Introduction:

To understand Indian social system, we also need to understand the caste system of
India. Indian Hindu caste system is the one of foundation of the Indian social system
along with joint family and village life system. Trace of caste were also found in other
civilization like ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece etc. But Indian caste system has its
influence in the society and it also formed social system. To have proper
understanding of the caste system, methodological category is important because
caste system in India is again divided and also has many divisions within itself. So, in
this paper we will try to understand the methodological category of Indian caste
system.
1. What is Caste?
Social scientists have approached the problem of viewing the caste system as a
social hierarchy which determines social status. And it has been linked in various
aspects. M. Ν. Srinivas has elaborated on the status symbols pursued in the process
of "Sanskritisation" and "Westernisation".
Traditional Marxists tended to agrees to look upon the caste with an approach that
caste as a phenomenon belonging to the super structure of feudal society. The
feudal landlordism used the religious notions and social practices associated with
caste to justify and enhance their economic control over peasants and Laboure's.
They would refuse to discuss caste on par with class. The main perception is that
caste is not a part of material social reality but only a set of ideas and attitudes
guiding a particular group of people and their mind-set. They expect this to wither
away with the advance of capitalism. According to D.N. Majumdar and T.N. Madan,
caste is a 'closed group'. Historically the caste system in India consisted of four basic
categories- Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudra.
2. Origin: Word caste derives from the Spanish and Portuguese word "casta" which
means linage, tribe, race or breed. But as a social system there are number of
theories about its origin some of the theory of its origin are given below:
2.1.According to Nasfield's occupation theory:
The hereditary specialization of occupation was at the root of the caste system;
some occupation is purer and other are less pure. Those who are engage in pure
occupation are pure caste, then those who are involve in less pure occupation, so
those who are involve in pure occupation become superior caste. And the distinction
of caste is based on function of the occupation and it becomes hereditary.
2.2.Herbert Risley also regarded caste chiefly as an aspect of race, and he claimed
that the caste status had a simple correlation with the nasal index of its members.
Caste system came from social difference between races.
2.3.Senart on his part emphasized the occupational factor in the origin of caste, but
he also distinguished between varn and jati, identifying castes with the latter and
interpreting the former as 'class'.
2.4.Celestine Bougle, asserted that the four varna system had never been more than
an ideal; the real groups were jatis or castes that became a part of a system based
on three fundamental principles: hereditary specialization, hierarchy and repulsion or
isolation of one group from another."
2.5.Sarat Chandra Roy has given the theory of cultural integration, due importance to
the role of primitive conceptions of taboo has led to the formation of the caste
system.
3. Caste as Varna system:
The varna system was established in ancient India functioned as the larger
framework within which the caste society was formed. According to the oldest Rig
Veda, the distinction of varna were as old as the time of Creation, the brahmana were
born from the mouth of Purusa (the Primeval Man), the ksatriya from His arms, the
vaisya from His thighs, and the Sudra from His feet. However, the four varnas were
actually established during the middle of the Later Vedic Era (1000-600 B.C.), during
the time of the formation of Aryan agrarian society. It was during this time that the
above myth was created and inserted into the Rig Veda, the most important scripture
of Brahmanism, in order to legitimize the four-varna system.
3.1.The brahmanas, was the highest ranked varna, holds the positions of priest and
teacher of the Vedas.
3.2.The ksatriyas took charge of politics and the military.
3.3. The vaisyas formed the commoner ranks of cultivators, herders, merchants or
business man.
3.4.The sudra are the servants.
The top three varnas were the regular members of Aryan society. They were called
the dvijati, or 'twice born', and were allowed to participate in the religious worship
supervised by the brahmanas. Their 'second' birth was the initiation ceremony into
the Vedic studies called upanayana, which they performed while they were young. In
contrast, the sudras were segregated from the dvijati as ekajati, who were born only
once from their mother's wombs. Below the sudras a class of inferior people existed,
in which the candalas, or 'untouchables', were placed. Sudras where forbidden from
participating in any religious ceremonies.
4. Principal characteristics of the cast system:
4.1.Segmental division of society: Society is divided into small groups of people
which is known as caste and the membership of the caste is determined by the birth
of an individual in which family s/he is born.
4.2.Hierarchy: Castes form a hierarchy is arranged in an order of superiority and
inferiority. At the top of this hierarchy is the Brahmin caste and at the bottom is the
untouchable caste. And in between are the intermediate castes. The ranking of the
castes assumes religious dimensions. Most of the time the lower caste is oppressed
socially and less developed.
4.3.Endogamy: It is the most fundamental and chief characteristics of caste system.
The member of the caste or the sub-caste should marry within their own caste or sub
caste. The violation of this rule of endogamy can result to lose of caste. But in
exceptional case it is re-considered.