Caste & Widow Re-marriage

The planter in Mysore, Robert H Elliot, (1837-1914)  had ample opportunity to experience ‘the living effects of the institution of Caste’ in the later half of the 19^th century.  He informs us that he was the only European within a twelve mile radius, and ‘had been entirely dependent on a native population for

society’. Thus he developed close ‘intimacy’ with the natives , which helped him to empathetically understand their communal and social life.  His observation of widow remarriage is as follows. From his account, the modern story of  ‘reformers’ taking up cudgels against the  ‘age-old prohibition of widow-remarriage’, must be re-examined. It looks like modernity  is also in need of MYTHS.

Quote:  “Before closing this branch of the subject, I may allude briefly to what has been so often attacked by the opponents of caste: I mean the prohibition of the marriage of widows. This rule exists in Manjarabad, but I am not aware that any great moral evil arises from it, as a widow can always contract to live with a man, the difference being that the ceremonies performed are of an inferior kind. This is not allowed to be a marriage, but, in fact, it is a marriage, though of a kind held in rather low estimation. On customs like these, which in a great measure neutralize the evils arising from the restrictions on re-marriage, it seems to me that our information is very scanty, and I am not aware how far the practice alluded to prevails in other parts of India.” (p. 384 of 798)

Then as of now it is mostly one’s choice coupled with the circumstances, deciding whether to remain a widow or not.

EXCERPT FROM

Robert H. Elliot. “Gold, Sport, and Coffee Planting in Mysore.” iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright (From Chapter VIII.  CASTE)

PAUL’S (St.) APOLOGIA FOR THE OBJECTIONABLE PARTS of PURUSHA SOOKTHA , FROM THE RIG VEDA.

Poison was spread in the minds of modern Indians, by various vested interests including the Missionaries ,that the hyms of Purusha Sooktha were  the root cause of the spread of  and vice like grip of the caste-system over the people of India. Considering the  chronic economic woes of Europe, its moral depravity , one manifestation of the same is its greed and   aggression on other cultures, leading to two devastating wars,ie The World Wars-- considering all such matters, Caste-system  is an excellent institution and had served our civilization very well.

1 CORINTHIANS 12.12 – 12.31, NEW TESTAMENT

“[12]For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

[13] For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free -- and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 
[14]For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

[15] If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 
[16] And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 
[17] If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 
[18] But as it is, God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 
[19] If all were a single organ, where would the body be? 
[20] As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 
[21] The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 
[22] On the contrary, the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are indispensable, 
[23] and those parts of the body which we think less honorable we invest with the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 
[24] which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part, 
[25] that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 
[26] If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 
[27]Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

 [28] And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. 

[29] Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 
[30] Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 
[31] But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.”

The FOLLOWING  is from  the Purusa Sukta of  Rig Veda, RV X,90, (translated into English by M.Rogers)

(11.) When they divided up the Man,                 

into how many parts did they divide him ?

What did his mouth become? What his arms?

What are his legs called? What his feet?

(12.) His mouth became the Brahmin; his arms

became the warrior-prince, his legs

the common man who plies his trade.

The lowly serf was  born from his feet.

(13.) The  Moon was born from his mind; the Sun

came into being from his eye;

from his mouth came Indra and Agni,

while  from his breath the Wind was born.

What a coincidence !!!???? Looks like Paul’s  APOLOGIA of the Purusha Sooktha!!!!

Watch from 3.40 to 4.08 minutes.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-NHJffUIIo