smen and landowners of society. The following Varna, on the ladder of social structure, has been named Sudra. All workers and peasants belong to this class. They do physical labor in non-polluting jobs. After the Sudra the caste system ends and there exists a group of individuals called Untouchables. They are the outcasts of society and do only the most degrading of jobs. They clean the streets and work with wastes and sewage (3).Once the basics of the caste system are understood, it is also important to have a grasp on the ideas behind the religion of Hinduism. For it is from Hindu scriptures that each Varna was derived. Hinduism serves as both the basis and sole motivator of the people to continue such a way of life. Though within Hinduism there exist many distinct disciplines it is safe to assume a few general beliefs that are true for all Hindus. Hinduism is very misunderstood. First off, Hinduism is a monotheistic religion, meaning that only one God is worshiped. However, it is sometimes labeled a religion that worships millions of Gods. The latter of the two statements is only true if it is understood amongst the correct context. Though many Gods are respected, they all lead back and represent manifestations of the one God; This God is understood to be the only thing in existence and is given the title Brahma. In general, Hinduism is a very accepting religion. Hindus believe that all religions will eventually lead to this same truth. Whether Christian, Buddhist, Islam, or any other of the worlds major religions for that matter, all will eventually come to the same realization. Each individual just needs a different path to reach the same unifying pentacle at the top of the mountain (3).Perhaps, the most crucial concepts in Hinduism, which help us to understand why a caste system would be acceptable, are those concerning karma and reincarnation. Hindus believe in a cycle of birth and rebirth. They believe lifetime after lifetime th...
