Question

B. Answer the following questions in one word/sentence.
1. What do you mean by Varnas ?
2. What was the position of the Brahmins in the society ?
3. Mention the social status of the Shudras. 4. When did the Varna system become rigid and hereditary?​

Answer 1

Answer:

1. Varna contextually means "colour, race, tribe, species, kind, sort, nature, character, quality, property" of an object or people in some Vedic and medieval texts. Varna refers to four social classes in the Manusmriti.
2. The Brahmins held the most power in Hindu society , they were priests, otherwise known as the spiritual and intellectual leaders of the society. “They devoted their time to studying, teaching, performing sacrifices, and officiating religious services” (Nigosian 136).
3. Theoretically, Shudras have constituted the hereditary labouring class serving others. In some cases, they participated in the coronation of kings, or were ministers and kings according to early Indian texts.