tell of your undying shame, and for one who has been honored dishonor is worse than death. The warriors will think that you shrank from the battle out of fear, and those who once esteemed you highly will hold you of little account. Your ill-wishers will spread many unspeakable tales about you, condemning your skill – and what is more miserable than that?

Either you are killed and will then attain to heaven, or you triumph and will enjoy the earth. Therefore rise up, resolved up battle! Holding alike happiness and unhappiness, gain and loss, victory and defeat, yoke yourself to battle, and so do not incur evil (77)."

Lord Krishna and Arjuna rushing into battle

As in Shuan's post on ancient Chinese culture, honor was deeply tied to righteousness and morality. A warrior's honor was to fight for his country, no matter the cost. Each member of society holds a specific role that they must fulfill to be redeemed. This ties into the idea presented by Tanner about how ancient forms of government based themselves heavily in "God-established" hierarchy. No one challenges the authority of the king when there exists a cultural belief placing him on level with God himself. The caste system of India was so deeply entwined with their religious beliefs that it existed for centuries despite the injustice of such a system. Sacred texts like the Bhagavad-Gita coupled with oral tradition conserved these beliefs for perhaps over a thousand years.

Once again, we see the tradition of oral knowledge celebrated in the Mahabharata in Lord Krishna's parting words.

"But he who… shows me his perfect devotion shall beyond a doubt come to me. No one among humankind does me greater favor than he, nor shall anyone on earth be more dear to me than he.

He who commits to memory this our colloquy informed by Law, he will offer up to me a sacrifice of knowledge, so I hold. And he who, filled with belief and trust, listens to it, will be released and attain to the blessed worlds of those who have acted right (145)."

Ancient Hindus were willing to memorize this discourse, offering a "sacrifice of knowledge" to attain salvation. In today's society where so many are dependent on the written word, would we be willing to make a similar sacrifice? (if not for salvation's sake, then at least to make the grade! see midterm #2 for this class. haha.) Memorizing scripture may seem like a simple (and perhaps useless) task, but ancient Hindus praised the acquisition of this knowledge above all else. We must ask ourselves why. Perhaps there is more than meets the eye to oral knowledge.