Varnashrama

Revision Notes
• Sustainably prosperous is a person or community which is continuously
happy and successful
• Varna is the 4 fields of work people can go in according to your aptitude
and attitude; kshatriyas, vaishyas, sudras and brahmanas.
• The 6 types of wealth are:
o Aishwarya – money and power
o Sri – beauty
o Virya – vitality
o Jnana – knowledge
o Yasha – honour
o Vairagya – renunciation
• 4 benefits of varna dharma are:
o Competition due to all the fields being full of thriving and capable
people, keeping quality in place, ensuring principles and a win-win
mentality
o Co-operation comes from understanding that success is from
working together
o Commonalities
o Checks and balances
• The rules of varna dharma:
o Work according to your nature
o Your work should be honest [including fair exchange, providing for
real needs, and your work shouldn’t be harmful]
o Charity
o Sacrifice and show gratitude in which you connect with the source
o Do not exploit resources
o Keep your field of work pure
o Don’t be egoistic or lethargic
o Do work which has real value (spirituality)
• The Vedic caste system uses the analogy of a human body
• Three forms of Varnashrama:
o Original Varnashrama
▪ People are places according to gunas and karma
▪ The highest state is those who reached spiritual consciousness
o Corrupted Varnashrama
▪ Birth is the basis or qualification into a social order
▪ Highest on the social ladder are brahmanas (by birth)
o Spontaneous Varnashrama
▪ Basis is wealth and influence
▪ Highest are rich and powerful
• Ashrama is the 4 stages of life most people go through regardless of their
job
o Brahmacarya-ashrama (student life) – legs of the body
▪ Observes a vow of celibacy
▪ Training in self-realisation from a spiritual master
▪ Scriptural knowledge, character development and practical
skills
o Grihastha-ashrama (household life) - stomach of the body
▪ Earn money
▪ Raise a family, and marry (and earn for their family)
o Vanaprastha-ashrama (retired life) – arms of the body
▪ Resume a life of spiritual austerity
▪ Pilgrimage, and spiritual absorption
o Sannyasa-ashrama (renounced life) – head of the body
▪ The wife re-enters the family and matures to spiritual
perfection
▪ Husband completely renunciates

Religious References
• “To defy the laws of respectful behaviour towards the Brahmanas is a great
offence” – Srimad Bhagvatam
• “Even if they have all the qualities of a Brahmana, one who has dedicated
everything to God is higher – Srimad Bhagvatam
• “The Lord shows Brahmanas special favour” – Srimad Bhagvatam
• “The Vaishnavas are the most important part of society. They are the heart of
society, giving real meaning to life” – Srimad Bhagvatam
• “If your Karma is good, then you attain liberation from this world” – SB
• “Castes by birth wasn’t meant to happen, the caste system was corrupted in
Kali Yuga” – Srimad Bhagvatam
• “You should be classified according to your qualities”

Questions
• Explain two benefits of varna dharma (4 marks)
• Explain two rules of varna dharma (4 marks)
• Explain two ways varnashrama can solve world problems (4 marks)
• Explain two contrasting beliefs about varnashrama (5 marks)