Let us get some prior insight into class, caste, and hierarchy in India. Explaining Caste in Indian Society question the system of caste hierarchy or its ideolom'. The term caste is derived from the Portuguese casta, meaning “race, lineage, breed” and there is no exact translation in Indian or any Sanskrit derived languages to this word but varna and jati are the two most proximate terms. Thus, it becomes very important to understand its origin. The brahman, or priestly, caste represents society's head; the kshatriya, or warrior, caste are its arms; the vaishya caste—traders and landowners—are the legs; and the sudra caste—the servants of the other three—are the feet. The phenomenon of caste conflict and struggle for power makes quite clear that castes operate in the villages as separate groups, independent of an all-encompassing caste hierarchy. They called it Dasa Varna — Dasa people. But as per the time passed it got lost its basis and became a social hierarchy, initially it was based on their works not by birth but later on it turned out to a varna system to caste system. The caste system is one of the unique features in Indian Society. Caste system or Varna system is an ancient classification of Hindus for the society in order to distinguish among one's qualities and functions. The word means "color, tint, dye or pigment" in the Mahabharata. For understanding hierarch process we will take an example of India in which there were four varnas in which Brahmins hold the superior position and Shudras had the lowest position among everyone. Caste and Class Fig. It was ... communities and that of the Hindu caste hierarchy. Caste and Varna are to be understood with relationship of hierarchy and power. India is known to be a diverse country and is among the vibrant country whose roots can be traced down back to thousands of years. According to this theory, the caste system is of divine origin. The varna Varna is a fundamental concept underlying the Hindu society. First, caste refers to jati, not varna. This metaphor stresses the idea of hierarchy as well as that of interdependence. The Sanskrit term varna is derived from the root vṛ, meaning "to cover, to envelop, count, classify consider, describe or choose" (compare vṛtra).. The term is derived from the Sanskrit jāta, “born” or “brought into existence,” and indicates a form of existence determined by birth. 3 It has been pointed out by others that caste hierarchy is not a fixed hierarchy; rather it is context-specific and fluid and contains seeds of contestation among various castes. Jati and Varna are classifications of the traditional Indian Society. Next are the Kshatriyas, or political rulers and soldiers. These ideas were socially translated into a hierarchical order, structured around the notions of purity and pollution. Sociologically, jati In urban India today, caste in its varna sense is considered an infliction of the past, or at worst an archaic practice in the underdeveloped hinterlands. In Hinduism, the Varna System was based on class, colour, guna and yoga. This issue also has its ramifications for non-Hindu communities, such as Muslims, Christians and Sikhs, which are large in size and do not have Dharma-karma . The Brahmans, usually priests and scholars, are at the top. Racial theory (Varna) According to Mazumdar Caste system originated after the arrival of Aryans in India. The word appears in the Rigveda, where it means "colour, outward appearance, exterior, form, figure or shape". The Nepalese caste system was the traditional system of social stratification of Nepal.The Nepalese caste system broadly borrows the classical Hindu Chaturvarnashram model consisting of four broad social classes or varna: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Sudra.. Etymology and origins. 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