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From: murali@think.ARPA (Muralidhara Subbarao)
Newsgroups: net.nlang.india,net.politics,net.religion.jewish,net.nlang.africa,net.religion
Subject: Some Ideas from India: Laws of Manu: Duties of Sudras
Message-ID: <3909@think.ARPA>
Date: Tue, 7-Jan-86 18:56:57 EST
Article-I.D.: think.3909
Posted: Tue Jan  7 18:56:57 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 8-Jan-86 06:22:57 EST
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> From paturi@harvard.HARVARD.EDU.ARPA (Ramamohan Paturi):
> 
> 			Some Ideas from India
>                         ---- ----- ---- -----
> 
> The following is taken from "A source book in Indian Philosophy" 
> (S. Radhakrishnan and C. A. Moore).
> 
> Manu's code (???? BC)  gives detailed instructions regarding the then social 
> rules and practices in India. It believes in the fourfold order 
> of society as a means of social cooperation for the common 
> good. Each one has 
> to perform the function for which his nature best suits him. 
> The following are 
> the duties of Sudras who form the fourth group according to the caste system 
> (brahmin, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra in that order).
> 
> 
>    			DUTIES OF SUDRAS
> 
>     ...................
>    But a sudra, whether bought or unbought, he may compel to do servile
>    work; for he was created by the Self-existent (Svayambhu) to be the
>    slave of a brahmin.
>      ..................
>    The service of brahmins alone is declared (to be) an excellent
>    occupation of a sudra; for whatever else besides this he may perform
>    will bear him no fruit.


  This is a clarification for the above letter, lest those
who do not know about Hinduisim and the current Indian
society think that Manu's code is endorsed by Hinduisim
and is being practised in India.

   Unlike many religions (like Christianity, Islam,..,etc.)
Hinduism DOES NOT HAVE one specific scripture which
is considered to be the ultimate authority on Hinduism.
In some sense, the Bhagavat Gita is an epitome of the
principles of Hinduism. According to Bhagavat Gita
one can attain God in four ways:

   (i)    Gnana Yoga (pursuit of knowledge or truth;
                      includes dedication to music, art, science
                      literature and anything that can be considered
                      as pursuit of knowledge)
   (ii)   Karma Yoga (Good deeds, dedication to a good cause, etc.)
   (iii)  Bhakti Yoga (complete faith in and submission to God)
   (iv)   Dhyana Yoga (penance, self discipline, ritual ceremonies,
                       etc.)

  Of the above four ways, it is acknowledged by God himself
that  Bhakti Yoga is the supreme way to attain him. However,
if one choses Gnana Yoga or Karma Yoga, one need not, theoretically,
believe in God (so the atheist Scientists and Social workers
are saved from hell :-)  ).

   The point I am trying to make is that Hinduism does not
preach caste system or social classes; it is all the creation
of those who practised it which is gradually fading away.

   There are many popular folklore legends of Sudras
(the lowest social class according to Manu's code) having
attained God without the mediation of Brahmins and
sometimes inspite of the intervention of Brahmins (e.g.:
Kanakadasa of Karnataka). Some examples that come to
my mind are `Bhakta Kumbara', `Bedara Kannappa', etc.
in South India; Of course there a lot more examples which
I am not aware of.

  My personal interpretation of Hinduism is that one should
act according to ones conscience. Hinduism is nothing more
and nothing less. According to this, lots of "good"
Christians, Moslems,..,etc. are Hindus.

  As for those who do not know about the  modern India,
be assured that it is a secular state which forbids
descrimination on the basis of race, religion, social class
or sex. For all practical purposes, caste does not affect
a lay man except to a small extent in villages. More than
95% of the people have probably not even heard of Manu's
code. 

  So, unless you are a student of the study of "Vedic India"
you can safely forget all about Manu's code.

                                               murali.