Social classes in Hinduism, including Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaisya, and Sudra
Caste in its original conception was not a hereditary status, but a classification based on man's natural capacities. In his evolution, man passes through four distinct grades, designated by ancient Hindu sages as Sudra, Vaisya, Kshatriya, and Brahmin. The Sudra is interested primarily in satisfying his bodily needs and desires; the work thatbest suits his state of development is bodily labor. The Vaidya is ambitious for worldly gain as well as for satisfaction of the senses; he has more creative ability than the Sudra and seeks occupation as a farmer, a businessman, an artist, or wherever his mental energy finds fulfillment. The Kshatriya, having through many lives fulfilled the desires of the Sudra and Vaisya states, begins to seek the meaning of life; he tries to overcome his bad havits, to control his senses, and to do what is right. Kshatriyas by occupation are noble rulers, statesmen, and warriors. The Brahmin has overcome his lower nature, has a natural affinity for spiritual pursuits, and is God-knowing, able therefore to teach and help liberate others.
Social group occupying a specific position in a society's hierarchy. Castes are usually specialized in a specific - often hereditary - activity, with certain privileges and responsibilities.
a distinct body form among social insects, including workers, soldiers, a reproductive queen and reproductive males
The word Caste is derived from the Portuguese word casta, meaning lineage, breed or race. The term "caste", when used in human culture, is usually in conjunction with the social division in Hindu society, particularly in India. This term is also used in entomology to describe social insects species who have a specific sub-type of which is specialised in a certain task. For example, social insects like ants, bees and termites have caste divisions of queen (specialization in reproduction) and worker (specialization in food gathering)......
The western term for varna. Castes provide the major divisions of Hindu society.
the various groups of matured individuals among social insects whose morphology or behaviour allows them to perform specialised labour within the colony. Workers, soldiers and reproductive queens are examples of castes.
social status or position conferred by a system based on class; "lose caste by doing work beneath one's station"
(Hinduism) a hereditary social class among Hindus; stratified according to ritual purity
a social class separated from others by distinctions of hereditary rank or profession or wealth
a hereditary group whose members intermarry only among themselves
Hereditary classes in Hindu society.
social class system determined by birth
the Hindu belief that people are born into different social groups
a distinct type of body form within a colony of social insects e.g. soldier, worker, queen.
a group status position in society stratified by ascription
There are about 3000 castes in India marked by a set of socio-cultural characteristics. Usually caste implies a collection of families or groups of families bearing a common name, having a common descent (human or divine), and following what they think is their hereditary calling. These groups are also divided into sub-groups. The caste system perhaps maintains its strength in Indian society by conditioning the consciousness of the lower castes (those below Brahmin) in accepting their inferior status in the ritual hierarchy as a part of the natural order.
a social category in which membership is fixed at birth and usually unchangeable.
An ancient Indian system of social hierarchy, now much in decline, that held that social status was inherited and could not be changed. The term is more broadly used to indicate a class of people who cannot move up the social hierarchy.
Hindu hereditary class with prehistoric roots; the principal castes are the Brahmin (priestly), the Kshatriya (warrior), Vaisha (trader) and Sudra (farmers and artisans). The untouchables are outside the caste system. Each caste is split into countless sub-castes. Members of the same caste are socially equal, share the same religion and have little or no intercourse with members of other castes.
n. The division of society on artificial grounds.
Clan society is rigidly divided into five castes: warrior, scientist, merchant, technician, and laborer. Each caste has many subcastes, which are based on specialties within a professional field. The warrior caste is based on a systematic eugenics program that uses the genes of prestigious, successful current and past warriors to produce new members of the caste (see Sibko). These products of genetic engineering are known as trueborns. Other castes maintain a quality gene pool by strategic marriages within each caste.
A ranked, birth-ascribed group which determines social standing and occupation, based on the tenets of Hindu philosophy. For Sikhs, caste has no religious or social significance.
A term applied to the social groups in India which rank in a hierarchical order. The four primary castes--from highest to lowest--are: Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (peasants), and Sudras (unskilled laborers).
A special form of social class in which membership is determined by birth and remains fixed for life.
The Hindu system of rigid hereditary social classes, especially in India. There are four castes: Brahmins, Ksatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras, plus the out-castes or Dalits, who are not part of the caste system. Within each caste, there are many sub-castes or "Jati" See also: Brahmin, Dalit, Jati, Kshatriya, Outcaste, Sub-caste, Sudra, Vaishya, Varna
Individual organisms in a social organization that have specialized functions. Castes may be temporal meaning that as the organism ages it takes on different sets of tasks within its group. Castes may also be based on morphology as in ants, bees and wasps where some species have highly specialized workers.
the systemic delineation of social class in Indian society. It consists fundamentally of four levels: seers (priests, teachers), administrators (military leaders, business owners), producers (skilled craftspersons), and servants (unskilled laborers). Historically, there have and do exist subcasts below even the lowest of these. It is difficult if not impossible to reconcile this social reality with a political system in which all citizens supposedly have basic constitutional rights accorded to them. From a religious standpoint, caste is irrevocably tied to Karma. Recent efforts at social/religious reform are, as yet, ineffective and have in some cases resulted in violence between castes.
Caste systems are traditional, hereditary systems of social stratification, enforced by law or common practice, based on classifications such as occupation, race, ethnicity, etc.