Which sources tell us about four varnas
Answers
Answer:
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)
Explanation:
Varna is a sanskrit word with several meanings including type, order, colour, or class, was used to refer to social classes in Hindu texts like the Manusmriti. These and other Hindu texts classified the society in principle into four varnas :- Shudras :- laborers and service providers.
The four types of Varnas are following :-
Shudras (Artisans and Workers)
Vaishyas (Farmers, Merchants, and Business People)
Kshatriyas (Warriors, Police, and Administrators)
Brahmanas (Priests, Teachers, and Intellectuals)
★ Varna system is the social stratification based on the Varna, caste. Four basic categories are defined under this system - Brahmins (priests, teachers, intellectuals), Kshatriyas (warriors, kings, administrators), Vaishyas (agriculturalists, traders, farmers ) and Shudras (workers, labourers, artisans).
★ Classification of Varnas was not followed in all the part of the Indian sub-continent,especially in the areas as north east where priests were not very influential.
Answer:
Varna literally means color, hue or complexion. It has other meanings such as a class of men, tribe, race, species, a word or syllable, outward appearance, form, figure, a cloak or mantle and the arrangement of the subject in a song. In other words, varna primarily refers to the physical appearance of things or people and their categorization based upon the common characteristics they share. Varnakrama refers to the order of castes or the alphabetical arrangement of letters. Varna dharma refers to the duties of each Varna.
The Varna hierarchy was hence, determined by the descending order of the different organs from which the Varnas were created. ... According to the ancient text of Bhagavad Gita, the varna system was not considered to be hereditary and was assigned on the basis of karma.
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).