Question

How did the religion of India support the caste system

Answer 1

Only Smartism supports caste system. The right term is actually the Varna System - because caste was fluid in the ancient time and people had a choice, but Varna system made it fixated by birth with no choice.

Smartism

Smartism claims it is based on the Vedas, though evidence for it is lacking. It is typical for invaders to absorb local culture, enmesh it with their own, and create laws to safeguard their birth right to rule. The Vedas certainly existed in India long before the Dharmashastras were composed. Moreover, the Vedas venerate 33 (or more) divinities (found in the Vedas hence called vedic gods), but Smartism worships gods of non-vedic origin.

Vedic

The Vedic method of worship is to sit around a fire pit, called Havan Kund in Hindi, chant Vedic mantras to the Vedic Gods while pouring ghee into the pit to burn the wood. While doing so, they would send oblations (seeds, etc which they put into the fire) to appease / please / celebrate their gods. In the past, the oblations included animal sacrifice; which is still followed by Shrautas in some tiny pockets (this method of worship is detailed in the Brahmanas).

Please do note that a fire-pit is used in other religions, but gods they worship and mantras they chant are not from the vedas (especially they are not from the Brahmanas). However, if you walk into a rural temple, let’s say in Tamil Nadu, and witness a fire ceremony, and if you ask them “is this vedic?” they would say yes. That’s because vedic priests held a high position socially previously, and every priest wants to claim that as his heritage today. Not everything in Sanskrit is vedic!

Agamas

The Aagamas are temple-based. All aagamas were non-vedic to begin with. But later some Aagamas came under the influence of Dharmashastras (feudal laws governing castes in a kingdom, similar to halakha), and aagama priests became upholders of Varna system by administering rituals to people in society based on their birth (caste).

However, the good part is that aagamas were never without influence. Often, kings got temples built (or took over existing temples), appointed priests (favored their own), and decided laws.

Thankfully, not all aagamas came under the influence of such feudal laws. Several Shakta-Tantras and Shaiva Agamas remain caste-free. Some Vaishnava aagamas (pancharatra) also allow leeway. However, the issue today is that Aagama (temple) priests assume they are brahmins (that’s controversial), that too ‘vedic’, and that too smartas (just because their job was to administer rituals to society). They do not want anyone entering their profession (despite government efforts contrary to that). So the aagamic religions also now support caste system.

The good part is that there are native priests of native religions and regional gods who remain untouched by all of the above.

I hope its helps you

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