Caste
Caste or Caste systems are traditional, hereditary systems of social restriction, discrimination and social stratification, enforced by law or common practice, based on endogamy, occupation, economic status, race, ethnicity, etc. A ranked, birth-ascribed group which determines social standing and occupation, based on the tenets of Hindu philosophy. The Hindu caste system is the traditional system of social division in the Indian Subcontinent, in which social classes are defined by a number of endogamous groups often termed as varnas or jĝtis.
For Sikhs, caste or sects have no religious or social significance as taught by Guru Nanak ji. However, some Sikhs still prefer to marry their children into families of the same historical caste, something which is really completely against the spirit and teachings of the Sikh Gurus.
ਜਾਣਹ ਜੋਤਿ ਨ ਪੂਛਹ ਜਾਤੀ ਆਗੈ ਜਾਤਿ ਨ ਹੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ |
Jĝṇhu joṯ na pūcẖẖahu jĝṯī ĝgai jĝṯ na hė. ॥1॥ rahĝo. |
Recognize the Lord's Light within all, and do not consider social class or status; there are no classes or castes in the world hereafter. ॥1॥Pause॥ |
ਖਤਰੀ ਬਰਾਹਮਣ ਸੂਦ ਵੈਸ ਉਪਦੇਸ ਚਹ ਵਰਨਾ ਕਉ ਸਾਝਾ ॥ |
Kẖaṯrī barĝhmaṇ sūḝ vais upḝės cẖahu varnĝ kao sĝjẖĝ. |
The four castes - the Kh'shaatriyas, Brahmins, Soodras and Vaishyas -are equal in respect to the teachings. |
ਬਰਹਮਨ ਬੈਸ ਸੂਦ ਅਰ ਖਯਯਤਰੀ ਡੋਮ ਚੰਡਾਰ ਮਲੇਛ ਮਨ ਸੋਇ ॥ ਹੋਇ ਪਨੀਤ ਭਗਵੰਤ ਭਜਨ ਤੇ ਆਪ ਤਾਰਿ ਤਾਰੇ ਕਲ ਦੋਇ ॥੧॥ |
Barahman bais sūḝ ar kẖayṯarī dom cẖandĝr malėcẖẖ man soė. Hoė punīṯ bẖagvanṯ bẖajan ṯė ĝp ṯĝr ṯĝrė kul ḝoė. ॥1॥ |
Whether he is a Brahmin, a Vaishya, a Soodra, or a Kh'shaatriya; whether he is a poet, an outcaste, or a filthy-minded person, he becomes pure, by meditating on the Lord God. He saves himself, and the families of both his parents. ॥1॥ |
- See Wikipedia article on Caste for more information