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| '''Shudra''' (]: ] and ]: शूद्र {{IAST|''Śūdra''}}, normally now spelled '''Sudra''' or ''Súdra'' in English, which has produced a ]<ref>''Oxford English Dictionary'', ''s. v.'' "Sudra" '']''</ref>) is the fourth ] in the traditional four-section division in the ]. Their assigned and expected role in post-] India was that of |
'''Shudra''' (]: ] and ]: शूद्र {{IAST|''Śūdra''}}, normally now spelled '''Sudra''' or ''Súdra'' in English, which has produced a ]<ref>''Oxford English Dictionary'', ''s. v.'' "Sudra" '']''</ref>) is the fourth ] in the traditional four-section division in the ]. Their assigned and expected role in post-] India was that of servants and laborers. The four Varnas are ], ], ] and ]. | ||
| ==Origins== | ==Origins== | ||
| Whilst the origins of the other varnas can be traced to ] words, the word ''varna'' is translated as the ] word for color |
Whilst the origins of the other varnas can be traced to ] words, the word ''varna'' is translated as the ] word for color. In the ], it is said that there was only one Varna—Brahmana—in the beginning. The other varnas were formed depending on the dominance of the three Gunas—Sattwa, Rajah and Tamah—in one's self. The varnas were mere socio-economical roles that people take in a society. It is also mentioned in the purusha-sukta of ] where ''shudras'' are said to have emanated from the feet of the Virat Purush{{which|date=May 2011}} (पद्भ्याम् शूद्र् अजायत ''padbhyām śūdro ajāyata''){{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}. | ||
| ===Etymology=== | |||
| The etymology of the word have been derived from the Sanskrit ''shud'' meaning pure. Shudra was a common Sanskrit word, any person regardless of his ''varna'' to could be addressed as ''shudra''. An implied version of this common form has become traditionally associated with the varna system. It is also mentioned in the purusha-sukta of ] where ''shudras'' are said to have emanated from the feet of the lord{{which|date=May 2011}} (पद्भ्याम् शूद्र् अजायत ''padbhyām śūdro ajāyata''){{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}. | |||
| ===Jāti=== | ===Jāti=== | ||
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| Inscriptions of Shudra dynasties declare that belonging to the fourth ''varna'' was a matter of pride. An inscription of ] (1368 ]) says:<ref>{{cite book |last=Sastri |first=K. Rama |title="Akkalapundi grant of Singaya-Nayaka: Saka-Samvat 1290" Epigraphica Indica, vol. XIII |year=1982 |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |location= India| pages= 259ff., v.5–7}} </ref> | Inscriptions of Shudra dynasties declare that belonging to the fourth ''varna'' was a matter of pride. An inscription of ] (1368 ]) says:<ref>{{cite book |last=Sastri |first=K. Rama |title="Akkalapundi grant of Singaya-Nayaka: Saka-Samvat 1290" Epigraphica Indica, vol. XIII |year=1982 |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |location= India| pages= 259ff., v.5–7}} </ref> | ||
| <blockquote>The three castes, Brahmanas and the next , were produced from the face, the arms and the thighs of the Lord; and for their support was born the fourth caste from His feet. |
<blockquote>The three castes, Brahmanas and the next , were produced from the face, the arms and the thighs of the Lord; and for their support was born the fourth caste from His feet. River Ganges, the purifier of the three worlds also sprang from Lord's feet. The members of this caste are eagerly attentive to their duties, not wicked, pure-minded, and are devoid of passion and other such blemishes; they ably bear all the burdens of the earth by helping those born in the other caste.</blockquote> | ||
| Another inscription relates how his relative ] "rescued the Andhra country from the ravages of the Mohammedans".<ref>{{cite book |last=Sastri |first=K. Rama |title="Akkalapundi grant of Singaya-Nayaka: Saka-Samvat 1290" Epigraphica Indica, vol. XIII |year=1982 |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |location= India| page= 261}} </ref> | Another inscription relates how his relative ] "rescued the Andhra country from the ravages of the Mohammedans".<ref>{{cite book |last=Sastri |first=K. Rama |title="Akkalapundi grant of Singaya-Nayaka: Saka-Samvat 1290" Epigraphica Indica, vol. XIII |year=1982 |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |location= India| page= 261}} </ref> | ||
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| {{See also|Balinese caste system}} | {{See also|Balinese caste system}} | ||
| Shudra as a Varna is seen amongst the Hindus of ], ], and ] in ].{{Clarify|date=February 2010}} In Bali, they form 90% of the practicing Hindu population. During the historic period,{{When|date=February 2010}} many people in ], ], and ] (a region in ]) were considered to be Shudras{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} prior to their conversion to ] or ] and ]. | Shudra as a Varna is seen amongst the Hindus of ], ], and ] in ].{{Clarify|date=February 2010}} In Bali, they form 90% of the practicing Hindu population. During the historic period,{{When|date=February 2010}} many people in ], ], and ] (a region in ]) were considered to be Shudras{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} prior to their conversion to ] or ] and ]. | ||
| ===Brahma Kumaris=== | |||
| In religion of ], only ] followers are ] ]s of humanity called ]. The world ] applies to all other ] religious souls and body conscious humans. Shudra from the word 'shud' means, pure, self-realized. These people of high skill, precision and devotion to their work were considered pioneers. However, it must be stressed that the majority of Hindus do not recognize this view; indeed, the Brahma Kumari are mostly considered as a sect. | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 13:43, 29 May 2011
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Shudra (IAST: Sanskrit and Hindi: शूद्र Śūdra, normally now spelled Sudra or Súdra in English, which has produced a spelling pronunciation) is the fourth Varna in the traditional four-section division in the caste system. Their assigned and expected role in post-Vedic India was that of servants and laborers. The four Varnas are Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra.
Origins
Whilst the origins of the other varnas can be traced to Vedic words, the word varna is translated as the Sanskrit word for color. In the Shanti Parva of Mahabharata, it is said that there was only one Varna—Brahmana—in the beginning. The other varnas were formed depending on the dominance of the three Gunas—Sattwa, Rajah and Tamah—in one's self. The varnas were mere socio-economical roles that people take in a society. It is also mentioned in the purusha-sukta of Rigveda where shudras are said to have emanated from the feet of the Virat Purush (पद्भ्याम् शूद्र् अजायत padbhyām śūdro ajāyata).
Jāti
Main article: Jāti | This section may require copy editing. (February 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
The theoretical and the original varnas carried to its extreme in the ages following the vajj Indian period. Every Jāti claimed to belong to some varna. Local variations of Jāti sub-castes exist within the Shudra Varna.
Shudras and North Indian society
It is commonly believed that the caste division is more uniform in North India than in South India. Some prominent rulers of North India were believed to have originated from the Shudra caste, e.g., the Nandas. Another feature of North Indian society is the presence of castes or Jatis with conflicting Varna status.
Medieval royal dynasties
Inscriptions of Shudra dynasties declare that belonging to the fourth varna was a matter of pride. An inscription of Singaya-Nayaka (1368 CE) says:
The three castes, Brahmanas and the next , were produced from the face, the arms and the thighs of the Lord; and for their support was born the fourth caste from His feet. River Ganges, the purifier of the three worlds also sprang from Lord's feet. The members of this caste are eagerly attentive to their duties, not wicked, pure-minded, and are devoid of passion and other such blemishes; they ably bear all the burdens of the earth by helping those born in the other caste.
Another inscription relates how his relative Kapaya-Nayaka "rescued the Andhra country from the ravages of the Mohammedans".
Shudras outside India
See also: Balinese caste systemShudra as a Varna is seen amongst the Hindus of Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bali in Indonesia. In Bali, they form 90% of the practicing Hindu population. During the historic period, many people in Java, Cambodia, and Champa (a region in Vietnam) were considered to be Shudras prior to their conversion to Islam or Buddhism and Christian.
See also
Notes
- "Who were the Shudras", B. R. Ambedkar
- Shudras in Ancient India, R. Chandra and K.L. Chanchreek. New Delhi, Shree Pub., 2004, ISBN 81-88658-65-0.
- Early Evidence for Caste in South India
- Oxford English Dictionary, s. v. "Sudra" sic
- Sastri, K. Rama (1982). "Akkalapundi grant of Singaya-Nayaka: Saka-Samvat 1290" Epigraphica Indica, vol. XIII. India: Archaeological Survey of India. pp. 259ff., v.5–7.
- Sastri, K. Rama (1982). "Akkalapundi grant of Singaya-Nayaka: Saka-Samvat 1290" Epigraphica Indica, vol. XIII. India: Archaeological Survey of India. p. 261.
External links
- The Jati-Varna Matrix
- Caste System in Bengal
- Dictionary definition of Shudra
- Contribution of Backward-caste Hindu Saints