Deivathin Kural Series - 35

Om Namah Sivaya.
Deivathin Kural # 35 of 26 & 27 July 2006.




1.These e-mails are translations of talks given by the erstwhile Pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over more than sixty years, published by Vanady Padippagam, T.Nagar, Chennai, India, in ten volumes, in the Tamil language. The english version is likely to be available very soon. These e-mails are simply an effort on the part of the sender, to share some of his bliss, as it is said, 'Yam perra peru peruga ivvaiyagam'. When he adds any personal observations he uses the phrase, 'KTSV adds'.

2. To-day's e-mail is the translation of what is given in pages, 169 to 176, in volume I, under the heading, 'Kariyathil Bedamum Mano Bedamum,' ie., 'Division of Labour & Division of Minds'. (As you know, Man herein includesWoman and vice versa except when specially mentioned.)
3. I said, 'Caste came into being, to carry out a particular set of works, & accordingly were evolved, the necessay rules and observances, for that set of people'. 'This is wrong. There is no caste for work or work for caste. Do not connect them like this. Why and how were the twigs tied in to small bundles? Who decided as to, so and so caste should do so and so type of work?'
4. In the world till date, it is observed that despite years of struggle, both in democratic and non-democratic and communistic countries; this division of labour, has not been successful. Neither has it been possible to do away with the division of the society in to a number of classes. There is a pecking order among birds. Within a 'pride' of Lions, there is an order in which they devour the prey. For a society to function effectively, different types of work / jobs, have to be done. So there has to be a devision of labour.
But how to match the demand for work to be done with demand for employment? Everyone competes for easy jobs and more remuneration. So what we find is that everywhere, there is; more work-more competition-more dissppointments-more complaints of favouritism- and more un-employment! This is the state of affairs not only in poor, developing countries, but also in, so called advanced countries.
5. In our country, where the division of labour was based on hereditory, till such a system was un-interfered with; there was, peace, happiness, satisfaction and mutual respect. Even a shoe maker was not a dis-gruntled man. (Actually one of the shoe maker was a Nayanmar, ie., a Siva Baktha, who used to do his business only after offering a pair of Pada-rakshai, to some Siva Baktha, free of cost every day!) Then we talk of advancement. Having instigated every body's ill-founded desires, everyone has been pushed in to dissatisfaction and dis-gruntlement. Then everywhere there is talk of more progress on the same lines. Those days, there was no over-ambition. People found more happiness in mutual trust and love, in smaller communities. Belief in religion, devotion to God and pride in having their special devotional functions, enabled them to lead a satisfied life. Most importantly, they did not have the dissatisfaction that arises out of consumerism and indulgence.
6. Though devided into a number of castes and communities, in the name of God, they were united. Though each had their
Kula-Deivam, there was a big temple in the village/town. Life in that village or town was centered around the daily and periodic activities in the temple. All the people were children of that God. When the Idol of the God was kept in a huge chariot of mammoth proportions; all the people joined hands to pull that chariot. At that time, caste and creed did not prevent rubbing of shoulders. To think of those days is to feel bad with nostalgia. No heart-burn, no cursing. You did your job and were happy in heart.
7. When we think of all this, it is clear that it is wrong to conclude that, 'despite the division in to a number of castes and sub-castes, the Hindu Society managed to withstand many onslaughts.'! The fact is that, it is because of it's division in to a number of communities, that the Hindu Society, has remained ever alive, not only for years but ages and eons. When we look at, the destruction out of reckoning of those big and huge religions, which talked of only general moral principles and had one unitary society;
and also observe that similar religions to-day are looking at their own future with fear and apprehension; it becomes clear as to why-
'All the twigs were not made in to one bundle; but, divided in to smaller ones of smaller bundles; and each individually and collectively tied by the cord of Devotion to God, in Varna Dharmam. And it is that, which has kept the Hindu Society live and ever re-juvinated.'
8. The religions that had only a common code of conduct, when influenced by other religions from within and or without, fell to pieces and disintegrated. But the Hindu - Sanathana - Vedic- Varna - Dharma, has had to face many such contingencies, from within and without. Buddhism, Jainism and Sikkhism have evolved from within. Parsi, Jewism, Christianity and Islam, have come from without. We accept whatever is good in them and ignore what does not suit. We have not only accommodated all of them; but rever Buddha, Maha Vira and Sikh Gurus. This is the only country in the world where, the Jews who landed here during the exodus, were not hounded, but found a, 'home away from home'. Parsis have thrived in India as a community, without any inter mingling. Muslims are the biggest minority, with a major say in politics and Christians are the second biggest minority. Their total populations may exceed that of many countries. Sufi Sants, Kabir Das and Sai Baba, are clear indications of a confluence of Adwaita Philosophy and Muslim beliefs. The effect of Hinduism on Christianity is an area for research and analysis. Buddhism and Jainism have evolved out of some aspects of the Vedic Hindu Religion. Sikhism was evolved to make the Hindu fight against the Muslim Marauders. What does it all prove?
9. Understand, accept, if possible absorb, has been the response of the Hindu, towards other religions and belief. Live and let live has been their attitude. This tolerance and acceptance, is in-built, in the Hindu Philosophy as well as in the procedural and practical aspects. Moghul influence in India was more noticeable in, dress, music, sculpture, architecture, and literature. This happened more in Northern India, than in the South.
10. After the Britishers came, (some French and Portughese included), the belief in Vaidik Dharma has reduced, slowly and steadily in the entire India. Why? Why do all political leaders talk about Varna Dharma as, 'CASTE-ism', as though, removal of that is a panacea for all social evils of the society? Why is there a wide spread belief that, Jaathi is the biggest stumbling block, preventing the Nation's progress!? It has become a phobia, that if you mention, 'Jaathi', in passing, you may be put in Jail! (KTSV adds. In the five or six decades since when Periyaval must have spoken this, we know, that this has become a tool in the hands of narrow minded vested political interests.)
11. I will tell you the reason why, and also point out as to who is responsible,a little later. First let me tell you as to why, there are people out to destroy the Varna Dharma. Possibly they feel that, in Varna Dharma, the disparities between the different Varnas are too much. Possibly they are sincere about wanting to remove the disparities and bring everyone on equal footing and therby, lift up the whole society. But is this possible? Is it practical? To get an answer to these questions, we need to look at world. We have to look at societies, who do not have such gradations. The sad fact is that, almost the world over, almost every country and every religion, claim that they have caste-less creed-less societies. If their claim is true, there should be no class conflicts. Right? But what is the ground reality? The whole world is a hot-bed of confrontation, between; the haves and have-nots; rich and poor; developed and undeveloped; the patroleum-haves and patroleum-have-nots; nuclear-haves and nuclear-aspiring and nuclear-have-ots; Muslims and Jews; shias and sunnis; Catholics and Protestants; Blacks and Whites; Capitalists and Communists; ad infinitum, ad nauseum.
12. But, if we try to understand, the Hindu Varna Dharma, it is not meant as a Higher / Lower differenciation. But somehow, such a wrong opinion seems to have formed in the minds of both, locals as well as outsiders. Locally people have exploited this, for their narrow-sectarian-advantages; while outsiders have exploited this, for propoganda value, to keep us divided during colonialism and or to spread their own religion. But whatever it may be, our response should be, to try and remove such misconception; and not do away with the time-tested system.
13. For the sake of discussion, even if we accept, that there is upper and lower castes, in India; my question is as to, where is it not there in this world? As already mentioned in para 11 above, gradations cannot be avoided in a world, that is relative. Money and access to power, makes all the difference, everywhere. Even in United States of America, where everybody has enough of everything, the one-car household is jealous of two-car household, and so on. Millionaires feel jealous of multi-millionaires. Communist nations have not been able to avoid, conflicts and confrontations, between the Ruling-Elite and the Common lot. The Governments may keep such internal tensions bottled-up. Such conflicts happens at the highest levels, in communist countries and we see that, the only way a man in power can be removed, is by being toppled. To-day's Supreme Leader, is not heard of, the next day! Even his statues are removed!
14. Instead of such man-made differentiation, which leads to competitiveness and hatered, isn't it better to keep it hereditory? Comparatively the bitterness and hatered levels may be less. We may take it as fate or ordained by God! In truth all jobs are essential for the society's well being. Whatever the work, if we can do it efficiently and offer it to God, there is no better medicine than that, for inner cleansing!
15. Being devided by Castes, we have developed our culture and civilization, to wonderful levels. Other civilizations, thinking that they are one, have fallen to pieces and disappeared. Here, differences were at functional level and duties. When there was, 'Unity in Diversity', we have thrived. We have suffered, when some amongst us have exploited the situation, with narrow minded selfishness.
But the innate resiliency, has enabled us to overcome, such temporary aberrations. It is neither possible nor practical to place everyone at par, by rule or law. It is the attitude and perspective, that has to be changed, to look at everyone as one. You can neither make everyone equal, nor can we work in total different compartmentalisation. The well established Varna Dharma, has provided the via media. For that purpose, I have come as a representative of Dharma Sastras. Functional differenciation and oneness of Heart is the necessity. Please do not mix the two.
16. Howevermuch, the differences in the operational and functional areas, if there is Love in the Heart, there will be peace in the land. For ages, it has been like that in our country. Without a sense of superiority and narrow minded selfishness, with the intension that,'I am doing this for the common good,' if we carry out our hereditory duties, there will be no higher and lower feelings. We can face the world with confidence and certainity of success, as long as we carry out our collective samanya dharma and individual varna dharma.
Sambhomahadeva