A A: How one can convert to brahman from shudra? Which deeds needed? How many brahmins uptill now arya samaj has made from shudras?
Swami Ram Swarup: I do not know the number of Brahmins who have been made from shudras by Arya samaj. However, anybody can turn into Brahmin varnna if he follows Vedic path and thus has become able to control his senses, intellect and mind by doing Ashtang yog practice, daily havan with ved mantras. He has studied all four Vedas and by attaining Samadhi has realized God and seen ved mantras within him, he always does justice, does not favour anyone, daily perform havan with ved mantras etc. I paste my article in this regard-
Four Ashrams
There are four ashrams in the life, Brahmacharya ashram up to age of 25 years, Grihastha ashram up to 50 years, Vanprasth ashram up to 75 years and Sanyas ashram up to 100 years. So one should try to discharge his duties of every ashram knowing duties thereof and then must take sanyas, but if anybody else is interested to take sanyas being ascetic by true speech etc., then he can take sanyas even at an early age.
I have already written about caste system (varn vyavastha). Yajurveda mantra 31/11 says that caste is based on present deeds (karmas) and not by birth. The sense of Mantra is that if a son of shudra studies Vedas, controls senses/organs and mind, does practice of Ashtang yoga, then he will be considered Brahmin and a Brahmin who has no such qualities he will be treated as shudra etc., etc. There is no caste system in Vedas based on birth and the other holy books like Manusmriti, six shastras, Upnishads, Valmiki Ramayana, Mahabharat (Bhagwad Geeta) etc., were written by ancient Rishis/Munis based on only the knowledge of Vedas, so no caste system exists therein based on birth.
In this connection Yajurveda mantra 31/11 also says that he who knows Vedas and God, he is Brahmin being most supreme in the world like a mouth in the body. So anyone (of any caste) can be a Brahmin by hard studies of Vedas, practising Ashtang yoga therein and thus realizing God. One who has physical power in his arms, he is Kashtriye-Rajput to protect the country. So anyone can be a Rajput, holding the said qualities. One who has powers in his thighs to travel and to do hard work to establish business, he is Vaishya (businessman). One who has not studied, based on his qualities that he could not gain the qualities of Brahmin, Kashtriye and Vaishya, he is shudra (may be of any caste).
There is a symbolic story in Mahabharat. That once Yudhishthir saw that his brother Bhima was caught by a huge python. Yudhishthir asked python that my brother is a great warrior having sufficient power that you could not catch him. So really you are not python, tell me, who you are. Python replied that he was a yaksha. O Yudhishthir, if you would answer my question, then your brother would be released. Yaksha asked Yudhishthir that if a son of Brahmin takes wine, meat, gambles and does bad deeds then whether he will be considered as Brahmin and when a shudra (lowest caste) reads Vedas, does practice of Ashtang yoga, controls his five senses, five organs and mind and does always pious deeds then whether the son of such shudra will remain shudra? Yudhishthir replied that the Brahmin will be treated as shudra and shudra will be treated as Brahmin.
King Janak called all the emperors/anybody to break the bow to prove to be the best powerful emperor amongst all to marry his daughter Sita. So King Janak did not make any objection of caste system. So was the case of marriage of Draupadi where in the garb of a Brahmin Arjuna pierced the eye of the fish with arrow and Yudhishthir married Draupadi. Draupadi was daughter of Khastriye, Rajput whereas in the dress, Arjun was Brahmin. So qualities are to be checked either of boy or girl.
Three types of Deeds
There are three types of deeds (karmas) – sanchit, prarabhadh and kriyamann. Suppose one soul has to take birth (body). It means he has to face total number of deeds of his all previous lives and these deeds are called sanchit karmas but sanchit deeds are huge/unlimited and cannot be faced in one life. So the karmas which can be faced in one life are called prarabhadh (luck-destiny). So God has not made our luck at His own but Almighty God has considered the deeds which we have already done.
Yajurveda mantra 7/48 clarifies that human being is free to do any deed good or bad but God only awards the result. Now the balance deeds from sanchit deeds will be counted in the next life. Now the deeds which we do in our day today present life are called kriyamann.
If we do pious deeds according to Vedas, shastras and holy books and based on pious preaches of Rishi, Muni/learned saints then our all sanchit deeds are burnt and we can get salvation. Human beings are free in the matter of doing deeds good or bad. But result will be awarded by God. So we must worship and do pious deeds under guidance of a learned Guru. One should go always ahead for hard working, pious deeds, worship to make future bright himself. One should always work hard towards a right path.
Worship does not mean that we are free to discharge only our family duties, education, etc., but rather it is a sin. We have to get progress in both waysimultaneously i.e., spiritualism and worldly progress i.e., science, education, duties towards family etc. God creates the universe according to His eternal law framed in Vedas which are always unchangeable and unchallengeable. So we have to follow the law of God always to get long happy life.
Caste System
Caste system has not been made by God. Therefore, punishment etc., mentioned by people in caste system was against the Vedas and every spiritual book. But now its all okay as per Government. But hundred percent implementation of govt. orders is to be made yet.
Holy books cannot give an order to anyone to avoid preach to any caste because Vedas or other holy books are for human beings/souls and not for any special caste. Such things are occurring only due to lack of study of Vedas, please.
So at present spreading of knowledge of Vedas will sure finish the ravages of hatred. When sun rises, the darkness of the night is over, similarly when knowledge of the Vedas will spread, the illusion will automatically be over. When sun rises, the darkness from the earth is removed from that portion only which comes towards sun. And rest of the portion remains dark. Similarly wherever the Vedic knowledge will spread and be gained, the ignorance/illusion from those human beings will be over. Therefore spreading of knowledge of Vedas and other holy books, is must.
Jatin: Please send me Sandhya mantra and Yajyen Karm book.
Swami Ram Swarup: Books are being sent to you, please.
Neha: Guruji pranam .mujhe aapeki hawan wali video cd chaiye..kripa kreke send kr dijiye kuch audio cd bhi. plz bill bji bta dijyega.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you, my daughter. Cds are being sent to you, please.
