jAti - collective memory

From the perspective of Dharmaśāstra, jāti is based on collective memory. Medhātithi notes this on Manusmṛti 10.5.

Infinite regress

Generally the definitions of Brāhmaṇa etc. as presented in Dharmaśāstra-texts, assume the prior knowledge of who a Brāhmaṇa etc. is.

The definitions are like; ‘A Brāhmaṇa is the one born of duly wedded Brāhmaṇa & Brāhmaṇī’. Now someone may ask; on what basis is his father a Brāhmaṇa (similar about his mother)? Such questioning and lack of a definitive proof will lead to an infinite regress.

Collective memroy

At this point Medhātithi brings in the idea that collective unbroken memory of a people as being of ‘X-jāti’ is the definitive proof of them being of ‘X-jāti’.

From Medhātithi’s commentary on Manusmṛti 10.5.

Biological basis

That jāti cannot be identified by merely looking at someone, rules out the possibility of it being (purely) biological.

विश्वास-टिप्पनी

your arguments only imply that jAti is not purely biological.

Fact is that jAti/ varNa is mostly biological.

Also, an offspring of a Brāhmaṇa and Brāhmaṇī who aren’t duly wedded, isn’t tagged as a Brāhmaṇa by the Dharmaśāstra-texts (for example Manusmṛti 10.5). This also rules out a definitive biological basis of jāti. This is exactly why the Dharmaśāstra has to step in.

Nirāmbopaniṣat

In this sense, what Nirāmbopaniṣat (10) says is congruent with the Dharmaśāstra-sense of jāti & varṇa, as per which jāti cannot be reduced to either the body, or the mind/intellect, & not even to the Self (Ātman). The basis is a little abstract, i.e., collective memory.

(5/5) • • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh