Thus Spake the Divine - Unity In Diversity

Thus Spake the Divine

Unity In Diversity

When I look at the Varna Dharma, I am reminded of an aeroplane. Initially, there was one single big gas bag holding the aeroplane. Even if there was a small hole, the entire plane would not take off. On realising this, engineers created a number of smaller gas bags. Even though they were separate bags, they were all close to each other and holding the plane. The plane thus remained in good condition. This is the basis for separate Rules of Dharma being prescribed in our religion, so that everybody does his duty. This is what refers to as unity in diversity!

Take another example. If you want to bind around 100 wooden sticks in one single bundle, it will be really difficult. Even if we bind it with great difficulty, it will not stay tight. All we need to do is loosen one stick and some others for the entire bundle to become loose and collapse.

Alternatively, at the beginning, instead of bundling all sticks in one single lot, make separate bundles of a small number of sticks, say 10 or 15. Then, we can easily pack all these smaller bundles into one big bundle. This bundle will be tighter. Let us assume that one of the smaller bundles gets a little loose. Even then the rest of the bundles will still remain intact.

Similarly, it is totally impossible to bind the entire human society into one big group. There will then be following issues. Under whose control will this society be? Who will administer it? That is the reason why the entire society was divided into different groups (Varnas) based on the nature of profession of each group, and then all groups were bound as separate lots. Then, each group was divided into different castes. Every caste had its own “Caste Leader”. Those respective leaders punished the respective members of the caste on violation of their rules and regulations.

What is the kind of punishment that Caste Leaders awarded to those who violated their codes? They expelled them from the caste. Be it a cobbler, barber, or whoever, he would be expelled from the caste. That appeared the cruellest and the most shameful punishment to those who violated the rules. What is evident from this? No caste degraded the other caste. The respective caste was contented within its own group. When the society is divided into small segments of different castes, there is mutual love and affection among people within that caste and there is a bond. That is why the punishment of expulsion from one’s own caste was intensely felt by everybody.

Nowadays, people have affinity towards their caste for monetary concessions and other privileges that they enjoy from the government. But in those days, there were no such concessions or benefits. Even a couple of generations ago, people had strong bonds and affinity within their castes. There was no caste strife or confrontation among them. They had real pride and happiness in belonging to that caste, carrying out their professions, and adhering to rules and regulations and other rituals. That is how, though there was diversity within different castes and underlying professions and Codes of Law, people were still united.

This article is a snippet from the Book Thus Spake the Divine, is available online at www.giri.in and across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture and Tradition.

GIRI is Also the Humble Recipient of "The BEST TOURIST FRIENDLY SHOPPING CENTER in Tamil Nadu" Award For The Year 2019.