Pasrt IV-The Origins of Caste.

The stratification of society into classes on the basis of division of labour in a society urbanized so long ago is no cause for surprise.What is of interest are two features unique to Hinduism:

1. The sanction of this stratification by priests.
2. The hereditary (and hence perpetual) nature of the stratification.

There were three classes of people in people in the Roman Empire : Patricians, Plebeians And Slaves. The unwritten fourth class was the King, or Caesar-- there was always a conflict about who had primacy: Caesar or the Senate.The priest was just another patrician.

Mediaeval society in England had Barons, Knights, Yeomen and Serfs.The king was separate and above all.Although not part of this stratification the clergy wielded considerable power: kings were careful in the appointment of archbishops.

What is unique to early Hindu society is the division into Priests ( Brahmins), Warriors (Kshatriyas), Commoners (Vaishyas), Servants (Shudras) and outcastes.How did the priests manage to create and occupy a niche for themselves, and set themselves above the warrior Kshatriyas?

Those who have studied the Harappan Civilization remark on the level of urban sophistication, as well as the absence of tombs, palaces and cenotaphs in the Egyptian or even Mesopotamian tradition.The obvious question arises: who headed this complex urban society?The lack of either a written history or an oral tradition does not allow definite answers.One view that emerges is that the cities were effective republics presided over by priests or priest-kings.This could have created the condition for Aryan priests to assert themselves.

Continued.