What Does caste mean in Hindu?

What Does caste mean in Hindu?

Definition of caste 1 : one of the hereditary social classes in Hinduism that restrict the occupation of their members and their association with the members of other castes. 2a : a division of society based on differences of wealth, inherited rank or privilege, profession, occupation, or race.

What is called caste?

Caste is a form of social stratification characterised by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultural notions of purity and pollution.

What are the different Hindu castes?

The traditional caste system consists of a hierarchy of four castes (varnas): Brahmins (priests and teachers), Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors), Vaishyas (merchants and cultivators), and Shudras (servants). The non-Aryans who were incorporated into the Aryan society belonged to the Shudra caste.

What are the types of caste?

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 the 4 main castes?

Dating back more than 3,000 years, the caste system divides Hindus into four main categories – Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and the Shudras based on who they were in their past life, their karma, and what family line they come from.

How many castes are there?

State-wise number of Castes notified as Scheduled Castes (as on 23.09. 2008)

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

How is caste different from Varna?

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 caste in religion?

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. The main castes were further divided into about 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes, each based on their specific occupation.

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