What makes a Shudra?

[sayak83]

Doms, IMHO, are Chandalas (as the Dom Raja in Varanasi is known as). Shudras are not doms. They are very much a part of the Hindu society as also a part of 'Purusha's body'.

ब्राह्मणो.अस्य मुखमासीद बाहू राजन्यः कृतः l
ऊरूतदस्य यद् वैश्यः पद्भ्यां शूद्रो अजायत ll
brāhmaṇo.asya mukhamāsīda bāhū rājanyaḥ kṛtaḥ l
ūrūtadasya yad vaiśyaḥ padbhyāṃ śūdro ajāyata ll
The Brahman was his mouth, of both his arms was the Rājanya made.
His thighs became the Vaiśya, from his feet the Śūdra was produced.
Rig Veda: Rig-Veda, Book 10: HYMN XC. Puruṣa.
No Sayak, what one does is important. The four-fold division of the society was based on what they did, irrespective of their financial situation. The Dom Raja in Varanasi may be stinking rich, but that does not make a difference to his being a Chandala (for something real bad that his ancestor must have done). Similarly brahmins, kshatriyas or vaishyas may be rich or poor, that will not make any difference.

All of what I say is historical. The castes are defunct in modern society anyways.

 

[spyrichuwel]

If I was asked to take a caste I would take shudra. I'm mleccha as it is and less then shudra as a result but I also work as a nurse. Nursing, caring for people, it is a service. Yes, I'm paid for it, but that's how the world works at the moment. It has always been a source of confusion to me that shudras are looked down on. They should be lauded, they do what keeps society functioning. If we did not have the Doms, orthodox Hindus would have to burn the bodies themselves and thus incur ritual impurity. What would they do is suddenly the Doms refused to do their inherited jobs?

A nurse is definitely a Shudra.

But you're not really a true Shudra if you smile all the time and have goodness within you and you light up everyone around you.

A real Shudra is predominantly tamasaic.

If you are a devout person having a serious relationship with God you are'nt a Shudra either.

Shudras don't really have the ability to constantly worship God.

 

[Shrew]

Shudra is a materialistic person who is mainly interested in acquisition of material goods for himself/herself.
These are the people who, when employers, pay as little as possible, opose public healthcare and have smart tax consulants so that they can avoid taxes whenever possible.
In contrast a Vaishya can also be interested in acquisition of material goods, but they share with the community, pay fair loanes and pay their taxes proper.

At least this is my definition, I'm from Europe.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Anyone who works for a salary is a 'shudra'/. Brahmins work was tudy and teaching, conduct of ritualsaccepting whatever the client (yahamana) gasve him, kshatriya's work was to safeguard the village/country/society (the king was from one of them), Vaishya's work was trade and agriculture. This was the basic division. However, 'Shudra' is not 'kshudra' (petty, etc.). 'Shudra' was an integrl part of the society. That kind of view and untouchability developed later.

Kshudra: Sanskrit Dictionary for Spoken Sanskrit

A 'shudra' would have the same kind of combination of 'gunas' as any other people, Sattvas, Rajas and Tamas. India had Vedavyasa and Vidura among the 'shudras'. They were totally sattvic and were respected by the society and were considered frineds with Gods. Nishada with Rama or Vidura for Krishna. Even in later times we had Ravidas, Eknath, Namdev, Azwars, Nayanars, etc., who were from the among the 'shudras' but are higly respected for their wisdom. It is not correct to say that 'shudras' could not do this or that.

Śudra Hindu saints - Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

 

[Shantanu]

Were Duryodhana and company who were full of hatred and envy towards the Pandavas and who cheated really true Kshatriyas?

Pandavas and Kauravas were both Kshatriyas according to the caste (verna) system, but Pandavas were favoured by God because they were cheated. They were consequently shown how to fight that evil. Both Pandavas and Kauravas remain Kshatriyas because they were fighters and rulers.