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SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00033 Jan 2006

 
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Sir,
 
> Is Krishna telling that 
Varna or Caste is not by birth but by Guna/Karma(Character/Work)?<
 
"Guna"  here is one's natural/inherent inclinations (traits or nature);
in modern terms referred to as "aptitude".
It is a fundamental  biological truth, rightly recognized (only) by Sanatana 
Dharma and 
wrongly interpreted down the road (by both learned and the common folks).
 
 "Karma" here is work (that is intended to be in conformity with Guna to bring 
out the best:
As per GitA- svE svE karmaNyabhiratah sam siddhim labatE narah).
 
Karma is influenced by the surroundings and upbringing (nurture).
This is what happened to a large extent in the Hindu society.
Irrespective of the inherent varNa of a child, Karma of a presumed varNa
(presumed based on one's ancestors, which was also presumptious)
 was imposed on the child. Not only that, while
God/Nature created 4 varNAs, we created the avarNeeya (Panchamaas!).
This itself shows taht majority of us did not understand varNa.
How can anyone be born and be branded as not belong to any varNa?
I can imagine belonging to many varNas (mulrtiple traits)- however
no trait? 
 
Everyone of us is in short a combination of Natur and Nurture.
For example an artist obviously is influenced by the surroundings.
A person with scholarly traits in Karnataka will most probably
communicate his scholarship in Kannada, Sanskrit, Tamil , English, or Telugu.
Rarely woul dthat person write in Swaheli or Bengali.
 
Actually, Varna is determined by birth (nature)and influenced by 
surroundings or upbringing (nurture).
However, MOST IMPORTANT TO NOTE is that it is not completely
determined by who one is born to. Thus, if someone has 
4 children, they may as well belong to 4 different varNAs.
However, often they all can be groomed more or less to
one varNa (as has happened in our society).
 
dAsan
 
K.S. tAtAchAr

-----Original Message-----
From: Sampige Srinivasa <sampiges@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Srirangasri@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; parakalamatham@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wed, 04 Jan 2006 13:34:55 +0000
Subject: [SriRangaSri] Guna Karma vibhAgaShaha...???


Pranamams to all,

I think this question may have been asked by many earlier. Please pardon me 
if this is a repeated one.

In Bhagavad Geetha, Sri Krishna says "Chaturvarnyam Maya Shrushtyam Guna 
Karma VibhAgashaha"

Can anyone please give the meaning of this Shloka. Is Krishna telling that 
Varna or Caste is not by birth but by Guna/Karma(Character/Work)? What is 
Shri. Ramanuja's Bhashya on this. It would be great if any one gives the 
link to Sri. Ramanuja's Geetha Bhashyam translated to English.

Shri Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum
Sampige Srinivasa Iyengar
Bengaluru








 
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