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=== What is Varna ? ===

=== What is Varna ? ===

‘Varna’ does not actually mean colour in a grammatical sense. It means the colour which is philosophically or metaphysically attributed to the so-called gunas of prakrti (प्रकृतिः) - sattva (सत्त्वम् | purity), rajas (रजस् | passion) and tamas (तमस् | inertia). These three properties of prakrti are the basis or the substratum of what are known as the colours. It is said that Sattva is white, Rajas is red and Tamas is black. With respect to a particular individual, it refers to the colour of the property preponderating in some measure ie. how much sattva, how much rajas, how much tamas is there in an individual. No one is wholly sattvik, wholly rajasik or wholly tamasik; there is some percentage of each guna (गुणः । quality) in different individuals in various proportions.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" /> For example,

‘Varna’ does not actually mean colour in a grammatical sense. It means the colour which is philosophically or metaphysically attributed to the so-called gunas of prakrti (प्रकृतिः) - sattva (सत्त्वम् | purity), rajas (रजस् | passion) and tamas (तमस् | inertia). These three properties of prakrti are the basis or the substratum of what are known as the colours. It is said that Sattva is white, Rajas is red and Tamas is black. With respect to a particular individual, it refers to the colour of the property preponderating in some measure ie. how much sattva, how much rajas, how much tamas is there in an individual. No one is wholly sattvik, wholly rajasik or wholly tamasik; there is some percentage of each guna (गुणः । quality) in different individuals in various proportions.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" /> For example,

* 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. Thus, the Brahmanas were in charge of spiritual and intellectual affairs.   

* 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 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. Thus, the work of political administration and defence was given to the 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. And thus, the Vaishyas were entrusted with the duty of supplying food for the nation and administering its economic welfare.  

* Those in whom Tamas is predominant, are Shudras. Neither of the three qualities are highly developed in them. Therefore, they take up the social responsibility of assisting the other three varnas. In short, a Tamasik person is a Shudra.<ref name=":5" />

* Those in whom Tamas is predominant, are Shudras. Neither of the three qualities are highly developed in them. Therefore, they take up the social responsibility of assisting the other three varnas. In short, a Tamasik person is a Shudra.<ref name=":5" />

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" />