The Brahminical perspective on the caste system is mainly based on old religious texts, particularly Sanskrit ones. According to this view, society is divided into different castes, with the Brahmins at the top. The focus of this perspective is on ritual hierarchy, which means that people’s social positions are based on their purity in terms of religious rituals. It suggests that people follow these rules without questioning them.
However, Berreman (1991) criticized this perspective for several reasons. First, he argued that the Brahminical view assumes that everyone follows universal values without questioning them. But in reality, individuals have their own will, and they sometimes doubt or defy these values. Second, the Brahminical perspective places too much emphasis on ritual hierarchy and overlooks the importance of economic and political factors. In real life, economic and political power play a huge role in how the caste system operates. Third, the Brahminical view does not allow for comparisons with other cultures. While it is true that the caste system is unique to India, Berreman argued that this perspective wrongly dismisses the idea that caste can be compared with similar social structures elsewhere.
Another major issue with the Brahminical perspective is that it relies heavily on sacred texts, which are biased. These texts only present the point of view of the upper castes, especially Brahmins, and ignore the experiences of lower castes. As a result, the Brahminical perspective paints a picture of caste as being rigid, unchanging, and idealized. But this does not reflect the reality of people at the grassroots level, especially those from lower castes.
Dumont also held a Brahminical view and emphasized the importance of ritual hierarchy in his studies of caste. However, he did not pay much attention to the various social and political movements in Indian history that sought to challenge and overthrow the caste system. Although Dumont did mention the Bhakti movements, he claimed that these movements did not have a significant impact on the caste hierarchy. This view is not shared by many lower-caste people, who believe that the Brahminical perspective only applies to the higher castes and does not represent their own lives.
Overall, the Brahminical perspective has been an important part of academic discussions on caste, but it has also been heavily criticized for its limitations. It mostly reflects the experiences and interests of the higher castes, especially the Brahmins, while ignoring the struggles and realities of lower caste groups, who often see this perspective as a way to legitimize Brahmin dominance.
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