Alexis Morris
Moffett
Indian Philosophy, Per. 3
25 March, 2014
Living in the US allows us to have our own personal beliefs, but in ancient India, they were strict with their morals. They believed enforcing an organized social class would create and maintain structure, also believing that valuing many different forms of literature allowed them to expand their knowledge and create diversity. The ancient Indians also upheld their broad beliefs and philosophies which made up their morals. The good life in ancient India was valuing social class, literature and philosophy in order to have structure within the society and to live life morally correct.
In Ancient India, social divisions were enforced to ensure a stable society. This happened because Manu believed it would protect the universe "But in order to protect this universe He, the most resplendent one, assigned separate duties and occupations to those who sprang from his mouth, arms, thighs, and feet." (The laws of manu P.1) These social divisions were divided into four castes, the upper class or a Brahmin, the military class or a Kshatriya, merchants and farmers or a Vaisya, and the worker caste or a Sudra.
Each caste had separate duties and jobs which they must obey, in order to stabilize society. “A hierarchical society was the solution to the problems of settled life in the valley and the Indus culture was the mature form it assumed.” The Indus Civilization P.177 Brahmin's duties were to teach those underneath him, they were all wise and they attained knowledge which everyone in society wished to have. The Kshatriya caste was appointed to protect society by fighting in times of war and governing in times of peace. They are compared to a king, because they provide structure to the society, and without the structure they provided, things became chaotic. The Vaisya caste was ordered to be in charge of tending the cattle; they were the farmers of that time. When the Lord of creatures created cattle, he...