The Caste System in Hinduism

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The Caste System in Hinduism by Kenneth Shuler, PhD and Susai Anthony Share Email Print - The Caste System in Hinduism Tags No tags are currently set for this article. To add a new tag Log in or register Hindu society includes 4 castes & Untouchables Higher castes are twice-born; Shudra just once Caste determines diet, vocation & residence Going back to the Vedic hymns, there are references to four social orders, later known as castes. One hymn refers to ritual sacrifices performed on Earth by a priestly class. The hymn speaks of four social orders, and the passage emphasizes the magical-ritualistic origin of castes. Caste Development At some time after 700 B.C.E., the “modern” caste system, a system of social hierarchy, began to develop in India. In Vedic tradition, the concept of varna stratified society into four groups: Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (common people, including merchants), and Shudras (servant classes). In addition to the four classes, a fifth class, known as Untouchables, emerged. The Hindu tradition first distinguished between those who are twice born and those who aren’t. The twice born are in the highest three stages of the social hierarchy—the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas. Those not twice born are Shudras. The Brahmins made up the highest social order, the literate intelligentsia that gave India its thinkers, law makers, judges, and ministers of state. This scholarly elite has usually been associated with the priesthood. The Rajanyas, later called Kshatriyas, or rulers, and the military class, were the second highest social order. Landowners, merchants, and moneylenders, known as Vaishyas, made up the third class. Finally, the Shudras, originally those peoples conquered by the Aryans, were workers, artisans, or serfs. The concept of Untouchables was created to refer to people whom the upper classes would not even allow to be near them or to touch them. Before the caste system was solidified, there was evidence of social intercourse among classes. We now tend to associate the caste system in India with the four basic social groups—Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. However, these groups were once divided into many, many more. There were castes of metal workers, weavers, warriors, and priests. Other castes developed along ethnic or religious lines; tribal communities, as well as Muslims, Christians, and Jews, were incorporated into Hindu society as distinct caste groups. As a consequence, more than 3,000 castes emerged in Indian society.
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by Kenneth Shuler, PhD and Susai Anthony

Hindu society includes 4 castes & Untouchables
Higher castes are twice-born; Shudra just once
Caste determines diet, vocation & residence

Going back to the Vedic hymns, there are references to four social orders, later known as castes. One hymn refers to ritual sacrifices performed on Earth by a priestly class. The hymn speaks of four social orders, and the passage emphasizes the magical-ritualistic origin of castes.

Caste Development

At some time after 700 B.C.E., the “modern” caste system, a system of social hierarchy, began to develop in India. In Vedic tradition, the concept of varna stratified society into four groups: Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (common people, including merchants), and Shudras (servant classes). In addition to the four classes, a fifth class, known as Untouchables, emerged.

The Hindu tradition first distinguished between those who are twice born and those who aren’t. The twice born are in the highest three stages of the social hierarchy—the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas. Those not twice born are Shudras.

The Brahmins made up the highest social order, the literate intelligentsia that gave India its thinkers, law makers, judges, and ministers of state. This scholarly elite has usually been associated with the priesthood. The Rajanyas, later called Kshatriyas, or rulers, and the military class, were the second highest social order. Landowners, merchants, and moneylenders, known as Vaishyas, made up the third class. Finally, the Shudras, originally those peoples conquered by the Aryans, were workers, artisans, or serfs. The concept of Untouchables was created to refer to people whom the upper classes would not even allow to be near them or to touch them.

Before the caste system was solidified, there was evidence of social intercourse among classes. We now tend to associate the caste system in India with the four basic social groups—Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. However, these groups were once divided into many, many more. There were castes of metal workers, weavers, warriors, and priests. Other castes developed along ethnic or religious lines; tribal communities, as well as Muslims, Christians, and Jews, were incorporated into Hindu society as distinct caste groups. As a consequence, more than 3,000 castes emerged in Indian society.