| How I Became A Hindu - My Discovery Of Vedic Dharma |
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| Books By David Frawley |
| DISCOVERY OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL HINDUISM | |
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castes in India were not rigid and allowed for an upward movement. Women could marry up in
caste and their children’s caste would become that of their father. Castes could fall
in status, as when a Brahmin family had to take on non-Brahmanical occupations like
becoming merchants. In Vedic times individuals who demonstrated the ability could rise in
caste as well. Moreover, to become a monk in Hinduism one always has had to renounce all
caste identity. The Hindu caste or varna system, moreover, is very different than the European class system. The Brahmins or priestly class were wedded to a life of austerity and learning and not allowed to accumulate wealth or power. The exceptions were the royal Brahmins who were in the service of the kings. They sometimes acted as political and legal advisors. They were often given large land grants to found schools and temples. Unfortunately, some of them fell from the required austerity of their class and began to function more like landowners. A few Brahmins also took on Kshatriya roles and became kings. This was allowed as an exception if the Kshatriya class failed at its duties. However, the average village Brahmin or temple priest has remained to the present day, a poor scholar, teacher or ritualist, working in the service of the community for a menial subsistence. The temple priests of South India today are among the poorest of the poor.
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