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| Different castes |
What exactly is the caste system. In the past the castes were many. Today the main castes are 4: Brahmins, Kshatriyans, Vaishyas, Shudras.
Brahmins – this is the highest caste. These people can be scholars, priests, philosophers.
Kshatriyans – or the second highest caste. This people can be warriors, rulers and can organize the defence of the village. They can also be a part of the administration of the state or the village.
Vishyas – second before last are merchants, traders and farmers.
Shudras – the lowest caste. These people had to help the other castes. They were servants of the higher castes.
Except these four castes there is one more named Untouchables. These people were lower even than Shudras. They were considered contagious. That's why nobody wanted even to touch them. They could only trade with dead bodies and to clean toilets. If someone touched one of them he would need to perform some cleaning rituals.
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| caste system |
According to religion the first man Purush destroyed himself and from his parts the people from different castes were created. And exactly because the people were created to be in a specific and determined caste they can do nothing in their life to become members of other, higher caste. They could only live a “proper” life and eventually, in their next life, they could reincarnate in a human of a higher caste. The social historical explanation sounds much more realistic. It says that when the Aryans came to Indian subcontinent they established rules which allowed only to them to perform particular jobs and activities.
The system determined the life in India for more than 2000 years. Today the castes or Varnas as the Indian are calling them are not allowed. Although that, much of the politicians are making their campaigns on a caste basis.
