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The Sanskrit term Varṇa is derived from the root vrn meaning "to choose (from a group)". In the context of social hierarchies, it means "arrangement". When humans first settled down into agrarian societies, many changes occurred in social relationships. There arose a need to "arrange" people into structures that could be stable and accommodating diverse individuals in diverse occupations. One such system was to arrange the society into a functional hierarchy where every individual could form a part. Society was seen as an organic whole sustained by diverse groups with differing occupations all accommodated into a stable structure. The hierarchy was necessary so that there was least competition for the resources, just as different animals, insects, birds share a single place, each a part of the eco-system, each consuming its part of the natural resources. Image File history File links Created by me. ... The Brahmic family is a family of abugidas used in South Asia, Tibet and Southeast Asia. ... Sanskrit ( संस्कृतम् ; pronunciation: ) is an Indo-European classical language of India and a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. ... This article or section needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... you fools are stupid to let people edit these sheet your all dumasss get a life fukers Agriculture (a term which encompasses farming) is the art, science or practice of producing food, feed, fiber and many other desired goods by the systematic raising of plants and animals. ... Please note the difference between structural functionalism, which was developed by Meyer Fortes and Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard, and structuralism, a theoretical concept developed by other (generally later) anthropologists like Claude Lévi-Strauss and Edmund Leach. ...

The varna system is one form of functional hierarchy system. The oldest mention of the varna system is in the Purusha sukta of Rigveda 10.90 - Please note the difference between structural functionalism, which was developed by Meyer Fortes and Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard, and structuralism, a theoretical concept developed by other (generally later) anthropologists like Claude Lévi-Strauss and Edmund Leach. ...

मुखं किमस्य कौ बाहू का ऊरू पादा उच्येते ॥

ब्राह्मणो अस्य मुखमासीद बाहू राजन्यः कर्तः ।

ऊरूतदस्य यद वैश्यः पद्भ्यां शूद्रो अजायत ॥

The hymn claims "Brahmana is the mouth of the purusha, rajanya his arms, vaishya is his thighs and shudra arose from his feet" - an obvious reference to the organic (purusha) nature of the society, sustained by the harmonious integration of functional groups (organs) working in unison.

In such organic hierarchies, it is recognised that proper functioning of each part is necessary for the stability of the whole. This led to the importance given to kartavya or "duties" (deontology). Each one is obligated to perform their duties relevant to their position in the system. Proper functioning is of utmost necessity for the stability of the whole structure. In moral philosophy, deontology is the view that morality either forbids or permits actions, which is done through moral norms. ...

What sustained the varna system

Any social hierarchy needs a strong central authority to sustain itself, just like military hierarchy or business hierarchy. Hinduism lacked such a central authority. Considerable controversy exists regarding the role and the level of authority of law-books like Manu smriti before the British rule in India. Since the society was based on social interdependence, social expulsion was effectively used a punishing tool.

The varna was replicated by making the membership in the varna group based on birth by default. The most necessary and important element of the whole system was the active involvement of individuals through obligatory duties. This is also its biggest drawback, when individuals do not perform the obligatory functions and still hold their place, the varna system crumbles.

The four-varna system

The terms Varna and caste (Jati) are actually two distinct concepts. Caste systems are traditional, hereditary systems of social stratification, such as clans, gentes, or the Indian caste system. ...

Varna ( वर्ण From Sanskrit, literally "arrangement") is a supposed unification of all the Hindu castes into either four groups: Kshatriya, Brahmin , Vaishya, Shudra, or into one of several varna-sankaras वर्ण संकर. Kshatriya is the title of the military order within the Hindu varna system. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... In the Hindu caste system, a Vaishya (Sanskrit वैश्य vaiÅ›ya) is a member of the third of the four major castes of the varna system of traditional Indian society. ... Shudra or Sudra is the fourth caste or varna in the traditional four-caste division in Indian society. ... Varna-sankara Varna-sankara (of hybrid varna) is a term used in the Hindu dharma-shastras to denote those communities which did not fit in any of the four varnas. ...

Caste (Sanskrit: Gyati ज्ञाति , Hindi: Biradari बिरादरी, samaj समाज, jati जाति etc , Urdu Zat ज़ात ) is an endogamous group. Generally a sub-caste is divided into exogamus groups based on same gotras गोत्र. Caste systems are traditional, hereditary systems of social stratification, such as clans, gentes, or the Indian caste system. ... Endogamous group is a community in which the members generally marry within the group. ... Exogamous group is a section of society within which marriages are prohibited. ... A Gotra indicates lineage in the Hindu community. ...

Overwhelming majority of the Hindus can be satisfactorily classified into a specific varna. However, during the British rule, several cases went to court to settle the "varna" of a sub-caste. For example, the farmers are sometimes given Kshatriya status because many ruling Chieftens may have risen from them. On the other hand some classified them as Vaisya, based on an older occupation of artisans. Orthodox Brahmins may classify them as Shudras, because they do not have a tradition of undergoing through the thread ceremony, that would make them dvija द्विज . Dvija (sanskrit) means one who is twice born. ...

Several varna assignment schemes exist that attempt to assign a varna to a sub-caste.

1. Based on traditional occupation (see Indian caste system).
2. Based on orthodox texts like Brahmnotpatti Martanda.
3. There is an orthodox view, that considers Kshatriyas and Visyas to be nearly extinct.

It is pratically impossible to identify a "merchant" or trader in modern sense, that belonged to the Vaisya varna in ancient times. They were artisans and crafts people. Some scholars claim that most of the ancient Kshatriyas of northern India were annihilated, and the present Rajputs were created from fire as a replacement. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... A Rajput (possibly from Sanskrit rāja-putra, son of a king) is a member of a prominent caste who live throughout northern and central India, primarily in the northwestern state of Rajasthan. ...

For the last few decades, the varna system is getting weakened but the sub-castes jatis(endogamous groups) getting strengthened and quite influential politically. In some regions, some of the jati sub-castes have 25-30% of the population, and that gives them great political clout.

Look up varna in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wiktionary is a Wikimedia Foundation project intended to be a free wiki dictionary (hence: Wiktionary) (including thesaurus and lexicon) in every language. ...

Four varnas

The caste system, although not currently officially sanctioned by their governments, is used by Hindus, particularly in India, Bali and Nepal for reasons of determining lineage and is passed down through patrilineal descent. It is based on four varnas: This article or section is missing references or citation of sources. ... Bali is an Indonesian island located at , , one of the Lesser Sunda Islands. ... Patrilineality is a system in which one belongs to ones fathers lineage; it generally involves the inheritance of property, names or titles through the male line as well. ...

• Brahmins (white-symbolizing Sattva), priests, teachers
• Kshatriyas (red-symbolizing Rajas), kings, princes, warriors
• Vaishyas (yellow-symbolizing Rajas/Tamas), merchants/craftsmen
• Shudras (blue or black-symbolizing Tamas), workers, farmers

To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... White is a color, (more accurately it contains all the colors of the visible spectrum and is sometimes described as an achromatic color—black is the absence of color) that has high brightness but zero hue. ... The Sanskrit word guna (guṇa) has the basic meaning of string or a single thread or strand of a cord or twine. In more abstract uses, it may mean a subdivision, species, kind, and generally quality. In Classical literature In Classical literature (e. ... Roman Catholic priests in traditional clerical clothing. ... A teachers room in a Japanese middle school, 2005. ... Kshatriya is the title of the military order within the Hindu varna system. ... Red is any of a number of similar colors at the lowest frequencies of light discernible by the human eye. ... The Sanskrit word guna (guṇa) has the basic meaning of string or a single thread or strand of a cord or twine. In more abstract uses, it may mean a subdivision, species, kind, and generally quality. In Classical literature In Classical literature (e. ... Look up monarch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The term prince (the female form is princess), from the Latin root princeps, when used for a member of the highest aristocracy, has several fundamentally different meanings - one generic, and several types of titles. ... A warrior is a person habitually engaged in war and/or skilled in the waging of war. ... In the Hindu caste system, a Vaishya (Sanskrit वैश्य vaiÅ›ya) is a member of the third of the four major castes of the varna system of traditional Indian society. ... Yellow is any color of light that stimulates both the red and green cone cells of the retina, but not the blue cone cells. ... The Sanskrit word guna (guṇa) has the basic meaning of string or a single thread or strand of a cord or twine. In more abstract uses, it may mean a subdivision, species, kind, and generally quality. In Classical literature In Classical literature (e. ... The Sanskrit word guna (guṇa) has the basic meaning of string or a single thread or strand of a cord or twine. In more abstract uses, it may mean a subdivision, species, kind, and generally quality. In Classical literature In Classical literature (e. ... Merchants function as professionals who deal with trade, dealing in commodities that they do not produce themselves, in order to produce profit. ... Craftsman is an artisan who practices a handicraft or trade; a style of architecture and furniture arising from the Arts and Crafts movement; a military rank within the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, equivalent to a private; and ... Shudra or Sudra is the fourth caste or varna in the traditional four-caste division in Indian society. ... Blue is any of a number of similar colors. ... Black is a color with several subtle differences in meaning. ... The Sanskrit word guna (guṇa) has the basic meaning of string or a single thread or strand of a cord or twine. In more abstract uses, it may mean a subdivision, species, kind, and generally quality. In Classical literature In Classical literature (e. ... In classical economics and all micro-economics labour is one of three factors of production, the others being land and capital. ... Farmer spreading grasshopper bait in his alfalfa field. ...

Twice born

The first three castes are seen as 'twice born'. They are allowed to study vedas. In India and Nepal the sub-castes within a Varna are called Jat or Jati (The caste is also used instead of Jat). Each Jati members are allowed to marry only with their Jati members. People are born into their Jati and it cannot be changed. Once someone is born to certain sub-caste or Jati he or she cannot be changed to another Jati. Caste is a permanent attribute among the Hindus.

The occupations of the Vaishya are those connected with trade, the cultivation of the land and the breeding of cattle; while those of a Kshatriya consist in ruling and defending the people, administering justice, and the duties, of the military profession generally and ruling by Dharma. Both share with the Brahman the privilege of reading the Vedas. To the Brahman belongs the right of teaching and expounding the sacred texts vedas. Shudras were the serfs, and performed agricultural labour. A fruit stand at a market. ... Farming, ploughing rice paddy, in Indonesia Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and other desired products by cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals (livestock). ... Cow and Cows redirect here. ... Lady Justice - allegory of Justice as woman with sword and with book - statue at court building. ... Dharma (Sanskrit धर्म) or Dhamma (Pāli) means Natural Law or Reality, and with respect to its significance for spirituality and religion might be considered the Way of the Higher Truths. ... Costumes of Slaves or Serfs, from the Sixth to the Twelfth Centuries, collected by H. de Vielcastel, from original Documents in the great Libraries of Europe. ...

Intermarriage between castes was not encouraged.

Indian texts speak of jati, which are sub-caste within a Varna. Thus each varna is subdivided into many jatis which are endogamous groups with a particular occupational specilization all having same or similar social ranking which is determined by its Varna. Each jati has its appropriate rules of conduct and duties or "dharma", including rules regarding marriage, eating, and ritual purity. Jatis (the word literally means births) comprise the subcastes found within the four major castes, or varnas, of the Indian caste system. ... Marriage is a relationship between individuals which generally forms the foundation of a family. ... Typical forms of fast food - potato cakes and chicken pieces Healthy vegetable and white cheese salad Food is any substance that can be consumed for nutritional value and to provide extra energy. ...

Religiously anyone who does not belong to the four Varnas is an outcast. Muluki Ain has incorporated the entire ethnic group of Nepal into Caste hierarchy.

Division of labor

The varna system is based on division of labor.

The Purusha-sukta is a Hindu creation story. It's about the four Varnas, or castes. It tells how Brahma (Ultimate Reality) created a giant called 'Primal Man' from clay and how the giant was sacrificed. Out of the body of the Primal Man came four groups of people. Each group had a different role to play in life, and society. They all had very different tasks. The first group was the Brahmins (priests). They came from the mouth. They were to provide the intellectual and spiritual needs of the community. The second group was called Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers). They were created from the arms, and they were needed to rule and to protect the others. Vaishyas (landowners and merchants) sprang from the thighs. This group was needed to trade and to care for agriculture. Shudras (artisans and servants) were from the feet. They had to do all the manual work.

Etymology details

Varna is a Sanskrit term (वर्ण varṇa meaning colour or faith (faithless), preference, religious affiliation, conviction, or "to choose", or lustre. Sanskrit ( संस्कृतम् ; pronunciation: ) is an Indo-European classical language of India and a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. ...

• In the Zend Avesta and the Gathas, the word Varana or Varena (from the root Var ("put faith in, to believe in") is used in the sense of "faith, religious doctrine, choice of creed or belief.") The language of the Gathas (the oldest part of the Avesta) is very similar to the language of the Rig Veda.
• It may also come from the root Var- "choose", as in "svayamvara", “[a girl’s] own choice [of a husband]”, or from the root vri (which means "one's occupation").
• In the Rig Veda, the word varNa occurs 22 times and means lustre in 17 out of 22 times it refers to the "lustre" (i.e. "one's own typical light") of gods like Soma, Agni or Ushas. In RV 3.34.5 and RV 9.71.2 it refers to the lustrous colour of the sky at dawn.
• According to Hindu tradition, Varna refers to sounds of speech or language. Western Indologists have wrongly interpreted varna as "a letter of the alphabet". According to Welzer (1994 (229-230)), Varna can be grammatically derived from the term "class" (vide Panini), but it has acquired the incorrect meaning of "colour".

See Avesta Municipality for the Swedish town Yasna 28. ... The Gathas form the oldest part of Avesta, the holy scripture of the Zoroastrian religion, possibly composed by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) himself. ... The Gathas form the oldest part of Avesta, the holy scripture of the Zoroastrian religion, possibly composed by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) himself. ... Soma (Sanskrit), or Haoma (Avestan) (from Proto-Indo-Iranian *sauma-) was a ritual drink of importance among the early Indo-Iranians, and the later Vedic and greater Persian cultures. ... Agni is a Hindu deity. ... Ushas (उषः úṣas-), Sanskrit for dawn, is the chief goddess (sometimes imagined as several goddesses, Dawns) exalted in the Rigveda. ...

Varna in Hindu texts

The Rig-Veda refers to the four principal varnas described in Manu's code, viz. Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. It affirmed that caste dharma needs to be strictly followed as one's soul climbs the caste ladder with every birth. A soul is born into a caste as punishment/reward for its karmic influences—actions in past lives (Hindus generally believe in reincarnation). The Rig Veda ऋग्वेद (Sanskrit á¹›gveda from á¹›c praise + veda knowledge) is a collection of hymns(each hymn is called a Rucha.) counted among the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas, and contains the oldest texts preserved in any Indo-Iranian language. ... The Manu Smriti or Laws of Manu, is one of the eighteen Smritis of the Dharma Sastra (or laws of righteous conduct), written c. ... Karma (Sanskrit: from the root , to do, [meaning deed] meaning action, effect, destiny) is a term that comprises the entire cycle of cause and effect. ...

The preservation of caste boundaries was considered to be conducive to social harmony and order.

The effect of the system was to bind certain castes to sources of influence, power and economy while locking out others and thus create more affluence for higher castes and severe poverty for lower castes and the outcast Dalit. In the last 150 years Indian movements arose to throw off the economic and political yoke of the caste system.

The Purusha Sukta hymn (Rig Veda 10:90) mentions the castes and compares them to the body of a man: "The Brâhmana was his mouth, of both his arms was the Râjanya made. His thighs became the Vaishya, from his feet the Sûdra was produced." (RV 10:90:12) In the Purusha Sukta hymn the word Varna is not used, and it is the only hymn of the Rig Veda where the words Vaishya and Sudra are used. The Purusha Sukta hymn is considered to be one of the youngest parts of the Rig Veda. In the Hindu caste system, a Vaishya (Sanskrit वैश्य vaiÅ›ya) is a member of the third of the four major castes of the varna system of traditional Indian society. ... Shudra, or Sudra, is the fourth caste, or varna, in the traditional four-caste division among Indian castes. ... The Rig Veda ऋग्वेद (Sanskrit ṛc praise + veda knowledge) is the earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas. ...

This is the "Divine" justification of the varna system: that since Brahmins emerged from the Creator's mouth, they are the purest; that since Kshatriyas emerged from His arms, they were strong and meant to be soldiers; that because Vaishyas emerged from his abdomen/thighs, they were meant for craft, commerce, responsible for keeping Society's stomach full; and because shudras emerged from the feet, considered an "impure" or "dirty" part of a person's body by cultural norms, they were meant, by Divine Will, to be menial workers.

There is an Upanishadic story of a boy who went to a guru to study the various holy Hindu scriptures. His guru asked him what his caste was. Consulting his mother, who was actually a prostitute who didn't really know what her caste was, the boy returned to the guru and told him that he was all castes. He worshipped the Gods, thus fulfilling the duties that are ordinarily a Brahmin's, he earned his keep like a Vaishya, took care of cleaning the house, like a Shudra, and protected his family's interest like a Kshatriya. The guru was pleased and told the boy he was fit to be taught and initiated into the Brahmin's life. However the very fact that the boy had to refer to his birth to determine his caste as a first step indicates that the default caste of a person was always determined by birth. References ^ Tirha, B. B. A Taste of Trascendence, (2002) p. ... Prostitution is the sale of sexual services (typically manual stimulation, oral sex, sexual intercourse, or anal sex) for cash or other kind of return, generally indiscriminately with many persons. ...

The Dharmashastras (a collection of collections of Hindu codes and laws) say that caste is not just determined by birth, but by action in life according to the dharma of varna-ashram as well. The Dharmashastra is a volume of Hindu legal texts, covering moral, ethical and social laws. ... Look up life, living in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The Brahmins (priests), The Kshatriyas (warriors, nobility), the Vaishyas (the craftsmen and men of commerce), and the Shudras (agriculture workers; menial workers) were the four varnas. A person of each varna was said to possess certain set of characteristics: the Shudras, they believed, were of the tamasic nature; the Vaishyas were either tamasic or rajasic; the Kshatriyas were believed to be noble, learned and selfless, his or her duty being the administration of the people and fighting of battles against intruders, often very spiritually inclined; and that the Brahmins were religious, pure, Society's bank of knowledge and wisdom for their memory of holy scriptures, the performers of rituals, the most spiritually-advanced caste of Hindu society. The Lords and Barons prove their Nobility by hanging their Banners and exposing their Coats-of-arms at the door of the Lodge of the Heralds. ... The Battle of Waterloo by William Sadler. ...

This view is supported by various readings of the Bhagavad Gita that hold that caste is required for practice of dharma in society. However, whatever varna one is born all human beings can attain salvation by practicing ones dharma. It is worthy to note that all three acharayas, Sankara, Ramanuja, and Madhva all subscribed to this view. The lives of Vaishnavite saints like Kanaka Dasa and Tukaram demonstrated that single-minded devotion to God is enough for attaining Moksha. Sankara can refer to: Shiva, whom Hindus, especially Shaivaites, worship as supreme God or their Supreme Being. ... Sri Ramanuja Acharya (traditionally dated 1017–1137 CE) was an Indian philosopher and is recognized as the most important saint of Sri Vaishnavism. ... Madhva can refer to: Shri Madhvacharya, Vaishnavite saint and founder of Dvaita school of thought, at Pajaka, Udupi a person belonging to the Dvaita school of thought This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Kanaka Dasa was one of the devotees of Krishna and an influential person in the Vaishnava bhakti movement in Karnataka. ... Tukaram (तुकाराम), respectfully referred to as Shri Tukaram, and colloquially referred to as Tuka (तुका) was a seventeenth century Marathi poet saint of India, with a very great stature in the Bhakti movement of Maharashtra, so much so that in the popular mind he is the very peak of that centuries long...

Hindu tantrics are a part of Hinduism whose scriptural texts, the Agamic texts known collectively as the Tantras, assert their descent from the Vedas, especially the Atharva-Veda. Claiming that the Vedic rituals no longer necessary in Kali Yuga, that the fourth and final epoch of humanity in Hinduism shall see morality ebb to complete dissolution until the end of the earth, the Tantrics see themselves as natural continuations of the Vedas through Hindu yogic practices--and not of any particular caste, yet not Untouchables. Tantra (Sanskrit: weave), tantric yoga or tantrism is any of several esoteric traditions rooted in the religions of India. ... The Vedas are part of the Hindu Shruti; these religious scriptures form part of the core of the Brahminical and Vedic traditions within Hinduism and are the inspirational, metaphysical and mythological foundation for later Vedanta, Yoga, Tantra and even Bhakti forms of Hinduism. ... The Atharva Veda is a sacred text of Hinduism, part of the four books of the Vedas. ... Kali Yuga is also the title of a book by Roland Charles Wagner. ... Yoga is a family of ancient spiritual practices that originated in India, where it remains a vibrant living tradition and is seen as a means to enlightenment. ...

Many Hindu yogis and sages have, over the centuries, constantly commented about caste. The non-dualist, Vedantic jnana-yogin (yogi of discrimination) Shri Adi Shankaracharya (8th century), denounced caste as but one more indication of one's weak, Ego-driven self and the flouting of Brahman (the impersonal, ultimate monist basis of Hindu belief). Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (15th century), the powerful bhakti of Krishna also denounced caste. He famously distributed the Hare Krishna mantra to non-brahmins all around India, claiming this was the True path to moksha. Adi Shankara with the Four Disciples Adi Shankara (Åšankara, Shri Shankaracharya, Adhi Shankaracharya, Ä€di Åšhankarācārya; the first Shankara in his lineage), reverentially called Bhagavatpada Acharya (the teacher at the feet of the Lord) (approximately 8th century, but see below) was the most famous advaita philosopher, who had a... (7th century — 8th century — 9th century — other centuries) Events The Iberian peninsula is taken by Arab and Berber Muslims, thus ending the Visigothic rule, and starting almost 8 centuries of Muslim presence there. ... Brahm (ब्रह्म in devanagari script) in the Vedantic (and subsequently Yogic) forms of Hinduism, is the signifying name given to the concept of the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality that is the Divine Ground of all being in this universe. ... Deities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (right) and Sri Nityananda (left) at Radha-Krishna temple in Radhadesh, Belgium Caitanya Mahaprabhu (also transliterated Chaitanya) (1486 - 1534), was an ascetic Hindu monk and social reformer in 16th century Bengal, India (present-day West Bengal and Bangladesh). ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... Bhakti - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... This article is about the Hindu deity. ... Hare Krishna Mantra in Devanagari. ...

Kanakadasa of the 15th century also denounced Casteism. He believed that Life in every human being is Divine, and that only the ignorant wrought injustice against their own brethren by practising the caste system. Kanakadasa (c 1509-1609 A.D.) belongs to the tradition of Haridasa literary movement which ushered in an era of devotional literature in Karnataka. ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ...

Varnas in Rigveda and Manu Smriti

In Sanskrit, Varṇa means color, appearance, physical form or characteristic. One of the hymns of the Rig Veda, one of the holiest Hindu scriptures, gives the following enumeration in the famous Purusha Sukta (RV 10.90): The Rig Veda ऋग्वेद (Sanskrit ṛc praise + veda knowledge) is the earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas. ...

मुखं किमस्य कौ बाहू का ऊरू पादा उच्येते ॥

ब्राह्मणो अस्य मुखमासीद बाहू राजन्यः कर्तः ।

ऊरूतदस्य यद वैश्यः पद्भ्यां शूद्रो अजायत ॥

Its rough translation is : "What became of his (the Cosmic Spirit's) face or mouth? What became of his two arms? What became of His two thighs? What were (the products of) the two feet called? From His face (or the mouth) came the brahmanas. From His two arms came the rajanya (the kshatriyas). From His two thighs came the vaishyas. From His two feet came the shudras."

This hymn is the sole reference to the four Varnas in the Rig Veda, and it occurs in the Xth book, which many historians claim to be a later addition to the existing nine books. In the Purusha Sukta hymn the word Varna is not used, and it is the only hymn of the Rig Veda where the words Vaishya and Sudra are used. The Purusha Sukta hymn is considered to be one of the youngest parts of the Rig Veda. The other three Vedas and Upanishads very rarely mention the Varnas. In later Hinduism, people interpreted this hymn such that the society is to be divided into four Varnas or castes, which are: In the Hindu caste system, a Vaishya (Sanskrit वैश्य vaiÅ›ya) is a member of the third of the four major castes of the varna system of traditional Indian society. ... Shudra, or Sudra, is the fourth caste, or varna, in the traditional four-caste division among Indian castes. ... The Rig Veda ऋग्वेद (Sanskrit ṛc praise + veda knowledge) is the earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas. ...

• Brahmana: The priests and the teachers
• Kshatriya (or Rajanya): Administrators and Military men
• Vaishya (or Arya): Traders, merchants, businessmen, farmers and herdsmen
• Shudra: Servants

Note that the original hymn does not explicitly define these groups.

Manu Smriti is often quoted in reference to the Varna caste system. The Manu Smriti is a later work that does not form a part of Hindu Scriptures, so it is of questionable relevance. Use of the Manu Smriti by the British colonialists has led to claims that it is used by politicians and sociologists to denigrate those of the Hindu faith.this article. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

The Manu Smriti claims that by the time it was written, Hinduism included another class of people without a position in any of the four Varnas and therefore associated with the meanest of the jobs. The upper castes, who were supposed to maintain ritual and corporal purity, came to regard them as untouchables. The people of this "fifth varna" are now called Dalits (the oppressed) or Harijans; they were formerly known as "untouchables" or "pariahs". To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... In South Asias caste system, an untouchable, dalit, or achuta is a person outside of the four castes, and considered below them. ... In South Asias caste system, a Dalit — formerly called untouchable — is a person outside the four castes, and considered below them. ... The Pariah or Pariar people are a large tribal group in India; they are members of the Dalit or formerly untouchable class of southern Indias Tamil Nadu state. ...

It is very clear that in the early Vedic times, the Varna system (if at all it existed) meant classes with free mobility of jobs and intermarriage. One hymn of the Rig Veda states: The Rig Veda ऋग्वेद (Sanskrit ṛc praise + veda knowledge) is the earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas. ...

कारुरहं ततो भिषगुपलप्रक्षिणी नना । (RV 9.112.3)

"I am a bard, my father is a physician, my mother's job is to grind the corn......"

While intermarriage between Brahmana bridegrooms and Kshatriya princesses was extremely common (even sanctioned by the later Manu Smriti), in many instances, marriages between Kshatriya princes and Brahmana brides was also observed (severely condemned by Manu Smriti). One of such instances is marriage of Dushyanata, a Kshatriya prince, with Shakuntala, a daughter of the sage Vishvamitra and adopted daughter of sage Kanva. Brahmarishi Viswamitra or Vishwamitra is one of the most venerated sages of Hinduism. ...

In later times, with the elaboration of ritualism, the caste system became absolutely hereditary (the historians disagree as to when) and the Shudras were not even allowed to hear the sacred word of the Vedas.

"If the shudra intentionally listens for committing to memory the veda, then his ears should be filled with (molten) lead and lac; if he utters the veda, then his tongue should be cut off; if he has mastered the veda his body should be cut to pieces." (Manu Smriti XII. 4)

A stark contrast to this is a mantra from the White Yajur Veda itself:

यथेमां वाचं कल्याणीमावदानि जनेभ्यः ।

ब्रह्मराजन्याभ्याँ शूद्राय चार्याय च स्वाय चारणाय ।

प्रियो देवानां दक्षिणायै दातुरिह भूयासमयं मे कामः समृध्यतामुप मादो नमतु ॥ (White Yajur Veda 26.2)

"I do hereby address this salutary (Vedic) speech for the benefit of humanity – for the Brahmanas, the Kshatriyas, the Shudras, the Vaishas, the kinsfolk and the men of lowest position in society. May I be dear to the learned in this world."

Famous Opponents of the Varna system

In the religious epic Mahabharata, Yudhisthira, is questioned by Yama in the form of a Yaksha, about what makes one a Brahmin. Yudhisthira, without hesitation, said that it is conduct alone that makes one a Brahmin. The Mahabharata (Devanagari: महाभारत, phonetically Mahābhārata - see note), sometimes just called Bharata, is one of the two major ancient Sanskrit epics of India, the other being the Ramayana. ... In the great Hindu epic Mahabharata, Yudhisthira (Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर, yudhishthira) was the eldest son of King Pandu and Queen Kunti, king of Hastinapura and Indraprastha, and World Emperor. ... This article is about the deity Yama in Hinduism. ...

Adi Shankara, the famous 8th century Advaita philosopher and renunciate denounced caste. Mirabai, the 15th century mystical poet and Queen of Chittor is known to have ignored caste distinctions and elected the potter, Sant Rohidas, as her guru. Annamacharya, a 15th century telugu poet's famous Bramhamokkada song, preaches equality of all in the eyes of God and condemns the caste system. RamaKrishna Paramahamsa, the 19th century Hindu religious leader, also did not recognise caste distinctions and took his first alms as a twice-born Brahmin from a Shudra woman. Adi Shankara with the Four Disciples Adi Shankara (Åšankara, Shri Shankaracharya, Adhi Shankaracharya, Ä€di Åšhankarācārya; the first Shankara in his lineage), reverentially called Bhagavatpada Acharya (the teacher at the feet of the Lord) (approximately 8th century, but see below) was the most famous advaita philosopher, who had a... Advaita Vedanta is probably the best known of all Vedanta schools of Hinduism, the others being Dvaita and Vishishtadvaita. ... Mirabai (मीराबाई) (1498-1547) (sometimes also spelled Meera) was a female Hindu mystical poet during the Mughal period of Indian history. ... References ^ Tirha, B. B. A Taste of Trascendence, (2002) p. ... Image:Annamayya. ... The Telugu people sometimes, also referred to as Telugu are Telugu language speaking people. ... Dwija, literally means one who is born twice in Sanskrit. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

The late Swami Krishnananda, the successor to Swami Sivananda and former head of Divine Life Society, noted the following about caste in his autobiography: Swami Sivananda Saraswati (1887-1963), as he is known under his monastic name, was born Kuppuswamy in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, India. ... Divine Life Society // Founder Swami Sivananda Saraswati Year & place of founding At Rishikesh in 1936, India Aims & ideals To Disseminate Spiritual Knowledge By publication of books, pamphlets and magazines dealing with ancient, oriental and occidental philosophy, religion and medicine in the modern scientific manner, and their distribution on such terms...

"While the caste system was originally evolved for the necessary classification of human duty in order to preserve the organic stability of society, its original meaning and its philosophical foundation was forgotten through the passage of time, and bigotry and fanaticism took its place through the preponderance of egoism, greed and hatred, contrary to the practice of true religion as a social expression of inner spiritual aspiration for a gradual ascent, by stages, to God Almighty. Vidura, famous in the Mahabharata, was born of a Shudra woman. But he had the power to summon the son of Brahma, from Brahmaloka, by mere thought. Which orthodox Brahmin can achieve this astounding feat? It is, therefore, necessary for everyone to have consideration for the facts of world-unity and goodwill, Sarvabhuta-hita, as the great Lord mentions in the Bhagavad Gita. Justice is more than law. No one's body is by itself a Brahmin, because it is constituted of the five gross elements,- earth, water, fire, air and ether. Else, it would be a sin on the part of a son to consign to flames the lifeless body of a Brahmin father. It is, therefore, not proper to victimise a colleague by an action plan of any religious community wedded to fundamentalist doctrines."[1]

Paramahansa Yogananda also opposed what he called the 'tyranny' of the caste system as we know it today. He taught that the caste system originated in a higher age, but became degraded through ignorance and self-interest. Yogananda said: Vidura (Sanskrit: विदुर, vidüra) was a son of a maid-servent who served the Queens of Hastinapura, Queen Ambika and Ambalika. ... Bhagavad Gīta भगवद्गीता, composed ca the fifth - second centuries BC, is part of the epic poem Mahabharata, located in the Bhisma-Parva chapters 23–40. ... Paramhansa Yogananda Paramahansa Yogananda परमहंस योगानन्‍द (January 5, 1893 – March 7, 1952), was an Indian yogi and guru. ...

"These were (originally) symbolic designations of the stages of spiritual refinement. They were not intended as social categories. And they were not intended to be hereditary. Things changed as the yugas [cycles of time] descended toward mental darkness. People in the higher castes wanted to make sure their children were accepted as members of their own caste. Thus, ego-identification caused them to freeze the ancient classifications into what is called the ‘caste system.’ Such was not the original intention. In obvious fact, however, the offspring of a brahmin may be a sudra by nature. And a peasant, sometimes, is a real saint.”"

—from Conversations with Yogananda, Crystal Clarity Publishers, 2003.

References In Hindu philosophy, the existence of the world is divided into four Yugas (ages): Satya Yuga or Krita Yuga Treta Yuga Dwapara Yuga Kali Yuga According to the rishis of ancient India, the world goes through a continuous cycle of these ages. ...

• "Brahmanotpatti-martanda" Harikrishna Shastri, (Sanskrit), 1871
• Jati Bhaskar", Jwalaprasd Mishra, (Hindi), 1914.
• G.S. Ghurye, Caste and Race in India, 1932.
• B.R. Ambedkar, Who were Shudras? 1946. (WHO WERE THE SHUDRAS?)
• Ghanshyam Shah, Caste and Democratic Politics in India, 2004
• Credo, Quia Occidentale
• Welzer, Albrecht. 1994. Credo, Quia Occidentale: A Note on Sanskrit varna and its Misinterpretation in Literature on Mamamsa and Vyakarana. In: Studies in Mamamsa: Dr Mandan Mishra Felicitation Volume edited by R.C. Dwivedi. Delhi: Motilal Banarasidass.
• These documented Results of 4-Varn system can make you Proud of your Hindu heritage