Page 49 - SST Class 06

Shudras could wear the sacred thread and study
the Vedas. Shudras and women were not permit-
ted to wear the sacred thread or learn the Vedas.

The rigid caste-based division of society often led
to conflicts between people belonging to different
castes. The kshatriyas did not like the domination
of the brahmanas who enjoyed many special
privileges. Around this time, the vaisyas emerged
humble background. One such sage was as a very prosperous group due to their trade
Satyakama Jabala who was the son of a slave contacts with faraway lands. In the Vedic religion,
women named Jabali. He was the favourite the vaisyas ranked lower to the brahmanas and
disciple of a renowned brahmana sage named the kshatriyas. Hence, the rich vaisyas now
Gautama. wanted a new religion that would offer them a
better position in society. Finally, the sudras felt
In the 8th to 9th centuries BCE, a great sage
named Sankaracharya made an in-depth study that they were being exploited and ill-treated by
of the upanishada. You will read about him in the other three castes. Hence, they too were
longing for a new religion that would put an end
class VII.
to their miseries.
CAUSES FOR THE ORIGIN OF NEW
RELIGIOUS IDEAS AND FAITHS

Rigid Caste-based Society
Do you think that the caste system is strong in
Around the time of the Upanishadas, Hindu present-day in India? Substantiate your answer with
society was clearly divided into four varnas or real-life incidents.
castes. These were the Brahmins or Brahmanas,
Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Shudras. Each varna was Demands of Complex Rituals
assigned well-defined functions. By now, the people found it very difficult to
The brahmanas who were priests and teachers follow the Vedic religion. All the religious texts
claimed the highest status in society. They were in the Sanskrit language which the common
enjoyed certain special amenities and benefits. people could not understand. The complex
They did not have to pay taxes to the king. Also,
they could not be punished for any offence
committed by them .
The kshatriyas ranked next to the brahmanas.
They were rulers and warriors who lived on the
taxes collected from the farmers.

The vaisyas were engaged in agriculture, cattle
rearing and trade. They paid taxes to the state.
The sudras functioned as slaves, craftsmen and
labourers. They were denied certain privileges
enjoyed by the brahmanas, kshatriyas and
vaisyas. For instance, men of all castes except
Dakshina that Brahmanas Demanded

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