Evidence · Case 15 · Hinduism
The scriptural roots and Ambedkar’s critique
One exhibit from the free evidence repository at apologetics.pro.
The Purusha Sukta (Rig Veda 10.90) and the Manusmriti give caste a scriptural and legal basis, with karma supplying the moral rationale. Ambedkar’s Annihilation of Caste argued the system could not be reformed from inside the texts that sanctioned it, which is why he pressed so hard against them.
Sources
The classic critique of caste from within the Indian tradition.
Objections & responses
- Caste is a social and political reality, not the essence of Hindu spirituality, and plenty of Hindu teachers condemned it. Isn’t tying it to the religion a cheap shot?
The condemnation from within is real and should be credited, which is why this is framed as a contested argument rather than a verdict. But the tie to scripture is not invented by critics. The texts are there, and karma was used for centuries to justify the hierarchy as deserved. A fair account holds both: caste is not the essence of Hindu devotion, and it is not a mere accident bolted on from outside. It is a scripturally rooted feature the tradition itself is still arguing about.