Acharya Prashant addresses the historical exploitation of Dalits, acknowledging that the practiced 'folk religion' has indeed been a source of systemic oppression and material deprivation. He expresses a sense of collective guilt for the mental and physical marginalization of these communities. However, he makes a sharp distinction between this 'folk religion'тАФcharacterized by superstitions, rituals, and social hierarchiesтАФand 'Sanatan Dharma,' which he defines strictly as the religion of the Shrutis (the Vedas and Upanishads). He explains that according to the fundamental principles of Vedanta, the self is not the body; therefore, concepts like caste, gender, and social status are inherently false and have no place in true spiritual realization.
