varnas

Varnas is a term in Hindu tradition referring to a broad division of society into four hierarchical groups based on duties and qualities (guna-dharma). The system is described in ancient texts and has historically influenced social organization in the Indian subcontinent, though its practical application has varied regionally and over time. The term varna is distinct from jati, which denotes birth-based communities within varnas.

Traditionally, the four varnas are: Brahmins (priests and scholars), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (traders, farmers, and artisans), and Shudras (servants and laborers). The Purusha Sukta in the Rigveda presents a cosmogonical origin of the four varnas. In practice, varna implied roles and duties in society, but caste-like inequalities emerged in many periods, and mobility between varnas was often limited.

Origins and evolution: scholarly opinion varies; varna likely crystallized over centuries and became more rigid in some regions. Jatis—more localized birth groups—gradually overlapped with varna. In modern India, the Constitution prohibits caste-based discrimination and provides for affirmative action to address historical inequalities; discussions of varna continue in historical and social analyses.