The Kaulīnya Tradition (Kaulīnya Prathā)

This article was written by Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja just after his acceptance of initiation from Sarasvatī Ṭhākura and was first published in Dainik Nadīyā Prakāśa on Monday, June 4th, 1928. Herein, Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja discusses the Kaulīnya tradition established by King Ballāl who desired to create an elite class of brāhmaṇas in Bengal based upon their virtuous behaviour. Such brāhmaṇas were called ‘kulīna’ (noble). Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja asks why the brāhmaṇa caste was initially seminal, and why this is not the case today.

Even today, Ballāl-dīghi (the lake of Ballāl Sena) still exists near the famous birth-site of Gauracandra, the moon of Śrī Māyāpura. Near to this location stood the magnificent palace of the kings of the Sen Dynasty who are renowned throughout history. Among the kings of the Sen Dynasty, Ballāl Sen was the most distinguished in all respects. Immediately after him, during the time of Lakṣmaṇa Sen, the domination of the Yavanas began to arise in Bengal.

We are all aware that Ballāl Sen was the initiator of the kaulīnya tradition that is prevalent in Bengal. We likely have some information in relation to how that system was created.

*ācāro vinayo vidyā pratiṣṭhā tirtha-darśanam

niṣṭhā-vṛttis-tapo dānaṁ navadā kula-lakṣaṇam*

Proper conduct, humility, knowledge, social position, going on pilgrimage to holy places, steadfastness, proper employment, austerity and charity – these are the nine characteristics of a righteous family.

Amongst the *brāhmaṇas, *those who fully possessed the aforementioned nine attributes were immediately honoured with the noble status of a kaulīnya. In other words, these qualities were the reason for attaining the noble position of a kaulīnya, and there is probably no room for doubt about this.

But what do we see today? That system is no longer heard about, but it has become based merely upon seminal descent. There are indeed several reasons for this.

Among the different kinds of forces that influence whether a jīva possesses good qualities or is lacking in good qualities, education and association are the most powerful. The offspring of brāhmaṇas would naturally possess these nine qualities by acquiring them through the strong influence of the association of their fathers. Secondly, the education of the children largely depends upon the mentality of the parents. For these two reasons, the kaulīnya tradition initially continued as a seminal line.

But what is it’s state today? Far from possessing the nine qualities, even the most despicable individuals claim the noble position of a *kaulīnya *based upon seminal descent. However, it is a good thing that today, the educated society no longer gives any support to all these matters.

Alright! Now let us focus on a somewhat more serious matter. If the kaulīnya tradition created by Ballāl, which was based upon qualities, has now become based upon seminal descent after a few centuries, then should it be difficult for us to conclude that the four varṇas – brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiṣyas, and śūdras – created according to the divisions of qualities and activities as mentioned in the Śrīmad Bhāgavata at the beginning of the Treta-yuga have similarly become based upon seminal descent over such a long period of time?

Paṇḍita Śrīpad Rāmendra Sundara Bhaṭṭācārya B.A

(Translated by Swami Bhaktivijñāna Giri)

Related Articles & Books

Gṛha Praveśa (Entering a House) by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura The Kaulīnya Tradition by Śrīla B.R. Śrīdhara Mahārāja Śrī Caitanyadeva and Communism by Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda Grow More Food! by Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda Sat-Nyāsa – The Ecstatic Life of Pure Devotion (The Authorised Tridaṇḍi-Sannyāsa) by Śrīla Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja The Colour for Sannyāsīs by Śrīla Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja The White Bead Bag by Śrīla Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja Daiva Varṇāśrama by Śrīla Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja The Real Mango Līlā of Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura by Swami B.V. Giri

Further Reading

A Vaiṣṇava Householder’s Hospitality to Guests by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura The Livelihood of Householder Vaiṣṇavas by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura The Brāhmaṇa and the Vaiṣṇava – Both are Completely Vedic by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura The Savings of a Vaiṣṇava by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura Begging Alms by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura Brāhmaṇism and Vaiṣṇavism by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura The Marriage System of Bengal by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura