Are the foundational scriptures of Hindu religion alone upholding Caste?

Original Source: https://www.jeyamohan.in/183921/

One of the participants in the discussion on topic of 'Hindu religion and Castes' had sent two questions. He mentioned that these were raised by his atheist friend. Atheists are merely deniers who deny without understanding anything. It is just a mere stance. They do not understand whatever we state.

First question, Within Indian religions, is it only the Hindu religion that has birth-based stratification?

Second question, Is Hindu religion the only one in the world, where birth-based stratification exists?

Both questions are being raised without any basic understanding. Indian religions like Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism etc contain castes and varnas. Scriptures of these religions prescribe these. People who have understood religion and history merely via public speech cacophony wouldn't know about these.

Jainism insists on Varnas unconditionally. The scriptures of Jainism mentions that all the 24 Thirthankaras are Kshatriyas. These scriptures also say that only they can attain Moksha (Salvation). They also specify that Shudhras and women cannot attain Moksha in their lifetime. Even now, Jains have very strick Caste and Varna based differences.

Buddhist scriptures specify that Buddha had mentioned that Shudhras and women do not have the right to become ascetic, because Shudhras do not have freedom. There are Buddhist scriptures which declare that those who are associated with  jobs relating to leather and hair are lowly thereby prescribing untouchability. Several Buddhist scriptures like Madhura Sutta, Majjhima Nikaya, Vinaya Pitaka insists on Varna principles. In fact, the kind of insistence of castes and varnas present in Buddhist scriptures aren't found even in Hindu scriptures.

It is an easily understandable concept. If Jainism or Buddhism had mentioned that Shudhras too can become ascetic, no emperor would've supported it. It would have destroyed the entire socio-economic organization of the time. Those religions had grown through the support of the kings, because they accepted the supremacy of Kshatriyas and favored Vaishyas. It led to the growth of trade via this support.

We need a clarity of thought to understand this. We have been believing time and again rather foolishly that caste and varnas were created by religions. They are not dependent on religions. When the ancient society evolved, they were developed gradually as the stratified framework underlying that society. The societal organization and the economy of the time were built on top of this stratification. Kingdoms were built based on this. Religions did not create castes and varnas. Religions cannot deny them as well.

Religions ought to support them, else they cannot spread. One can see this through today's perspective as well. The societal and economic organization of Indian society is still based largely on castes. Parties professing revolution and atheism function here after making compromise with the casteist organizations. Even within those parties, there are casteists and casteist sub-groups. No one can contest elections without considering the caste equations. This applied to those times as well.

Still, within the confines of that societal organization, every religion exerted its own morality based contributions. Ancient India would have been made up of several thousand tribes with constant warring among them. Poems from the Sangam period paint such violent societal picture only. Religions preaching non-violence like Jainism and Buddhism freed India from such violence. Trade flourished consequently. Hence, merchants and emperors supported those religions.

Next question. Are the caste based differences exclusive only to scriptures from Hinduism? That is also an incomplete understanding. Scriptures from Hindu religion can be categorized in two. Those about philosophy and vision are called Srutis. Scriptures regarding guidelines or procedures are called Smritis. Upanishads belongs to Sruti, whereas Narada Smriti, Yama Smriti are Smritis. Manu Smriti is just one among them. Those are the ones that prescribe the procedures

The question Gandhi asked when he met Narayana Guru was 'Whether the foundational scriptures of Hindu religion assert on castes and varnas?'. The response from Narayana Guru was:

'The philosophical perspective of Hindu religion is determined by Srutis. They do not prescribe caste or varna. Moreover, Srutis are purely guidelines for thought process and are not divine decrees to be followed mandatorily.

Smritis insist on varna and caste. But they keep evolving as time progresses. Smritis like Yama Smriti, which precede Manu Smriti, delineates that all the four varnas must recite the vedas and perform Yajna. Smritis can be modified based on needs. Therefore, the foundational scriptures of Hindu religion do not prescribe castes or varnas.

Gandhi has recorded his meeting and discussion with Narayana Guru, based on which he changed his view that Varnas were the founding principles of Hindu Dharma. He propagated the "Temple Entry" movement throughout the country. He also challenged the Hindu traditionalists that came to meet him to show him at least one proof where the Srutis decree caste as inviolable.

Later Gandhi became antagonist to castes. He proclaimed himself as a Sanatana Hindu and resolved to preside over a marriage only if one of the partners was a Dalit. The marriage of the Tamil Gandhian couple Jagannathan - Krishnammal was presided over by Gandhi.

These are news repeated umpteen times. Despite such repetitions and multitude proofs, atheists do not accept them. They will call the Hindu religion's foundational scriptures as Casteist. If we deny with proof, they will then change the argument to fit the scripture that prescribes such casteism as the foundational scripture of Hindu religion. Compared with the most ardent traditionalists, it is the atheists who claim the Manu Smriti to be the foundational scripture on Hindu religion.

Why is the truth not important to them? Because they are not searching for the truth. In reality, their voice is that of the conversionists. The perspective that the foreigners created here around 150 years back is the one these people are reflecting. It is a also a truth that among such atheists that there are people from different faiths under the guise of atheism.


References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moksha_(Jainism)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majjhima_Nik%C4%81ya
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinaya_Pi%E1%B9%ADaka

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smriti
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Aruti