Final answer:
The Hindu doctrines of dharma and karma support the caste system, a hierarchical social structure in traditional Indian society, where one's place is determined by their actions in past lives.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Hindu doctrines of dharma and karma support the idea of a rigid structure of Indian society known as the caste system. The caste system, a traditional form of social stratification seen in Hindu society, organizes people into hierarchical groups based on their birth and profession.
In this system, adherence to one’s dharma, or set of spiritual responsibilities and duties, is essential to maintain cosmic balance, and karma, the sum of a person's actions, determines one's fate in future reincarnations. This system supports the notion that social order and religious duty are intertwined, ensuring that people fulfill their roles as determined by their past actions. Higher castes, like Brahmins and Kshatriyas, were seen at the top of this hierarchy, whereas the Sudras and Dalits were placed at the bottom.
Over time, this stratification became more complex, involving thousands of subcastes. Originally, mobility within the caste hierarchy was thought possible through the accrual of good or bad karma influencing future rebirths, rather than through social mobility in one's lifetime.
The caste system has been associated with certain social restrictions and privileges, contributing to its long-lasting impact on Indian society. Despite legal reforms in modern India, the remnants of the caste system continue to influence social dynamics.