Are Brahmanas Oppressive?

Namaste

Are Brahmanas really oppressive of the other weaker sections of the society, in particular - sudras, women and those who are outside of the varnashrama?

Many western scholars like Sheldon Pollock and others from reputed universities like Harvard, Stanford and so on, are spreading false narratives that Brahmanas created and propagated Sanskrit and wrote Vedas and related dharma shastras that are really oppressive of women, sudras and people of other faiths and they colluded with kings or kshatriyas to implement the same in the society for thousands of years.

So it is said that hatred for Brahmanas and Vedas is thus natural for people who are oppressed. So Brahmanas are the real cause for all caste and gender related evils in the society.

Let us  examine this claim impartially. 

Strong always oppresses the weak. In general, it is always true that the strong and intelligent always oppresses the weak and ignorant. This is true even in so called "highly developed and civilized societies". In general, Brahmanas and Kshatriyas are known for their intellectual and physical strengths respectively, there is always a chance for them to exploit the less intelligent and weak sections of society. There may be few such instances in the historical past. But is it always the case? There have been many great empires in India that have lasted hundreds or even thousands of years, providing very just and successful governance, all of them invariably have had able kshatriya kings guided by truly spiritual brahmanas with the prime motto of treating and protecting the nation and all subjects as their own children and family. 

Objection: 

The cases where there was good governance by many Hindu kings guided by brahmanas was due to strict imposition of scriptural injunctions of varnAsharama or caste hierarchy, where the exploited section of society are suppressed and will have no voice to resent.

Explanation:

A benefit of doubt could be given for the above, but the fact also remains that the society as a whole made great progress during such times. This overall progress in society happened in India while the rest of the world was still primitive. This is an important point to be noted.

There are no records to prove that women and sudras suffered or were leading low quality of life. On the other hand foreign travellers have everything positive to say about the Indian Hindu society at that time, especially of women and sudras and people of other faiths. It has been mentioned that everybody lived harmoniously satisfied with whatever work or profession they are engaged in, thus practicing sva-dharma without fear or favor.

Also the scripture explicitly prescribes brahmanas not to accumulate material wealth and to lead a life of renunciation. Many current day orthodox brAhmanAs and others inclined to Vedic spirituality, practice the same even today. Brahmanas invariably engage in many austerities on a regular basis and for the good of the society and the world in general. Scriptures also explicitly teach that gods rejoice where women are respected. Mother is considered as the first God. There are so many female deities heralded in the VedAs and all Hindus worship them in temples. There have been so many women rulers also in India which is very rarely found in non-Indian societies.

There have been so many women and sudra saints and spiritual personalities who are being worshipped even today by all and especially brAhmaNas. There have been so many women queens and sudra kings, who have ruled in many kingdoms in India, while it is rarely found anywhere in other countries.     

So the objection stands refuted and it can be said that when there is a combination of good brahmana and kshatriya, standing for spirituality and dharma based justice, the outcome will always be good governance. 

Oppression can result even if one them is bad Or when Kshatriyas go reckless with no guidance from brahmanas. But such situations have not lasted long and truth and dharma have always prevailed in the Indian Hindu society.

Did Brahmanas create Sanskrit language and write Vedas?

It is very well known that Vedas are author-less. The Sanskrit language also is supposed to have emanated from Ishwara's Damaruga / divine drum. So the allegation that Brahmanas created Sanskrit and Vedas is not correct. Of course they have kept the scripture alive by oral transmission which is also very unique to Indian Hindu culture. If it is said that there is no possibility of having any 'body of knowledge' or scripture without an author, still there is no one who has claimed the authorship of Vedas as it has been propagated from teacher to student orally for time immemorial. The mantras in the Vedas were realized by many different Rishis. So at least it can be claimed that Vedas do not have one single author and that  makes it comparatively secular. 

If Vedas are compiled by many Rishis, how can it have any validity, integrity or coherence?

The Vedic reality is based on the absolute reality of Brahman established as the non-dual Self that abides in all and therefore universal and impersonal. Vedas gain validity as its ultimate meaning culminates in the Supreme God/Brahman established as the universal Self that abides in all which is indubitable and undeniable and remains as the source/abode/destination of all body related spatio-temporal name/form entities. The entire universe is the body of Vedic God on whom every being depends for existence. This is very much experiential and cannot be denied by anyone.

Question:

If the indubitable universal Self gives validity to Vedas then the same Self can give validity to all other scriptures and views propounded by humans at various times.

Answer:

That is not true, because those various different views never recognized God as the universal and non-dual Self that abides in all. So, they all fall into the anAtma or false category. Also looking upon the entire universe as the body of God supports varnAsrama dharma, as all the many parts of the body have their own respective duties. This universal view sets Vedas apart from all other religions. Not recognizing God as the absolute Self, automatically renders all other words/world views, as either partial or false.

Vedas are not books. They are divine words realized by Rishis and passed on from teacher to student from time immemorial. The present day brahmanas are descendants of Rishis. Brahmanas are also supposed to preserve the Vedas by memorizing, practicing and using them in their rituals and passing on the same to their progeny or students to keep the tradition alive. This also calls for very strict and disciplined life style which many traditional brahmanas have been following whole heartedly whether there is support from Kshatriyas and others or not.

Traditionally a true brAhminic life is not given to luxury, pomp and splendor and dedicated to a life of spiritual discipline and Vedic morality or Dharma. Majority of brAhmaNAs are well educated, matured, spiritual, generous, broad minded and have been contributing their best for the upliftment of the society in many different areas, even today. They are totally non-violent practicing vegetarianism. They are very truthful, honest and law abiding people whether in India or abroad. There is absolutely nil or very little criminal case against them. There is no other community in the world that is as peaceful and honest as brAhmanas.

So the question of oppression from brahmanas does not arise at all and is ill-concieved by haters of Hindu religion or dharma with the sole intention to confuse and break Hindus and India.

Objection: BrAhmanas may not be directly responsible for oppression. But they believe in purusha sukta which is the main part of their scripture Veda, that teaches that brahmanas come from the face of God, Kshatriyas from the arms, vaishyas from the thighs and sudras from the feet. This is the root of the evil of caste system that puts brahmanas on top and sudra on the bottom. Thus oppression of sudras has scriptural sanction.

Answer: Actually every part of God's body is equally sacred. Infact His feet is even more sacred. Purusha sukta is teaching that the integral oneness of all the varnas with God. The entire universe is identified as the body of God on whom every living entity absolutely depends for existence and sustenance. The four varnas are supposed to discharge their duties or svadharma, in total co-operation and unison as a service to this universal God who is protecting and sustaining all. The purpose of varnasrama is only to recognize and sustain diversity and it is only a division in labor. There is no division in God who indwells in all equally and completely as the inner spirit soul or AntaryAmi. The body is always in the service of the soul and the soul always sustains and protects the body. If a thorn pricks the leg, the mouth shouts for help and the hands rush for help. So the relation ship between so called upper caste and sudras is that of protector and the protected and never in the form oppressor and the oppressed.   

Namaste

Suresh