Aryans
Who Were the Aryans?
The Aryans were semi-nomadic Nordic Whites, perhaps located originally on the steppes of southern Russia and
Central Asia, who spoke the parent language of the various Indo-European languages.
Latin, Greek, Hittite, Sanskrit, French, German, Latvian, English, Spanish, Russian etc. are all Indo-European
languages; Indo-European, or more properly Proto-Indo-European (PIE), is the lost ancestral language from which
those languages ultimately derive. The "Proto" indicates that the grammar and vocabulary of this long extinct
language, probably spoken up until 3000 BC, are a hypothetical reconstruction by modern philologists. Just as
Romance languages like Italian and Spanish derive from Latin, so Latin derives from PIE.
Indo-European philology traditionally used "Aryan" both to denote a people, understood racially or ethnically, and
the language group itself ("Aryan speech"), irrespective of the race or ethnicity of the people speaking its various
branches. In the wake of National Socialist Germany's defeat, the term fell out of general scholarly use in both
senses, and "Indo-European" (IE) became the preferred designation of the language group, "Indo-Europeans" of
both the people who occupied the original Aryan homeland and their descendants, who gradually spread out across
Europe, much of the Indian sub-continent, and parts of the Near East. Racial nationalists are not, of course, obliged
to adopt the timid PC-lexicon of contemporary scholarship, but we should be aware of imprecision of "Aryan" as a
racial or ethnic classification.
Arya, meaning "noble," appears in various Indo-European languages. Its plural form (Aryas="nobles") was probably
the name the Aryans used to describe themselves prior to their dispersal, and it may survive in Eire (Ireland) and
certainly survives in Iran (Airyanam vaejo="realm of the Aryans"). The discovery of thousands of such cognate words
in widely separated languages, along with similar grammatical structures, led philologists to conclude, early in the
nineteenth century, that most European languages had evolved from a common proto-language spoken millennia ago
by a distinct people who gradually left their original homeland in a series of migrations, carrying their language with
them.
Traditionally Greek, Latin and Sanskrit were considered the closest languages to PIE, and much of the reconstructed
Aryan proto-language is based on them. Modern Lithuanian, however, is the most archaic living language, closer to
the original Aryan speech than any other. There is even an IE language, Tocharian, attested in Chinese Turkestan,
which indicates that Aryans must have made an appearance in the Far East, a long-standing piece of linguistic
evidence which has been recently confirmed by the discovery of the physical remains of a blond-haired people in
China.
One Model of Indo-European ("Aryan") Migration
Perhaps the most famous proof for the prehistoric existence of PIE is the word for king: rex in Latin, raja in Sanskrit,
ri in Old Irish, along with a host of other cognates. All are obviously variants of a common word for king. Since none
of the peoples speaking these various languages were in physical contact with one another during the historical period
-- i.e. at a time for which written records exist -- comparative philologists inferred that their respective languages
must have evolved from a single proto-language, which is the only way of explaining the presence of the same word
for "king" among such widely dispersed peoples. The Romans clearly didn't borrow rex from the Irish or the IndoAryans; each had instead inherited their own word for "king" from a common ancestral language.
Philologists can also, moreover, safely conclude that the Aryans must have had kings prior to emigrating from their
original homeland in southern Russia. In fact a fairly detailed body of evidence about prehistoric Aryan political
organization, marriage practices, and religious beliefs can be reconstructed on the basis of the survival of common
vocabulary in the various extant Indo-European languages: They worshiped a sky-god, they traced descent through
the male line, they raised cattle, they drank meed, they used horse-drawn chariots (which they probably invented) as
weapons of war, etc. Even the red, white and blue/green that appears in so many modern flags may have an Aryan
pedigree. It is likely a survival from the Aryan tripartite social division of their communities into priests (white),
warriors (red), and herders and cultivators (blue/green).
Aryans, or more specifically Indo-Aryans, make their first notable appearance in history around 2000-1500 BC as
invaders of Northern India. The Sanskrit Rig Veda, a collection of religious texts still revered by modern Hindus,
records (often enigmatically) their gradual subjugation of the dark-skinned inhabitants, the Dasyus: e.g. "Indra
[=Norse Thor, Celtic Taranis] has torn open the fortresses of the Dasyus, which in their wombs hid the black people.
He created land and water for Manu [=Aryan man]"; "lower than all besides, hast thou, O Indra, cast down the
Dasyus, abject tribes of Dasas"; "after slaying the Dasyus, let Indra with his white friends win land, let him win the
sun and water"; "Indra subdued the Dasyu color and drove it into hiding." With all-outstripping chariot-wheel, O
Indra,
Thou, far-famed, hast overthrown the twice ten kings ...
Thou goest from fight to fight, intrepidly
Destroying castle after castle here with strength. (RV 1.53)
The Aryans were remarkably expansionist, and almost everywhere they went they conquered and subjugated the
indigenous peoples, imposing their languages and (to varying degrees) their religious beliefs on the natives, and
receiving in turn contributions from the peoples whom they conquered. Aryan invasions -- or more accurately, a long
sequence of different invasions by speakers of Indo-European languages -- swept across Old Europe beginning as
early as the fourth millennium BC, and over time the conquerors and the conquered melded into specific peoples with
distinctive languages. Most of the contemporary inhabitants of Europe, along with their respective early national
cultures, are the result of interaction between successive waves of Aryan invaders and culture of the particular White
people that they conquered and with whom they later intermarried, and as a result almost all modern European
languages are members of the Western branch of the IE family tree.
The birth of a European culture, however, predates the arrival of the Indo-Europeans: The cave art of Lascaux, which
some have identified as the first flowering of Western man's creative genius, was the work of Old Europeans, as were
Stonehenge in the North and the Minoan Palace culture of Crete in the South. A pan-European religious symbolism
had already evolved, much of which was later incorporated into IE mythologies, including various regional adaptations
of the ubiquitous Old European reverence for the Mother Goddess. Many of the principal figures in Greek mythology
predate the arrival of Aryans, and during the course of ancient history Old European religious beliefs and practices
continually reasserted themselves. [Image: Minoan snake goddess, from the Palace of Minos, circa 1600 BC]
Europe is European because the conquerors and the conquered were members the same White race, different
branches on the same family tree; India is a morass of poverty because the bulk of the conquered, with whom the
Indo-Aryans eventually intermarried, were non-White Veddoids. The lesson is obvious. Even today high-caste Hindus
can still be identified by their Caucasian features and light skin, and the poorest and most backward parts of India are
generally the darkest.
As an aside, recent genetic studies have indicated that the Basques of Aquitaine and the Pyrenees are probably the
purest form of Old Europeans as they existed prior to the arrival of Indo-European invaders. They evidently emerged
from the invasions of Europe unconquered, and they remained sufficiently isolated to retain their own unique, non-IE
language
http://paganizingfaithofyeshua.netfirms.com/aryan_people_and_origin_of_cx_doctrine.htm
Social Classes and Castes in Ancient India
Please note: Most of this information has been abridged and adapted from the Mystica site @
Indiaculture online. Likewise, most of the images are taken from their site. [Subject to
permission.] - See their entire website by pressing [here].
The Rig-Veda (a holy book), divides ancient Indian
society into four separate but interdependent castes or
classes of people.
According to the Puranas (another holy book of Hindu
religion), the Brahmins or priests were born of the
mouth of Lord Brahma and can speak with and pray to
the gods on behalf of mankind. The Kshatriyas or
rulers and warriors were born of Lord Brahma's arms
and were given the task of protecting society and using
weapons. The Vaishyas (business people and
originally farmers) were born of his thighs and took care of trade, business activities,
and farming. The Shudras (or common laborers) were born of Brahma's feet and
their only purpose was to serve the other three castes. They became almost like slaves.
This group became the farmers and herders as the business class became richer and
more powerful.
In addition to the four named castes, another category was later made. This category
of people called the Chandalas. They were the outcastes or "untouchables" that were
considered outside of the system. They did not live within the cities or villages, nor
were they allowed to enter, except to scavenge and collect night soil (manure).
This "caste sytem" grew in the later days of Magadhan imperialism (i.e. after 500
B.C.E.). Buddhism and Jainism were both against this system and drew converts from
all groups of people.
Caste based on race?
The three upper castes became known as 'svarna jati' or castes of 'good color' or
'golden color'. According to one theory (of "Aryan Invaders") the lighter skinned
Aryans created a system of privilege for themselves. Caste itself devolved into a racial
differentiation between the conquerors and the conquered, with color as the most
visible distinction. From another point of view, the Aryans entered India that already
had a class system. Darker skinned people were found in Southern India (with their
skin color as a protection against the sun).
Reincarnation - Can one be reborn into a higher caste?
The Hindus believe that the caste that one is born into is based on the karma and
dharma of one's previous birth. A good karma and dharma will ensure that one is born
into a higher caste in one's next life. Otherwise, one could be punished by being born
into a lower caste, or even as an animal!
Brahmin Class
Brahmins were "created from the mouth of
Brahma" (the chief god), so that they might
instruct mankind. Since knowledge is the only
thing that remains with a person throughout life,
Brahmins, as teachers, were highly respected. The
Brahmins conducted the daily rites, the
purification ceremonies, sacrifices, and taught the
Vedas.
After childhood, their lives were divided into four
stages. During the "student period" of adolescence
they studied under a guru (or teacher). About age
20 they entered the "householder stage" by taking
a wife and raising family. This was up to the age
of 50. Then they began old age as "forest
dwellers" up to the age of 70. They lived simply
away from society in the forest, performed
sacrifices, and prepared to renounce all worldly
associations. Finally they renounced wealth and
worldly pleasures. They were completely
detached from the rest of the world giving up
even family ties. Instead, they sought alms
("begged") from householders and spent their
time meditating trying to achieve salvation.
Since they were the teachers, preachers and
priests they had to be skilled in sacred knowledge
of the Vedas, or holy texts. They had to maintain
a strict code of conduct and exemplify ideal
behavior. They were to be kind and gentle. For
this, they earned certain privileges and were
treated almost like gods by commoners and kings
alike. Only a priest could partake of the sacrifices
and eat the remains of the sacrifices, for no one
else was thought to be holy enough to eat the
divine leftovers.
At first, a person became a Brahmin because he
knew the Vedas. In time, the Brahmins began
interpreting laws to their own advantage to
maintain their privileges. Because of their moral
authority, they were unchecked. So only the
Brahmins were allowed to read and teach the
Vedas. They monopolized the privilege of
priesthood in the later Vedic period. They also
established that one was born into a caste, which
could not be changed except to be outcaste, the
lowest of the castes. This practice still survives
until today.
Brahmins spoke Sanskrit, the language of the holy
books.
Women of the Brahmin class could marry the
Brahmin men, and after raising the family, they
might join the Brahmin men who went into the
forest to withdraw from society.
Marriage was compulsory for all the girls except
for those opted for asceticism. Brahman girls were
married between ages 8 and 10 from the sixth
century onwards up to modern times.
To learn more about the Brahmin class, click
[here].
Rulers and Warriors Class - "Kshatriya" or
"protectors of gentle people"
The Kshatriyas were kings and warriors. They
were said to have come from the arms of Brahma,
meaning that their role in society was the
protection of people and livestock. They were
supposed to be brave and fearless, and to live and
die by a code of honor and loyalty. They could eat
meat and drink liquor. Their most exalted death
was to die in battle.
Young men of this caste also studied with a guru
(teacher) to learn the holy texts and become
"twice born", but their training included the use of
weapons. Only men of this class could have such
training. Certain weapons were also forbidden to
the other classes.
Men of this class also spoke Sanskrit, while the
lower classes spoke the common language of the
area.
Lord Rama with a bow
Women of this caste had little political power.
[Images courtesy of India Culture Online]
Their families would often arrange their marriages
to build alliances or to achieve other political or
economic goals for the family. Polygamy (having
more than one wife) was permitted to all who
could afford and it was especially popular among
Kshatriaysa for political reasons. Girls were
married between ages 8 and 10.
This class included the landowners.
Vaishya - Traders and Merchants
Third in the caste system, the Vaishya's duty was
to ensure the community's prosperity through
agriculture, cattle raising and trade. Later, the
Shudras (or lower working class) took over
agriculture and cattle rearing while the Vaishyas
became traders and merchants. The Vaishya were
said to have come from Braham's thighs.
Young men of this caste also studied with a guru
(teacher) to learn the holy texts and become
"twice born".
From the end of the 4th century BC, as the
country became politically stable, trade routes to
previously uncharted areas developed. The
merchant community was the first to benefit.
Artisans formed guilds (like a "trade union") and
co-operatives in the urban areas. Guild leaders
became important figures in society. Guilds also
provided technical education, though formal
education remained the monopoly of the
Brahmins. As their economic power increased,
they were expected to give alms (food and
money) to Brahmins, throw feasts for them, and
donate generously towards the building of temples
and shrines.
Even though they were educated about the holy
texts and economically strong because they
controlled commerce, Vaishyas were denied a
high social status, for which they resented the
upper castes. One expression of this resentment
was their support of the anti-Brahminical sects
that developed around the 6th century BC, like
Buddhism and Jainism.
Learn more about the Vaishyas by pressing [here].
The Shudras (or laborers)
The Shudras took over the jobs of farming,
herding, and manual labor for the higher classes.
At times they were treated like slaves. Young men
of this caste could not study with a guru (teacher)
to learn the holy texts nor could they become
"twice born". They could not get a formal
education at all. Most of their lives were spent in
hard labor.
Both men and women were part of this caste.
To learn more about the Shudras, press [here].
The Chandalas or "untouchables"
The Chandalas were considered outside of the
system of the other castes. They did not live
within the cities or villages, nor were they
allowed to enter during the day. At night they
could enter to scavenge and collect night soil
(manure). They had to move off the path if
someone from a higher class approached because
contact with such people was "contaminating".
Hindu texts were interpretted as describing a class
of people as foul and loathsome, and any physical
contact with them was regarded as polluting.
Indeed, the Untouchables' very shadows were
considered polluting, and they were required to
beat drums and make loud noises to announce
their approach. Untouchables had to attach
brooms to their backs to erase any evidence of
their presence. Cups were tied around their necks
to capture any spittle that might escape their lips
and contaminate roads and streets. Their meals
were taken from broken dishes. Their clothing
was taking from corpses. They were forbidden to
learn to read and write, and were prohibited from
listening to any of the traditional Hindu texts.
Untouchables were denied access to public wells.
They cound not use ornaments and were not
allowed to enter Hindu temples.
They performed the jobs that no one else wanted
to perform. The primary work of Untouchables
included scavenging and street sweeping,
emptying toilets, the public execution of
criminals, the disposal of dead animals and human
corpses, and the clean-up of cremation grounds.
Surprisingly, musicians belonged to this class,
too, but music was listened to by members of
other castes.
The daily life of the Untouchable was filled with
degradation, deprivation and humiliation. [Some
information for this section is from Caste and Race in India]
Where did the Aryans come from and why?
[Edit]
In: Ancient Religions [Recategorize]
[Edit]
Answer
The word Aryan is an archaic term for either the proto-Indo-European people who are believed
to have originated in central Russia, or the proto-Indo-Iranian people who originated in southern
Russia.
As part of the mass migration of people over many thousands of years, proto-Indo-European
people migrated westward into much of Europe, taking their language with them. Not all these
people migrated westward, and a proto-Indo-Iranian culture developed in the south of Russia,
probably around 2500 BCE. A few centuries later, a group migrated south-east into India, taking
both language and the early Hindu religion with them. A later group also migrated south, to the
east of the Caspian Sea, into eastern Iran, also taking language and the Zoroastrian religion. A
third group migrated south, around the western edge of the Caspian Sea into western Iran. This
last group, which was to become the Medes and Persians, took an older religion with them but
converted, centuries later, to Zoroastrianism.