Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhus and their struggle to keep the rite to sacred thread and vedic rites over the years is a perfect case study for this.
Often times Smritis and Puaranas were used to subvert rival communities by declaring them as Shudras, Chandals etc.
Often times Smritis and Puaranas were used to subvert rival communities by declaring them as Shudras, Chandals etc.
As Puri Shankaracharya rightly says, "वर्ण व्यवस्था ब्राह्मणों के अधीन है।"
Brahmins being the superior ones in our society had the power to declare anyone as Shudra/varnasankar. Sometimes they went against their own to establish their hegemony and reinforce their power.
Brahmins being the superior ones in our society had the power to declare anyone as Shudra/varnasankar. Sometimes they went against their own to establish their hegemony and reinforce their power.
This is the case with CKPs every time their origins were questioned. Listing at least 5 different incidents for reference purposes.
First noted incident is dated back to some 671 years before the beginning of Shalivahan Shaka (refer SS).
First noted incident is dated back to some 671 years before the beginning of Shalivahan Shaka (refer SS).
Baldev Prabhu was performing अनुष्ठान with Vedic Mantras with the help of some Brahmin priests when some Brahmins opposed it and excommunicated those who performed these rituals for Prabhus.
One Ramnarayan and two other Brahmins completed the ritual despite the obstructions.
One Ramnarayan and two other Brahmins completed the ritual despite the obstructions.
Later this case was referred to Shri Vidya Shankar Bharati, the then Shankaracharya. The dispute lasted for about 15 years. Shankaracharya Vidya Shankar Bharati travelled to Bhopal and settled the dispute in favour of Prabhus.
Excommunicated Brahmins were also accepted back.
Excommunicated Brahmins were also accepted back.
Same controversy errupted during the rule of Mohammedans. They referred both communities to Pandits of Banaras, who yet again ruled in favour of Prabhus. The pannel was led by one Govind Bhatt and supported by Mahabaleshwar Bhatt, Dinkar Bhatt Takale and others.
Same controversy errupted in times of Shivaji Maharaj too when Moropant Pingale objected when Balaji Avaji Chitnis wished to perform the thread ceremony of his son as per Vedic rites. Raje refered this case to the scholarly Gaga Bhatt who ruled in favour of Prabhus yet again.
Raje then ordered Raghunath Pandit to issue a royal mandate in favour of Prabhus.
Same controversy arose during the reign of Shahu Maharaj too, when again a royal mandate was issued in favour of Prabhus.
Same controversy arose during the reign of Shahu Maharaj too, when again a royal mandate was issued in favour of Prabhus.
A similar dispute arose during the reign of Balaji Baji Rao Peshwa towards the end of reign of Shahu Maharaj. It was referred to Shahu Maharaj and he ruled that no changes should be made to time honoured practice of Prabhus using Vedic mantras.
Panditrao Raghunath Rao also reinforced the order in favour of Prabhus but Pratinidhi Jagjivan Rao Pandit and his agent Yamaji defied these orders sensing that Shahu Maharaj's end was near.
When Shahu Maharaj d!ed, Nana saheb Peshwa ordered Jagjivan Rao and Yamaji to be arrested.
When Shahu Maharaj d!ed, Nana saheb Peshwa ordered Jagjivan Rao and Yamaji to be arrested.
He also ordered that old practices with regards to Prabhu families should be resumed. This continued smoothly until the reign of Narayan Rao Peshwa.
Narayan Rao Peshwa himself ordered this practice to be stopped and Prabhus be stripped off their rights over Vedic Rituals.
Narayan Rao Peshwa himself ordered this practice to be stopped and Prabhus be stripped off their rights over Vedic Rituals.
This order was later thrown on the de@d body of Narayan Rao Peshwa with the consent of his counselors and the Prabhus resumed following Vedic rites.
Yet again during Sawai Madhav Rao's times, a verdict in favour of Prabhus was given by Banaras Pandits for the same controversy.
Yet again during Sawai Madhav Rao's times, a verdict in favour of Prabhus was given by Banaras Pandits for the same controversy.
Last known controversy was raised by Nilkanth Sashtri Thatte back in around 1826. The then Shankaracharya had ruled in favour of Prabhus and the matter was settled.
Interesting point to be noted, a petition signed by nearly 2300 Pune Brahmins was sent to the Governor of Council+
Interesting point to be noted, a petition signed by nearly 2300 Pune Brahmins was sent to the Governor of Council+
... Bombay (now Mumbai) by Brahmins complaining regarding the use of Vedic Mantras by the Prabhu community.
The government at Bombay paid no heed and refused to interfere in this matter.
Excommunication from the Brahmin community had serious repercussions.
The government at Bombay paid no heed and refused to interfere in this matter.
Excommunication from the Brahmin community had serious repercussions.
Any Brahmin family excommunicated faced boycott in every sphere of life. Their relatives were also viewed with contempt. No one married into those families. No one interacted with them or invited them for any ceremonies.
Some took this risk to support the Prabhu community.
Some took this risk to support the Prabhu community.
Drunk on the birth based powers bestowed upon them by ways of the society back then that viewed them as almost God incarnates, a section of Brahmins used this power to intimidate anyone who threatened to surpass them in social stature and status.
That is why we see Skand Puran declare Rajputs as varnasankar. Vyasa Smriti declare Kayasthas, Ahirs and a few others as Chandals. Except Brahmins, every other caste has been declared as lowly in some smriti or the other.
Funnily, same Smritis elevate certain communities too.
Funnily, same Smritis elevate certain communities too.
Why did these conflicts arise recurringly? Simple answer, at least in case of CKPs was jealousy. The Prabhu community was respected by the Maratha kings right from the time of Shivaji Maharaj. They held many important positions in governance and were a powerful community.
Many caste conflicts have happened over the years and many castes have lost their "dwija" status at least on paper.
These caste wars have been futile and have done nothing except create more divide in a society that needed unity more that supposed blood purity.
These caste wars have been futile and have done nothing except create more divide in a society that needed unity more that supposed blood purity.
This abuse of power by a section of the highest Varna generated animosity amongst different communities which in turn hampered the Hindu society as a whole. Internal rivalry benefits no one.
All of this would have been avoided had the merit based system not collapsed.
All of this would have been avoided had the merit based system not collapsed.
PS: I would like emphasize that the intention of this thread is not to demean Brahmins but to study how caste identities were allotted Varna and status on mere whims and no actual merit or demerit.
Birth based system has been a biggest drawback of our Hindu society for centuries.
Birth based system has been a biggest drawback of our Hindu society for centuries.
Reference: ETHNOGRAPHICAL NOTES On Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu
@RetrogradeBlues ... wanted to claim Brahmin status but couldn't thanks to policing by Chitpavan Brahmins.
Everyone wanted to be Brahmins as in Kali Yuga there is no Varna except Brahmin and Shudra. (This is unreliable as Vedas the highest authority in Hinduism do not state anything such thing)
Everyone wanted to be Brahmins as in Kali Yuga there is no Varna except Brahmin and Shudra. (This is unreliable as Vedas the highest authority in Hinduism do not state anything such thing)
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