what are varnas
Vará¹a is a Sanskrit word which means type, order, colour or class. The term refers to social classes in Brahminical books like the Manusmriti. These and other Hindu literature classified the society in principle into four varnas: Brahmins: priests, scholars and teachers. Kshatriyas: rulers, warriors and administrators. Vaishyas: agriculturalists and merchants. Shudras: laborers and service providers. Communities which belong to one of the four varnas or classes are called savarna. In the ...