Sometimes it has been stated that the Upanishadic doctrine of the unity of the psychic and cosmic spirit is a contribution of the Kshatriya kings like Janaka of Videha, Ashvapati of Kekaya and Ajatashatru of Kashi to ancient Indian metaphysics. This was eloquently championed by Richard Garbe. It is true some of the Brahmin scholars were initiated into the mysteries of the monistic metaphysics by enlightened philosophical idealists who are regarded as Kshatriyas. But this sociological research in to caste based theoretical genesis does not seem convincing.
The monistic metaphysics has its roots in the Dirghatama (R.V.I/164) and the Nasadiya hymns (RV. X/129) of the Rigveda which, there is no evidence to prove, were composed by Kshatriyas. The Kshatriya group specialised in political, administrative and military pursuits. They could not reasonably be expected to have the surplus mental energy to have formulated the doctrine of idealistic metaphysics as a counterpoint of the Kshatriyas against the ritualistic priestly cult of sacrifices. If the Kshatriyas had the intellectual vigour to be the originators of speculative and transcendental metaphysics, why were all the Vedantic commentators, interpreters and exegetes from the times of Baudhayana and Shankara to Sriharsha and Madhusudana only Brahmins?
Gautama Buddha was a mighty intellectual genius but most of the formulators of the Buddhist philosophical schools like Asanga, Vasubhandhu, Maitreya, Nagarjuna, Dignaga and Dharmakirti were Brahmins and not Kshatriyas?
The Gita is said to have been written by Vyasa whose father Parasara was a Brahmin. Neither the Vedantic idealism nor the Samkhya dualism, Bhagawatism and Yoga were ever formulated by Kshatriyas.
From the book “ The Gita in World Literature”
The monistic metaphysics has its roots in the Dirghatama (R.V.I/164) and the Nasadiya hymns (RV. X/129) of the Rigveda which, there is no evidence to prove, were composed by Kshatriyas. The Kshatriya group specialised in political, administrative and military pursuits. They could not reasonably be expected to have the surplus mental energy to have formulated the doctrine of idealistic metaphysics as a counterpoint of the Kshatriyas against the ritualistic priestly cult of sacrifices. If the Kshatriyas had the intellectual vigour to be the originators of speculative and transcendental metaphysics, why were all the Vedantic commentators, interpreters and exegetes from the times of Baudhayana and Shankara to Sriharsha and Madhusudana only Brahmins?
Gautama Buddha was a mighty intellectual genius but most of the formulators of the Buddhist philosophical schools like Asanga, Vasubhandhu, Maitreya, Nagarjuna, Dignaga and Dharmakirti were Brahmins and not Kshatriyas?
The Gita is said to have been written by Vyasa whose father Parasara was a Brahmin. Neither the Vedantic idealism nor the Samkhya dualism, Bhagawatism and Yoga were ever formulated by Kshatriyas.
From the book “ The Gita in World Literature”
