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Caste. Hindus are born into a caste. People cannot change castes unless moving down because of a dharma violation. Castes represent spiritual purity. Castes often determines your occupation. Impact of caste. Marriage within your sub-caste Food restrictions Lack of incentive to improve
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People cannot change castes unless moving down because of a dharma violation
Impact of caste. • Marriage within your sub-caste • Food restrictions • Lack of incentive to improve • Sense of superiority & inferiority • Strong desire to follow the rules
- Do not know all people • - Jobs are changing (i.e. factories) • - People are gaining more education • - Transportation allows people to live further away from where they work • - Restaurants causes people to eat food beyond what they traditionally eat
Why people like caste • Ends competition- no need to better self • Comfortable to know place • Carries on arts and crafts—skilled people stay where they were • Marriage and jobs are set- big decisions of the life are easy.
Caste rules are spelled out in the Code of Manu (2000 B.C.E.) • It explains proper way to wash, brush teeth, dress, sit, recline. • Also specifies laws of inheritance, religious customs, rituals foods and ways of purification.
Untouchables -- also called Dalits • lowest caste • outcasts • darker skin color; • handle the deceased, street sweepers, beggars • must walk on the other side of the road and not let their shadow fall on a Brahman; cannot take water from public wells.
Brahman– Priests 6% Kshatryas– Warriors & rulers 10% Vaisyas– Skilled traders, merchants, & minor officials20% Sudras– unskilled workers 50% Pariahs – Dalits, “untouchables,” handle the deceased, street sweepers, beggars 15%