What are the 4 Varna categories?

The varnas have been known since a hymn in the Rigveda (the oldest surviving Indian text) that portrays the Brahman (priest), the Kshatriya (noble), the Vaishya (commoner), and the Shudra (servant) issued forth at creation from the mouth, arms, thighs, and feet of the primeval person (purusha).

What are Vaishyas known for?

Vaishya (Sanskrit: वैश्य, vaiśya) is one of the four varnas of the Hindu social order in India and Nepal. Vaishyas are classed third in the order of caste hierarchy. The occupation of Vaishyas consists mainly of agriculture, taking care of cattle, trade and other business pursuits.

What was the difference between vaisyas and Sudras?

The duty of the Vaishyas is sacrifice, giving gifts, agriculture, breeding, and trade. However, later the Sudras take over agriculture and breeding and the Vaishyas become traders, merchants, landowners, and money-lenders. They became strong economically because of their close relation to commerce.

What is Varna Vyavastha in sociology?

To him it means simply the division of Hindu society into four groups, viz., Brahmana, (Brahmin, traditionally priest and scholar), Kshatriya (ruler and soldier), Vaishya (merchant) and Shudra (Peasant, labourer and servant).

Which Mandala explains 4 varnas?

The tenth mandala, which was added later to the Rig-Veda, contains the famous Purushasukta which explains that the four Varnas (Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra) were born from the mouth, arms, thighs and feet of the primeval being Brahma (Purusa).

Who introduced Varna system?

Ādi purāṇa, an 8th-century text of Jainism by Jinasena, is the earliest mention of Varna and Jati in Jainism literature.

Who are vaishya people?

The Vaishyas were commoners, not servile groups. Their role lay in productive labour, in agricultural and pastoral tasks, and in trading. Their way of life demanded study, sacrifice, and the giving of alms.

How many types of vaishya are there?

Vaishyas divided into 7 groups: Bohra, Bania, Agrawal, Oswal. These groups usually do not intermarry. The Banias are very good to their own caste, and when a man is ruined will have a general subscription and provide funds to enable him to start afresh in a small way. Beggars are very rare in this caste.

Who was known as Vaishyas?

commoners
The Vaishyas were commoners, not servile groups. Their role lay in productive labour, in agricultural and pastoral tasks, and in trading. Their way of life demanded study, sacrifice, and the giving of alms.

What are the bases of varna Vyavastha?

Agriculture, cattle rearing and trade are the duties of the Vaish, born of their own nature and action consisting of service is the duty of the Shudras, born of their own nature. This division of the society in four main groups on the basis of nat- ural instinct was called Varna-Vyavastha (Goenka, 1996).

Who wrote 1st mandala of Rigveda?

Publications. The editio princeps of the book is due to Friedrich August Rosen, published posthumously in 1838. It was the earliest edition of a Rigvedic Mandala, predating Max Müller’s edition of the entire Rigveda by more than 50 years.