[Cronos]

"obscure mythological text" -- do you consider the Bhagavad Gita and the Manusmriti to be obscure? The Gita states that the varnas are created by Brahma

And the Manusmriti clearly states the difference between the twice-born and the Shudras

The caste system is part of Hinduism. However, as I said above, Hinduism is not a permanently defined religion but a free-flowing meta-religion and for Hinduism to junk the caste-system may change it, but will not end Hinduism

[ravager]

The actual quote from Bhagwad Gita is....

“The four-fold order was created by Me according to the divisions of quality and work. Though I am its creator, know Me to be incapable of action or change.”

It talks about varnas based on guna (aptitude) and karma (action) not birth or heredity.

Again Bhagwad Gita has no reference Brahma's head or feet or @ss from where shudras came from.

[ravager]

Now Manusmriti is the only place that talks about “caste system” they way we know it today. However it is neither Rig Veda not Bhagwad Gita. Manusmriti is a codification of laws and ethics of THAT time. It is the favorite of the Marxist historians who rule academia, because it contains six oppressive verses, which they love to quote to in criticism of Hinduism (by association with caste and oppression). It's a favorite book with which to beat up the Hindus.

It is a book that has been written (not by Manu) but by many different authors and has been added to over many hundreds perhaps thousands of years. Many parts of the book are confusing, contradictory and controversial even regarding castism.

Bottomline: Manusmriti not the final authority on Hinduism.

And even Manusmriti is not even half as oppressive as some passages in the Old Testament.

[ravager]

I was expecting you would be hitting me with the Manusmriti anytime soon. After all it the favorite book of Zakir Naik, Romila Thapar, Arundhati Roy.....how could you miss it?

Muslims, Marxists and Christians all unite with this one unimportant book with which they can beat up the Hindus.