CHAPTER III
HINDU SOCIAL THEORY
IT is necessary to present here some phases of the Hindu social theory. I have already said that the Hindu society is a system of castes. According to Hindu theory the whole world is divided into a number of jātis, i.e., castes or tribes. These jātis differ from each other as far as sacredness and purity are concerned. While Brāhmaņas, who are always pure in speech and action, who increase their personal sacredness by the study of the Vedas and eating only pure food, are holiest and therefore at the top, the tribes like Christians and Mohamedans, who are characterized by cruelty and by the use of impure food, are most impure.[1]
- ↑ I should also state here that Christians and Mohamedans are regarded as impure, but not on account of their belief in their respective Saviour and prophets and their teaching. What belief a man follows is not a matter of serious importance to a Hindu. The question to which they attach great importance is whether the particular tribe and the individuals therein do any actions (karma) that are impure. If they do those actions, then those tribes are impure. Had Christians abstained from killing cows, and drinking liquor, the Hindus would not have regarded them as impure people. This may be illustrated from the attitude of the Brāhmanas towards the Jains. The Jains' belief is different from that of the Brāhmaṇas and their followers. They deny the authority of the Brāhmaṇas, still even the orthodox Brāhmaṇas in the Maratha country, especially in Berar, do not seem to have any objection to
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