Kṛṣṇa speaks about a category, pāpa-yonayaḥ (those of sinful birth), and women, workers, and merchants are included within it. Does this mean women are intrinsically inferior?
What does it mean to be of lower birth? Of lower birth because of one's karma or does it purely refers to the social roles the castes were assigned? Or is one considered to be of a lower birth because the roles they were expected to carry out; as in; the merchants might be ignorant about God cause their minds were always preoccupied with the matters of money and trade, shudras because they were always kept away from the scriptures and knew of no ways of establishing a relationship with God through ritual practices or prayers, and women cause they were expected to carry out householder duties and hence were left with no time to devote to God?
I know very little and I only seek to enhance my understanding. Aid my understanding sir.
There are two different ways one can be of “lower birth”.
One is in the sense of taking a birth where one has fewer opportunities to progress in spiritual understanding, in a materialistic family, etc.
Another is in terms of the relative social position according to whatever perception general people have at the time. For example, Haridasa Thakura was of "lower birth" because the caste brahmanas of the time used to reject him for being born in a muslin family and not allow him to enter the temple, etc. This, however, didn't prevent the Lord from accepting him as the greatest devotee.
The main point here is that whatever people may consider us of "lower birth" or not, the Lord ready to accept us.
What does it mean to be of lower birth? Of lower birth because of one's karma or does it purely refers to the social roles the castes were assigned? Or is one considered to be of a lower birth because the roles they were expected to carry out; as in; the merchants might be ignorant about God cause their minds were always preoccupied with the matters of money and trade, shudras because they were always kept away from the scriptures and knew of no ways of establishing a relationship with God through ritual practices or prayers, and women cause they were expected to carry out householder duties and hence were left with no time to devote to God?
I know very little and I only seek to enhance my understanding. Aid my understanding sir.
There are two different ways one can be of “lower birth”.
One is in the sense of taking a birth where one has fewer opportunities to progress in spiritual understanding, in a materialistic family, etc.
Another is in terms of the relative social position according to whatever perception general people have at the time. For example, Haridasa Thakura was of "lower birth" because the caste brahmanas of the time used to reject him for being born in a muslin family and not allow him to enter the temple, etc. This, however, didn't prevent the Lord from accepting him as the greatest devotee.
The main point here is that whatever people may consider us of "lower birth" or not, the Lord ready to accept us.
Understood ! Thank you, sir.