curry favor...interesting phrase choice there...
I like the flavor of curry and the horse likes the favor of a curry (curry comb being used to groom, clean, scratch a horse periodically or after a ride)
Speaking of class you haven't spoke of caste... the article indicated Brahmans were most likely to be the most vegetarian.
I actually do know what a curry comb is. Only former animal husbandry people would know that. In the context of Hinduism, my friends would wonder what the heck it was.
Caste .. maybe I was saving one of the toughest for awhile.
The myth, of course, is that Hinduism and caste are intricately tied, and that it's an essential part of Hinduism.
The part about it being just Hinduism isn't true as the Chiristian and Muslim populations of India also have castes. So for starters, its more of an Indian problem that a Hindu problem.
Also, the same problem (stratification of society from privileged to underprivileged with boundaries in between) exists in practically every society in the world, but by another name, often class, but it's also been related to race, language, gender etc. Discrimination is discrimination, no matter what the reasons, and generally deplorable. It has provided a reason for genocide, apartheid, slavery and tons of other shameful acts by humans.
As for caste in particular, it was originally called varna, and simply meant that people should do what they are suited to do. In the beginning, that was also related to birth, just a it was in Europe in the form of guilds. Sons did what their fathers did. But there were always exceptions. That's still alive in India today. Brahmin boys wishin gto remain temple priests will train from an early age for that profession in schools called gurukulas.
These days things are changing dramatically fast, with intercaste marriage being like interfaith or interracial marriage ... definitely on the rise.
The idea that one cannot change caste is also shifting dramatically as people get educated, move around and leave India to the diaspora. It's als no longer tied to economics, and perhaps never was. The Brahmin caste, considered the 'highest' (in terms of dharma, ethcics and all that) is now near the bottom economically.
So it gets very complicated, and sweeping generalisations don't work. Caste based discrimiation also varies by geographic region, sect within Hinduism and more. No religious leader I have ever read is in favor of caste based discrimination, and some of India greatest political leaders today are from lower castes.
