tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290900319946440278.post2999571597223997100..comments2023-08-09T04:29:47.343-04:00Comments on बलदेव दास: The Caste System of India: Spreading Racism and Madness in the name of Religionबलदेव दासhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16933926039141576945noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290900319946440278.post-55741247760380482352022-04-02T23:04:43.458-04:002022-04-02T23:04:43.458-04:00The word cāṇḍāla refers both to a particular commu...The word cāṇḍāla refers both to a particular community who disposed of dead bodies and the backward communities in general, somewhat like the word dalit nowadays. Not to speak of dogs, people in North-east eat frogs, lizards and what not. There are multiple books on the historical perspective of the caste system.बलदेव दासhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16933926039141576945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290900319946440278.post-9579172899281717782022-04-02T05:38:35.704-04:002022-04-02T05:38:35.704-04:00Dharma-śāstras in general have some amount of cont...Dharma-śāstras in general have some amount of content to suggest birth based varṇa. Just like Advaitavādīs cannot see anything besides monism in the scriptures, casteist folks see only caste everywhere. Social bias is far from being an Indian thing. Search about the status of executioners and gong farmers in medieval Europe. They were all trapped in their family business and everyone else wanted distance from them. <br />The scriptures prescribe which animals can and cannot be eaten. Dogs are a big no.<br />बलदेव दासhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16933926039141576945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290900319946440278.post-66549111698855022922022-04-02T04:37:53.037-04:002022-04-02T04:37:53.037-04:00Prabhu, I understand that most, if not all sastras...Prabhu, I understand that most, if not all sastras say that one's varna is determined by his guna and karma, but do you know how and why did the idea that it is determined by birth arise?<br />Also, although that is true, it is really hard for me to understand why candalas and other antyajas are considered to be so impure and polluting by birth and why they are practically condemned to a lowly existence of being untouchables. What is your view on this?<br /><br />Your servant, <br />Gaura Nitai dasaGoran Perichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07057382395750399573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290900319946440278.post-42699633125270213182020-07-13T01:12:32.902-04:002020-07-13T01:12:32.902-04:00He uses the words uru-mahimnā (due to their exceed...He uses the words uru-mahimnā (due to their exceeding greatness) for Paraśurāma and Viśvāmitra, so it is clear that he considers them as exceptional cases. Check Srisa Chandra Vasu's translation and notes on Govinda-bhāṣya 1.3.34-38.बलदेव दासhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16933926039141576945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290900319946440278.post-58295086193636401852020-07-12T10:11:10.898-04:002020-07-12T10:11:10.898-04:00Hare Krsna,
What is Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana&...Hare Krsna, <br />What is Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana's opinion on this matter ? In his commentary to BG 3.35 (para-dharmo bhayavayahah) verse he seems to suggest that varna is based on the kula. He writes that even though Parasurama and Viswamitra were great, they had to face problems for doing activities not meant for their kula. So how should we understand this ?<br /><br />ys,<br />Jdasgaudiya adhyayanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07195404164406888355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290900319946440278.post-28388038216153217402020-07-07T04:48:00.410-04:002020-07-07T04:48:00.410-04:00Most Puranas have had various recensions along the...Most Puranas have had various recensions along the centuries, out of which only a few reached our days. The verse you mentioned seems to appear in the front portion of some editions of the Kalika Purana. Look for it on https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/बलदेव दासhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16933926039141576945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290900319946440278.post-64054246251748937172020-07-07T03:34:25.611-04:002020-07-07T03:34:25.611-04:00Hare Krsna,
"raksasah kalim asritya jayante b...Hare Krsna,<br />"raksasah kalim asritya jayante brahma-yonisu<br />utpanna brahmana-kule badhante srotriyan krsan " <br />I have not been able to locate this verse in Varaha Purana. I could not find it after searching the entire Purana for verses associated with the word Kali and rakshasa. It may have to do with the different versions of the Purana. Would u possibly know in which version of the Purana this verse is present ? <br /><br />ys,<br />Jdasgaudiya adhyayanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07195404164406888355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290900319946440278.post-29002435427076476642015-06-22T22:08:24.714-04:002015-06-22T22:08:24.714-04:00Someone commented:
"You have called Satyakam...Someone commented:<br /><br />"You have called Satyakama Jabala as the 'the bastard son of a maidservant.' This is a cruel comment on a brahmani...where did you make it that he was a bastard?"<br /><br /> <br />I didn't mean to be rude. The word "bastard" primarily means "fatherless" in many languages, not necessarily in an abusive way. <br /><br />1. Since he had to ask his mother and she says that she has no idea about his gotra (aham etan na veda), it is obvious that the boy had no father around.<br /><br />2."bahu carantI paricAriNI" can be interpreted as "being a maidservant, I was approaching many men".<br /><br />3. It is most improbable that she didn't know her husband's gotra because he died early, as some commentators suggest. Especially in those days, marriages were arranged between families who knew very well each other's lineage.<br /><br />4. Gautama wouldn't be so surprised if the boy just meant to say that his mother was a widow who had no opportunity to ask her husband about his gotra. It is more than evident that there is something very embarrassing to openly admit. <br /><br />5. Nowhere in the text it is said that she was a brahmani, nor anything to this effect. <br /><br />बलदेव दासhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16933926039141576945noreply@blogger.com