Introductory - Global Sikh Studies

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vouched for in the sacred Hindu books. 56 Commenting on the easy
expiation of sins thus obtained, Albracht Weber says, ‘It is certainly
astonishing how, with a general forgiveness of sins easily earned, a
moral life can still exist among the Hindus. 57
Perhaps the most effective contrivance utilized by the Brahmins
for moulding religious and moral values in order to sanctify the caste
order was the connotation they attached to the concept of Dharma.
This ideal, even in its purity, extended so much from religious and
ethics to one’s ritual duties and caste conduct this its concept provided
considerable elbow room for Brahmanical manoeuvre and
manipulation. In the hands of the Brahmins, Dharma came to mean
primarily ritualistic duties, which in its turn became closely interwoven
in the texture of the caste-order. A line of distinction was drawn
between Dharma on the one hand and Mata (religious doctrine) and
Marga (holy end) on the other. While Mata and Marga are freely elected,
dharma is eternal i.e. unconditionally valid. 58 In other words, a good
deal of latitude was allowed in the choice of Mata and Marga, but
one’s Dharm depended upon the caste into which the individual was
born. It was indissolubly connected with his ritualistic duties. Hence,
for the duties of one’s caste, a special term, ‘Varnasrama Dharma’
was coined. As such, it became the central criterion of Hinduism. By
ignoring his ritualistic duties, namely, the caste duties, the individual
lost both his Dharma and his caste. 59 Significantly, the codes, which
laid the basis of caste society were titled as Dharm Shastras. These
were given more weight than the Darsanas, although it was universally
admitted in the twelfth century that a Darsana must be based on a
Sutra. 60
Recapitulation
Let us here briefly recapitulate the salient features of the social
development that our discussion has so far led us to.
1. In India alone, social evolution resulted in the formation, not
of classes, but of a well-defined system of castes enveloping
the entire society. This shows that there was some strong and
exceptional driving force behind the Indian social development
which was not to be met elsewhere.
2. This exceptional force was the caste ideology or Brahmanism,