Literally ‘Varna’ means colour and originates from the world ‘Vri’ meaning the choice of one’s occupation. Hence Varna is concerned with one’s colour or occupation. Caste or ‘Jati’ originates from the root word ‘Jana’ which implies taking birth. Thus, caste is concerned with birth .
What is meant by varna and caste system?
Varna system is the social stratification based on the Varna , caste. Four basic categories are defined under this system – Brahmins (priests, teachers, intellectuals), Kshatriyas (warriors, kings, administrators), Vaishyas (agriculturalists, traders, farmers ) and Shudras (workers, labourers, artisans).
Is Brahmin a caste or varna?
Brahmin (/ˈbrɑːmɪn/; Sanskrit: ब्राह्मण, romanized: brāhmaṇa) are a varna (class) in Hinduism. They specialised as intellectuals, priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari), teachers (acharya or guru), ayurvedic physicians and protectors of sacred learning across generations.
What does varna literally mean?
Although the literal meaning of the word varna (Sanskrit: “colour” ) once invited speculation that class distinctions were originally based on differences in degree of skin pigmentation between an alleged group of lighter-skinned invaders called “Aryans” and the darker indigenous people of ancient India, this theory has ...
What are two main differences between Varna and caste?
| Varna Caste | Varna’s are only four in number i.e. Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Sudra Castes are very large in number. Castes also have many subdivisions known as sub-castes. | It is an all-India phenomenon Presence of regional variations mostly based on linguistic differences. |
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What are the three varna system?
The Aryans organized among themselves into three groups, namely, Rajayana (later changed to Kshatriyas), Brahmins and the Vaishyas . Kshatriya was defined as kseeyate traayate iti ksatriya. These were the people who protected the society against external attacks and maintained internal order.
Which caste is higher in Brahmin?
The Brahmins are the caste from which Hindu priests are drawn, and are responsible for teaching and maintaining sacred knowledge. The other major castes, from highest to lowest, are the Kshatriya (warriors and princes), Vaisya (farmers or merchants), and Shudra (servants and sharecroppers).
Which is the highest gotra in Brahmins?
They are (1) Shandilya , (2) Gautama Maharishi, (3) Bharadwaja, (4) Vishvamitra, (5) Jamadagni, (6) Vashista, (7) Kashyapa and (8) Atri . To this list, Agastya is also sometimes added. These eight sages are called gotrakarins, from whom all 49 gotras (especially of the Brahmins) have evolved.
Is Sharma a Brahmin?
Sharma is a Brahmin Hindu surname in India and Nepal . The Sanskrit stem ṣárman- (nom. sarma) can mean ‘joyfulness’, ‘comfort’, ‘happiness’. ... According to Vabisya Purana, Sensharma or Sharma is the first Brahmin surname.
Does varna mean color?
Varna contextually means “ colour, race, tribe, species, kind, sort, nature, character, quality, property ” of an object or people in some Vedic and medieval texts. Varna refers to four social classes in the Manusmriti.
What do we call varna in English?
letter countable noun. Letters are written symbols which represent the sounds of a language. ... the letter E. varna countable noun.
What are the 4 castes in Hinduism?
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.
Who invented caste in India?
According to the social historical theory, the origin of caste system finds its origin in the arrival of Aryans in India. The Aryans arrived in India in around 1500 BC. The Aryans disregarded the local cultures.
What is caste and its features?
Castes have resulted in segmental division of the Indian society. Each caste is hereditary and different from other castes by behavioural pattern , manners of dialogue, food habits and interaction. ... The Endogamous marriages are an essential feature of the caste system. A person has to marry within one’s own caste.
What is caste system and its characteristics?
Caste as a system of stratification has been viewed in two ways. ... Ketkar defines caste as “a social group having two characteristics – (i) membership is confined to those who are born of members and includes all persons so born; (ii) the members are forbidden by an inexorable social law to marry outside the caste” .
What are the 5 castes?
- 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.
