The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c17.8

c17.8

Now, Weber is certainly right in recognizing that in the Hindu view the mundane order is not as denuded of soteriological value as the prominence given to world renunciation may suggest. It is, however, more than doubtful whether this value can be located in the caste system. For one thing, the connection of caste with karma retribution is not as generally and unequivocally stated as the importance ascribed to it by Weber would require. We do find strong, authoritative statements to the effect that salvation is open, not only to the renouncer, but equally to the householder (*gṛhastha*).¹⁶ But it should be noted that it is the order of the gṛhastha—irrespective of caste—that is endowed with soteriological value, not caste as such. This may seem a quibble. The point, however, is that the nexus of caste and karma is far from unequivocal.