Myths about Hinduism

Hinduism has a discriminatory caste system
The caste system as it exists today, is thought to be the result of developments during the collapse of the Mughal era and the rise of the British colonial regime in India. Rigveda the oldest known Sanskrit text of Hinduism has a chapter on Purusha Sukta that defines the ideal qualities of the Universal Man (Purusha) as Brahman wisdom as his head, Rajah nobility as his arms, Vaishya business acumen as his thighs, and Shudra conscientiousness as his legs. These four qualities are present in an ideal man. These definitions of qualities were misinterpreted as the basis for caste system.
Skanda Purana says Everyone is born shudra. You need to go through the discipline and rigor of years of training (dwija) before you can have the privilege of getting angry or pleased with another human.
Megasthanes a Greek historian visited India during the period between 302 B.C.E to 288 B.C.E found that the society was classless, all the citizens had equal rights. He found the society had grouped people on varna system which is completely different than the caste system. The philosophers were neither masters nor servants.
There are innumerable references of varna system being followed in India. Vyasa the divine sage of India who composed the Mahabharata a great Sanskrit epic widely followed by Hindus, was the son of a fisherwoman who belonged to shudra varna. Harihara I and Bukka founders of Vijayanagara empire were shepherds who became kshatriyas. Chandragupta Maurya the founder of Mauryan empire was the son of a shudra varna woman. Harishchandra a king from the Ikshvaku dynasty became a shudra. Kanakadasa a poet, philosopher was born in a chieftain family. a great poet of Sanskrit was born in a shepherd clan. Molla a famous Telugu poet was born in a potter's family.
Hinduism is the major religion of Bali island which is in Indonesia. The balinese people received hinduism during the first century A.D. Balinese Hindus do not have caste system they follow agama Hindu philosophy.

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