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* Those in whom Sattva preponderates, are Sattvik in nature ie. they are pious, virtuous and lead the divine life; and are in a broad sense referred to as brahmanas. Being wise and good thinkers, they take up social responsibilities like that of priests, ministers or philosophers who guide rulers. In view of their inherent nature, serenity, self-restraint, austerity, purity, forgiveness, as also, uprightness, knowledge, realisation and belief in the Supreme are described as the duties of brahmanas.   

* Those in whom Sattva preponderates, are Sattvik in nature ie. they are pious, virtuous and lead the divine life; and are in a broad sense referred to as brahmanas. Being wise and good thinkers, they take up social responsibilities like that of priests, ministers or philosophers who guide rulers. In view of their inherent nature, serenity, self-restraint, austerity, purity, forgiveness, as also, uprightness, knowledge, realisation and belief in the Supreme are described as the duties of brahmanas.   

* Those in whom Rajas is predominant, are Kshatriyas. They are warriors or men of action and take up social responsibilities like tackling social enemies or invaders and defend the society. Thus, a Rajasik person with heroic quality is a Kshatriya and in view of this nature, prowess, splendour, firmness, dexterity, as also, not fleeing away during testing times, generosity and lordliness are described as the duties of Kshatriyas.  

* Those in whom Rajas is predominant, are Kshatriyas. They are warriors or people of action and take up social responsibilities like tackling social enemies or invaders and defend the society. Thus, a Rajasik person with heroic quality is a Kshatriya and in view of this nature, prowess, splendour, firmness, dexterity, as also, not fleeing away during testing times, generosity and lordliness are described as the duties of Kshatriyas.  

* Those in whom Rajas and Tamas are predominant are Vaishyas or traders. In view of their nature, they take up social responsibilities like running businesses, agriculture, cattle-rearing, trade etc. and amass wealth. Thus, a Rajasik person with business tendencies is a Vaishya.  

* Those in whom Rajas and Tamas are predominant are Vaishyas or traders. In view of their nature, they take up social responsibilities like running businesses, agriculture, cattle-rearing, trade etc. and amass wealth. Thus, a Rajasik person with business tendencies is a Vaishya.  

In short, a group of individuals who have the capacity to reflect maximum amount of sattva are those who can think better in terms of the higher reason behind things than those who are predominantly rajasik or tamasik. So is the case with the other properties—rajas and tamas. Rajas has a tendency to activate everything, and tends towards energetic movement. While, tamas is very heavy, dense and static. It can neither move like rajas, nor think like sattva.<ref name=":0" />

In short, a group of individuals who have the capacity to reflect maximum amount of sattva are those who can think better in terms of the higher reason behind things than those who are predominantly rajasik or tamasik. So is the case with the other properties—rajas and tamas. Rajas has a tendency to activate everything, and tends towards energetic movement. While, tamas is very heavy, dense and static. It can neither move like rajas, nor think like sattva.<ref name=":0" />

Shabdakalpadruma describes Varna as Jati and enumerates the 4 kinds of Varna as Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. <blockquote>वर्णः जातिः | सा च ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः शूद्रश्च |<ref name=":1">[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%83 Shabdakalpadruma]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>varṇaḥ jātiḥ | sā ca brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyo vaiśyaḥ śūdraśca |</blockquote>

 

While, the Shabdakalpadruma describes Varna as Jati and enumerates the 4 kinds of Varna as Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. <blockquote>वर्णः जातिः | सा च ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः शूद्रश्च |<ref name=":1">[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%83 Shabdakalpadruma]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>varṇaḥ jātiḥ | sā ca brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyo vaiśyaḥ śūdraśca |</blockquote>

=== The Origin of Varna Concept ===

=== The Origin of Varna Concept ===

Talking of the Origin of Varna Concept, Shabdakalpadruma says,<blockquote>एषामुत्पत्त्यादिर्यथा | यदा भगवान् पुरुषरूपेण सृष्टिं कृतवान् तदास्यशरीरात् चत्वारो वर्णा उत्पन्नाः | मुखतो ब्राह्मणाः बाहुतः क्षत्रियाः ऊरुतो वैश्याः पादतः शूद्रा जाताः |<ref name=":1" /></blockquote><blockquote>eṣāmutpattyādiryathā | yadā bhagavān puruṣarūpeṇa sr̥ṣṭiṁ kr̥tavān tadāsyaśarīrāt catvāro varṇā utpannāḥ | mukhato brāhmaṇāḥ bāhutaḥ kṣatriyāḥ ūruto vaiśyāḥ pādataḥ śūdrā jātāḥ |</blockquote>Meaning: When Bhagavan created the world in the form of Purusha, the four varnas got created from his body. From the mouth - the brahmanas, from the arm - the kshatriyas, from the thigh - the vaishyas and from the feet - the Shudras were born.

Talking of the Origin of Varna Concept, Shabdakalpadruma says,<blockquote>एषामुत्पत्त्यादिर्यथा | यदा भगवान् पुरुषरूपेण सृष्टिं कृतवान् तदास्यशरीरात् चत्वारो वर्णा उत्पन्नाः | मुखतो ब्राह्मणाः बाहुतः क्षत्रियाः ऊरुतो वैश्याः पादतः शूद्रा जाताः |<ref name=":1" /></blockquote><blockquote>eṣāmutpattyādiryathā | yadā bhagavān puruṣarūpeṇa sr̥ṣṭiṁ kr̥tavān tadāsyaśarīrāt catvāro varṇā utpannāḥ | mukhato brāhmaṇāḥ bāhutaḥ kṣatriyāḥ ūruto vaiśyāḥ pādataḥ śūdrā jātāḥ |</blockquote>Meaning: When Bhagavan created the world in the form of Purusha, the four varnas got created from his body. From the mouth - the brahmanas, from the arm - the kshatriyas, from the thigh - the vaishyas and from the feet - the Shudras were born.

This concept is first found in verse 12 of the Purusha Sukta in the Rgveda (Mandala 10, Sukta 90). It says,<blockquote>ब्राह्मणोऽस्य मुखमासीद्बाहू राजन्यः कृतः । ऊरू तदस्य यद्वैश्यः पद्भ्यां शूद्रो अजायत ॥१२॥ (Rig.10.90.12)<ref>Rigveda, Mandala 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6.%E0%A5%AF%E0%A5%A6 Sukta 90], Verse 12.</ref></blockquote><blockquote>brāhmaṇo'sya mukhamāsīdbāhū rājanyaḥ kr̥taḥ । ūrū tadasya yadvaiśyaḥ padbhyāṁ śūdro ajāyata ॥12॥ (Rig.10.90.12)</blockquote>Meaning: The Brahmana (representing adhyatmik wisdom and splendour) was His mouth; the Kshatriya (constituting administrative and military prowess) became His arms. His thighs were the Vaishya (who formed commercial and business enterprise); of His feet the Shudra (repository of the productive and sustaining force) was born.<ref>Swami Krishnananda, [https://www.swami-krishnananda.org/invoc/Daily_Invocations.pdf Daily Invocations], Rishikesh: The Divine Life Society, Pg.no.63 </ref>

This concept is first found in verse 12 of the Purusha Sukta in the Rgveda (Mandala 10, Sukta 90). It says,<blockquote>ब्राह्मणोऽस्य मुखमासीद्बाहू राजन्यः कृतः । ऊरू तदस्य यद्वैश्यः पद्भ्यां शूद्रो अजायत ॥१२॥ (Rig.10.90.12)<ref>Rigveda, Mandala 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6.%E0%A5%AF%E0%A5%A6 Sukta 90], Verse 12.</ref></blockquote><blockquote>brāhmaṇo'sya mukhamāsīdbāhū rājanyaḥ kr̥taḥ । ūrū tadasya yadvaiśyaḥ padbhyāṁ śūdro ajāyata ॥12॥ (Rig.10.90.12)</blockquote>Meaning: The Brahmana (representing adhyatmik wisdom and splendour) was His mouth; the Kshatriya (constituting administrative and military prowess) became His arms. His thighs were the Vaishya (who formed commercial and business enterprise); of His feet the Shudra (repository of the productive and sustaining force) was born.<ref>Swami Krishnananda, [https://www.swami-krishnananda.org/invoc/Daily_Invocations.pdf Daily Invocations], Rishikesh: The Divine Life Society, Pg.no.63 </ref>

This image that we have in the Purusha Sukta of the Rgveda is illustrative of a very important significance hidden behind this system, namely, the organic character of people. As the human body is one organic completeness, society is also supposed to be that. The body is supported by the legs which stand firmly on the ground, and the legs are connected to the main trunk through the thighs, and there is the trunk, the whole body, and there is the voice which speaks the wisdom thought by the mind. That there is a cooperative action in an organism of the human personality is well known to every person, and we have no partiality or favouritism in regard to any limb of our body. It is improper to think that the legs are inferior to the head, the heart, the trunk, the arms, etc. says Swami Krishnananda.  

This image that we have in the Purusha Sukta of the Rgveda is illustrative of a very important significance hidden behind this system, namely, the organic character of people. As the human body is one organic completeness, society is also supposed to be that. The body is supported by the legs which stand firmly on the ground, and the legs are connected to the main trunk through the thighs, and there is the trunk, the whole body, and there is the voice which speaks the wisdom thought by the mind. That there is a cooperative action in an organism of the human personality is well known to every person, and we have no partiality or favouritism in regard to any limb of our body. It is improper to think that the legs are inferior to the head, the heart, the trunk, the arms, etc. says Swami Krishnananda.