Varieties of Varnasrama

Original Varnasrama (authentic spiritual society) – this system provides for material wellbeing and simultaneously cultures spiritual elevation. It is, in essence, a social structure based on spiritual principles of equality, respect and selfless service to one another and God. People are placed according to qualities (guna) and work (karma), and connect their daily activities to a transcendental goal. The most revered members in this system are those who have fully developed their spiritual consciousness, and this is possible for everyone. This system is known as daivi (divine) Varnasrama.

Materialistic Varnasrama (modern-day hereditary caste system) – this system, prevalent in modern-day India, provides material wellbeing for select groups, and is founded upon misconceptions and deviations of the original Vedic system. One’s birth (janma) is taken as the only qualification for stratification, and the problem of caste brahminism thus arises, where the heads of society are often unqualified, deviant and exploitative. Although there are some original and authentic elements of Vedic culture in it, for the most part the members engage in materialistic religiosity for mundane gains.

Spontaneous Varnasrama (‘default’ materialistic society) – this system indicates the natural division created by societies which is primarily driven by economic factors, and not founded upon any spiritual teaching whatsoever. Though people talk of a classless society, there will be unavoidable division within any community. Without it, there can be no order or efficiency. When such division takes place without spiritual supervision, we witness exploitation, corruption, conflict, huge income gaps, and a general breakdown of society due to sinful activities (vikarma). This type of social structure distances people from their spiritual essence. []

Society will always divide itself into categories – each one of us have different skills and strengths, and society needs each member to engage that uniqueness in order to function efficiently as one unit. Unfortunately, exploitation of such stratification has fuelled the artificial attempt of modern culture to annihilate all division. The real need is to re-establish the original system of appropriate division founded upon spiritual principles and respect.

Srila Prabhupada writes: “The divisions of varnas and asramas will continue to exist, either in their original form or in degraded form, but because they are created by the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they cannot be extinguished. They are like the sun, a creation of God, and therefore will remain. Either covered by clouds or in a clear sky, the sun will continue to exist. Similarly, when the varnasrama system becomes degraded, it appears as a hereditary caste system, but in every society there is an intelligent class of men, a martial class, a mercantile class and a labourer class. When they are regulated for cooperation among communities according to the the Vedic principles, then there is peace and spiritual advancement.” (SB 3.21.54)