Ambedkar-Philosophy of Hinduism

AMBEDKAR'S PHILOSOPHY OF HINDUISM AND CONTEMPORARY CRITIQUES
PROF. M. M. NINAN
debate and magical ritualism which they used to gain royal patronage of the local kings. With the support of some
native kings whom they won over to their side and who probably had some racial affinity with them, by cleverly
adopting many local customs and traditions that would make them acceptable in the eyes of the native people, with
their special abilities in using magical incantations and elaborate sacrifices to summon rains or prevent floods or
defeat the enemies or drive away thieving hostile tribes, diseases and pestilence, they established their social,
political and economic power and spread their influence gradually to the four corners of the Indian subcontinent.
Non-Vedic Character of Caste System
The vedic priests did not bring with them the caste system. The early vedic people had a flexible social organization
in which people could change their vocations easily. Different members within the same family practiced different
vocations. But as they came into contact with hostile tribes and competing traditions, they resorted to caste system
to preserve their identity as a group. Some form of caste system was already in vogue in ancient India, which in all
probability the vedic people adopted to maintain their racial purity and family lineages. This is evident from the fact
in the entire Rigveda there is no reference to the caste system except in the Purusha sukta which is considered by
many scholars as a later day interpolation.
Caste in Hindu Mythology
In the Hindu mythology we find men of lower castes ascending to positions of eminence and authority. Some
important characters in the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata belonged to lower castes. Lord Rama was assisted
by mostly men of humble origins, who lived in the forests and were ignorant of the vedic scriptures. Lord Krishna
himself was brought up by a family of cowherds. So was Balarama, his step brother, who is sometimes included in
the list of Vishnu's ten incarnations. Only three or four of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu came from higher
castes. Of the ten only one, the incarnation of Vamana, belongs to the Brahmin caste. Rama, Parashurama and the
Buddha belong to the Kshatriya caste while other incarnations such as the incarnation of fish, turtle, boar and the
half man and half lion are actually animal incarnations, which in other words means once born, just like the forest
dwellers that assisted Lord Rama in his battle against the demon king Ravana.
Many ancient sages and rishis also came from humble backgrounds. Parasurama was a brahmin by birth but a
warrior by profession. Vishwamitra 7 was a warrior by birth but practiced austerities like a brahmins and became a
great rishi. Sage Parashar, the famous law giver, was the son of an outcaste (chandala). Rishi Vashishta was born
to a prostitute ,while sage Vyasa, the original author of the Mahabharata, was born to a fisherwoman. Rishi Valmiki
the original composer of Ramayana came from a tribal family of traditional hunters. Some composers of the Vedic
and Upanishadic hymns belonged to either lower castes or mixed castes. Satyakama Jabala was born to a
prostitute who could not tell him who his father was. Karna, the famous character from the Mahabharata was
brought up by low caste family, while Drona, the teacher of the Pandavas, was a Brahmin by caste but excelled in
marital arts .
The Development of Rigid Caste System
The Rigvedic society had a flexible caste system which allowed individuals to change their castes if necessary.
Color (varna) and family lineage were more important during this period rather than occupation. But during the post
vedic period, caste system became rigid and offered little flexibility to people to pursue vocations not authorized by
caste rules. Foreign invasions and the presence of foreigners should have sparked this new development to
prevent the possibility of caste pollution and confusion of castes. Well defined code of conduct, rewards and
punishments and purification procedures became necessary to regulate the inflow of new members into the vedic
society and their integration into the existing framework of castes without disturbing the social structure and the
dominance of the priestly class.
Elevation of the Sudra Kings
Many emperors and rulers in ancient India came from humble backgrounds. They became rulers on account of
their personal valor and adventurous spirit. The Nandas who ruled a vast empire with pataliputra as their capital at
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