1. Hinduism’s Ranking

2.   Remember, the caste system in Indian society has worked for hundreds of years.  It’s a way of dividing people into groups. Comment

3.   Dharma = an inherited “duty” or responsibility that each group has. Definition http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4zmH2YeNcQw/TY-dNAv7UfI/AAAAAAAAAg4/XHlwkFdiVdk/s1600/Open_Book-for-dictionary-site.jpg

4.  The Castes Story on how the castes began… A man named Purusha was sacrificed and divided into different parts. Those parts can be represented this way: http://poster.4teachers.org/imgFilePoster/209413.jpg

5.  Brahman  Jobs: Priests and teachers  Responsibility: Provide the community with spirituality and pass along the teachings of the Vedas  Body Part: Mouth http://images.free-extras.com/pics/s/smiling_mouth-1624.jpg

6.  Kshatriya  Jobs: Soldiers, rulers, kings, generals, leaders  Responsibility: Defend people and operate the government  Body Part: Arms http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mos2YGZsKAc/T18WoUzS3tI/AAAAAAAABMw/ORBSRK61FcA/s1600/hands+and+arms+for+replacement+animation+by+Rachel+Wintemberg+the+helpful+art+teacher+animation+and+cartooning+printalbe+worksheet.jpg

7.  Vaishya  Jobs: Merchants, shopkeepers, traders, farmers, landowners, agriculture, cattleraisers  Responsibility: Make and trade goods or work in agriculture  Body Part: Legs/thighs http://www.hasslefreeclipart.com/clipart_bodyparts/images/legs2.gif

8.  Sudra  Job: Servants to the other three varnas, slaves, tenant farmers, unskilled workers  Responsibility: Give service to the other three classes  Body Part: Feet http://cliparts101.com/files/323/C3CC1177296190BC216006CAB1B26928/Feet_8.png

9.  Untouchables  Job: Dirtiest jobs (ex: leatherworkers, working with animal skins, butchers, gravediggers, garbage and waste collectors)  Responsibility: Handle items polluted by blood, human waste, and do other undesirable jobs  Body Part: None… not considered part of society in the same way as the other varnas http://www.health-safety-signs.uk.com/productimages/Do-not-touch.gif

10.   What people…  Did  Wore  Ate  Where people…  Lived  Who people…  Married Five Things a Caste Determines http://forefugeeswatchdog.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/restrictions.jpg

11.   Untouchables can be treated in the following ways:  Can be attacked at a person’s whim  Can’t speak up to those in higher castes  Can’t live in the village (must live in a separate untouchable community)  Can’t use the same water supply as those in higher castes  May be “shunned, insulted, banned from temples and higher caste homes, made to eat and drink from separate utensils in public places”  Etc. Horrible Treatment of Untouchables

12.   Hiding one’s caste is possible but not easy. There are at least four ways one’s caste can be revealed:  Family name  Village address  Body language  Occupation Ways Caste Can Be Revealed http://abeld.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/questionmark1.jpg

13.   The caste system still exists.  It is not the same now as it was in ancient times, but is still bad.  Castes – somewhat ignored in urban areas - hard to keep strict rules.  Jobs aren’t only based on a caste in urban areas.  In smaller villages, however, caste does still matter.  Recently, laws made to change the system & improve the treatment of Untouchables.  Some Hindus are ashamed of the caste system; others want the structure to stay as it is. Caste System Today