/rta/ - Religion and Philosophy

A dedicated thread related to all queries, misunderstandings, or just general knowledge of the Varnashrama Dharma, the ancient four-fold division of society (Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra) combined with the four stages of life (Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, Sannyasa).

>This thread is for civil, fact-based discussion. Bad-faith actors who come only to derail, spam, or incite caste hatred will be ignored or reported. Disagree if you must, but bring sources, good reasoning, and honesty to the table.

>>708(OP)

2 questions,

-on what basis are modern castes allocated their respective Varnas ?

-If varna categorization of a certain family/caste/region contradicts genetic evidences then why should religion take preference over science ? (I am talking about R1a1a Shudras of north-west and Y-DNA Haplogroup H brahmins)

>>708(OP)

Certain Kshatriya are considered in some of our scriptures to have lost their status, and degraded to become either Shudra, or for sins that were even beyond redemption, they were disowned by all four Varnas.

If that is the case bere, do scriptures tell us any means or method for restoration of Varna for those who have fallen of the status? I do not ask this as a means of escape, but rather what are the criteria of their are any. Could you elaborate on which tribes and clans fell of their Kshatriya status?

Lastly, where their any Brahmin Varna that fell off as well?

>>755

Yes, varna can fall, it’s not just birth.

>Kshatriya

Manusmriti 10.43–45: Kill a Brahmana, steal, or act tyrannically > degraded to Shudra.

Shanti Parva 49–51: Cruel kings lose dharmic authority.

>Restoratio

nManusmriti 10.52–54, Yajnavalkya 1.184–188 > penance, yajña, guru guidance.

Brahmins:

Manusmriti 8.353–356: Theft, harming others, neglect of Vedas > lose Brahmin status.

Restoration via penance, ritual, dharma.

At last I am quoting Bhagavad Gita 3.35: “Better is one’s own dharma, though imperfectly performed, than the dharma of another perfectly performed.”