The document discusses concepts from ancient Hindu scriptures and how they relate to modern corporate structures and roles. It covers the four Vedas and how they provide guidance on different aspects of life. It then analyzes the Varna system of divisions of labor in Vedic society and draws parallels to roles in companies. Specifically, it likens Brahmins to advisors or mentors, Kshatriyas to leaders, Vaishyas to skilled workers, and Shudras to operational staff. The document aims to show how ancient Hindu concepts can provide guidance for professional roles and advancement.

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Prepared for vMotivate Session for ISG India Office
Mrinal Rai, Team Leader, Research
21 November 2016
Vedas, Varna System and Corporate Lives
™

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Agenda
1. Vedas – An introduction
2. Rig Veda
3. Early invention and development of Vedic society
4. Yagya and correlation with business ecosystem
5. Varna System and corporate Lives
6. The four Varnas

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Veda – To know
Vad- to speak
Vidhy – to know
(vedas)
Vidhya – knowledge
(of vedas)
Veda – Spoken

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Vedas – an introduction
► Vedas are timeless
► Oldest scriptures composed by human beings
► Not written but passed on from one (generation) to other
► Krishna Dwaipanya segmented the Vedas into four categories:
 Rig Veda – Dealing with cosmos and universal forces driving individual lives
 Sama Veda – collection of melodies, mother of classical music
 Yajur Veda – pertains to ceremonies and rituals
 Atharva Veda – dealing with Vedic science (like Ayurveda) and spells (Tantra)
► With due course of time, each Veda is comprised of hymns (samhita),
rituals(brahmanas), theology(aranyakas) and philosophy(upanishadas)
► Vedas correspond, are applicable and relate to every aspect of the life
► Vedas cannot be confined to one religion or belief system
The oldest composed scriptures of the world, the Vedas aim to give answers to
almost every question of our lives

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Rig Veda
► Earliest and most important in the Shruti Literature
► Rig Veda gives an idea of ‘Rita’, the cosmic and spiritual reality
► Rig Veda has
 10 books called mandals
 Each mandal consist of hymns called sukta,
► The hymns praise the deities, personalities associated with natural forces
► The most popular suktas:
 Nasadiya Sukta
 Hiranyagarbha sukta
 Purusha Sukta

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Earliest invention
What was the first thing an early
man discovered ?
A.Wheel
B.Fire
C.Weapons
Invention and recognition of natural forces
was the earliest knowledge of the early
men


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Development of Vedic society
► Vedic lifestyle correspond and is quite applicable to the life of the early man
► Vedic societies give a glimpse of formation of community and culture
► Vedas give immense importance to the forces of the nature
► Course of survival and the barter system evolved the Vedic lifestyle
► Division of labor:
 Ancient knowledge and repository formed guidance
 Influencing and hunting skills led to Leadership
 Innovation, farming coupled with the birth of Engineering developed specialized skills
 Unskilled labor led to servitude
Starting with gratitude towards the natural and cosmic forces led to development
of a fast learning, self sustaining community based culture

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Yagya – The Sacrifice
Most important activity performed by a Vedic society, aimed at praising the
ecosystem in which a society thrived
Yagya comes
from the word
‘Yaja’ which means
‘to give’

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Correlation with the business ecosystem
► Yagya refers to appreciate the contributions of the external ecosystem and gratifying them
► The process of gratifying was considered important for the sustenance of the Vedic society.
“The wrath of the God was terrifying and support of God helped them thrive”
► In the business context, the external eco-system composed of the customers and partners
► Business activity is conducted to serve the customers and gratify the partners
► The continuous support of customer and partners leads to business sustenance
No wonder customer is called “GOD”!

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Varna System – division of duties
► The activity/ process/ karma/ Yagya comprises of working at many levels:
 Intellectual/ Experience Level
 Execution Level
 Skills Level
 Operational Level
“Brahmanoasya mukhamasida bahu rajanyakritah
Uru tadasya yadvaishya padabhyam shudro
ajayat.”
(Rigveda 10.90.12)

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Varna System in Corporate Life
The duties ascribed for each varna do correspond to professional sphere of
corporate lives
?
Execution
Level
Skills Level
Operations Level
Brahmin
Kshatriya
Vaishya
Shudra
Division as per Vedas Division in corporate life
Duties NOT as per your roles and titles,
But rather how you EXERT yourself in the work of YOUR choice

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Shudras – The operators
► Shudras serve the other varnas.
► Most misunderstood term
► No special skill of their own or not recognizing their
inhouse skill
► Can be easily automated.
► View everything as part of barter system. Focus on
pleasing someone for higher barter, not ambitious of self
development
► Not specific to any role, even those holding leadership
position can have this attitude
► Content with what they get
► Self- Recognition can help elevate them to higher level,
(any higher level, NOT ROLE/TITLE !) if they want to.
?
Execution
Level
Skills Level
Operations Level
Don’t feel
offended!

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Vaishyas – The craftsman
► Vaishyas are skilled people, craftsman, working class
► Highly talented and excel in their field
► Rely on barter system and to enhance their own skills
► Their work cannot be automated
► Risk averse
► Content with what they get as long as able to sustain
their skills
► Require consistent support system
► If not encouraged, the Vaishyas can fall down to
Shudra level
► Risk taking and accepting higher responsibilities can
elevate them to higher level, if they want to.
?
Execution
Level
Skills Level
Operations Level
Relax, if you
are proud of
yourself!

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Kshatriyas – The story makers
► Kshatriyas are fierce, risk-takers, responsible
► Hold power
► They make stories of success and failures
► Ready to take risks
► Hold accountability for everybody (still may not be the
manager by title!)
► Not content with what they get
► High responsibility to gratify the ecosystem
► Success or failure of yagya is closely associated with
success or failure of the Kshatriya
► Inspire and lead the competition
► Sense of achievement can elevate them to next level, if
they want to
?
Execution
Level
Skills Level
Operations Level
Are you in the
right role??

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Brahmins – The guide
► Brahmins are the highly-knowledge people close to
the understanding of the eco-system
► May or may not hold power
► They advise Kshatriyas on how to perform the yagya
► They are content with what they achieved, (not got!)
► Not accountable.
► Understand the ecosystem and keep an eye on
changes
► Mainly act as mentors/ advisors, can be in any role!
► Highly gratified by the students/ mentee
► Sense of dissociation can elevate them to next level, if
they want to
?
Execution
Level
Skills Level
Operations Level
What are you
doing for the
greater good?

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Questions to ask yourself
► Where do you see yourself?
► Do you REALLY want to go higher? (Not by role, by attitude!)
?
Execution
Level
Skills Level
Operations Level
Brahmin
Kshatriya
Vaishya
Shudra
Division as per Vedas Division in corporate life

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