What Are The 4 Main Classes Of The Indian Caste System?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The caste system divides Hindus into four main categories – Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and the Shudras . Many believe that the groups originated from Brahma, the Hindu God of creation.

What are the 5 levels of the caste system?

  • Braham. single spiritual power that Hindus believe lives in everything.
  • Kshatriya. second level of the varnas in the Hindu caste system; WARRIORS.
  • Vaishyas. 3rd class of the caste system (worker class, the legs of purusha-sakta.)
  • Shudra. ...
  • Untouchable/Harijan/Dalit.

What are the four caste system in India?

It is referred to frequently in the ancient Indian texts. The four classes were the Brahmins (priestly people), the Kshatriyas (also called Rajanyas, who were rulers, administrators and warriors), the Vaishyas (artisans, merchants, tradesmen and farmers), and Shudras (labouring classes).

What are four castes?

THE FOUR VARNA — BRAHMAN, KSHATRIYA, VAISHYA, AND SUDRA —ARE THE CLASSICAL FOUR DIVISIONS OF HINDU SOCIETY. IN PRACTICE, HOWEVER, THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MANY SUBDIVISIONS (J’ATIS) OF THESE CASTES. THERE ARE FIVE DIFFERENT LEVELS IN THE INDIAN CASTE SYSTEM:- BRAHMAN, KSHATRIYA, VAISHYA, SHRUJRA, AND, HARIJANS.

What are the 4 social classes described in the Vedas?

The Varna system in Dharma-shastras divides society into four varnas ( Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishya and Shudras ).

What is the OBC category?

Other Backward Class (OBC) is a collective term used by the Government of India to classify castes which are educationally or socially disadvantaged . It is one of several official classifications of the population of India, along with General Class, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SCs and STs).

What is the main basis of caste system in India?

The Indian society is divided into various sects and classes. This is because of the caste system which is prevalent in the country. The roots of the caste system go back to the ancient Vedas dividing people on the basis of varna or occupation . It has brought many evils in the society.

What are the classes in India?

In the system, Hindus are divided up into four classes based on the principle of “varna,” which literally means “color”: the Brahmins (the priestly class); the Kshatriyas (the ruling, administrative and warrior class); the Vaishyas (the class of artisans, tradesmen, farmers and merchants); and the Shudras (manual ...

How many castes are there?

Sr. No. State/Union Territory Number of Castes 9 Himachal Pradesh 57 10 Jammu and Kashmir 13 11 Jharkhand 22 12 Karnataka 101

What are the 5 castes in India?

  • Brahmins: the priestly caste. After their religious role decreased they became the caste of officialdom.
  • Kshatriya: warrior caste. ...
  • Vaisya: the commoner caste. ...
  • Sudras: represented the great bulk of the Indian population. ...
  • Untouchables: descendants of slaves or prisoners.

How many caste are there in India?

The Indian constitution, in Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 lists 1,108 castes across 25 states in its First Schedule, while the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 lists 744 tribes across 22 states in its First Schedule.

Which is the top most caste in India?

  • Sikh. ...
  • Kayasth. ...
  • Brahmin. ...
  • Banias. ...
  • Punjabi Khatri. ...
  • Sindhi. ...
  • Rajput. The Rajput group is typical of India’s ancient warrior or Kshatriya category. ...
  • Christians. Christianity is the country’s wealthiest faith.

What is meant by class system?

A class system is based on both social factors and individual achievement . A class consists of a set of people who share similar status with regard to factors like wealth, income, education, and occupation. Unlike caste systems, class systems are open. ... In a class system, occupation is not fixed at birth.

Which caste is Kshatriya category?

Kshatriya, also spelled Kshattriya or Ksatriya, second highest in ritual status of the four varnas , or social classes, of Hindu India, traditionally the military or ruling class.

Who is called as pancham varna?

He confirmed in his report that Hindus were divided into 5 varna. These days some Indian intellectuals and western intellectuals are addressing Scheduled Castes as Panchamas. They argue that Scheduled Castes are outside of the 4 varnas of the Vedic Lineage and hence they are known as Panchamas.

What does Vedas say about caste system?

The Rig Veda (10:90) says that the gods created it by sacrificing the primal Purusha. His mouth became the Brahmin, his arms, Kshatriyas, his thighs, Vaishyas, and his feet became Shudras . And outside the pale of the varna system were the Untouchables, or Dalits.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.