How many kshatriya in india

The Indian Caste System: Explained. August 26, The Origin of the Caste System Maybe you learned what the caste system is in world history class in school. These people often hold the job of priest or teacher. Kshatriyas: The second caste. Waishyas: The third caste. These people often hold the job of farmer, trader, or merchant.

Men of the first three hierarchical castes are called the twice-born; first, born of their parents, and second, of their guru after the sacred thread initiation they wear over their shoulders.

The Varna system is seemingly embryonic in the Vedas, later elaborated and amended in the Upanishads and Dharma Shastras. Brahmins were revered as an incarnation of knowledge itself, endowed with the precepts and sermons to be discharged to all Varnas of society.

They were not just revered because of their Brahmin birth but also their renunciation of worldly life and cultivation of divine qualities, assumed to be always engrossed in the contemplation of Brahman, hence called Brahmins. Priests, gurus, rishis, teachers, and scholars constituted the Brahmin community. They would always live through the Brahmacharya celibacy vow ordained for them. Even married Brahmins were called Brahmachari celibate by virtue of having intercourse only for reproducing and remaining mentally detached from the act.

Brahmins were the foremost choice as tutors for the newborn because they represent the link between sublime knowledge of the gods and the four Varnas. This way, since the ancestral wisdom is sustained through guru-disciple practice, all citizens born in each Varna would remain rooted to the requirements of their lives.

Normally, Brahmins were the personification of contentment and dispellers of ignorance, leading all seekers to the zenith of supreme knowledge, however, under exceptions; they lived as warriors, traders, or agriculturists in severe adversity.

All Brahmin men were allowed to marry women of the first three Varnas, whereas marrying a Shudra woman would, marginally, bereft the Brahmin of his priestly status. Nevertheless, a Shudra woman would not be rejected if the Brahmin consented. Brahmin women, contrary to the popular belief of their subordination to their husbands, were, in fact, more revered for their chastity and treated with unequalled respect.

As per Manu Smriti, a Brahmin woman must only marry a Brahmin and no other, but she remains free to choose the man. She, under rare circumstances, is allowed to marry a Kshatriya or a Vaishya, but marrying a Shudra man is restricted. The restrictions in inter-caste marriages are to avoid subsequent impurity of progeny born of the matches.

A man of a particular caste marrying a woman of a higher caste is considered an imperfect match, culminating in ignoble offspring. Skip to main content Try our corporate solution for free! Single Accounts Corporate Solutions Universities. Premium statistics. Read more. The population of India is divided into several groups based on social, educational, and financial statuses. The formation of these groups is a result of the historical social structure of the country.

On the other hand, Schedule Tribes formed less than ten percent of the population. India suffers from extreme social and economic inequality. As of , the combined share of Schedule Tribe and Schedule Caste in the affluent population of India was less than 30 percent. Contrary to this, economically and socially stronger groups constituted the major part of the affluent population.

Hence, indicating a strong relationship between caste and prosperity. However, the need for reservation has increased with time, making the whole situation even more complicated. People are divided over the existence of a system that provides preference to certain castes or sects. In a survey conducted in about providing employment reservation to young adults of Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe, many people expressed opposition. More than 40 percent of opposition came from upper Hindu caste.

Minimum opposition was observed from the people belonging to Schedule Tribe and Schedule Caste. You need a Single Account for unlimited access.

Full access to 1m statistics Incl. Single Account. The caste system is a way of dividing society into hereditary classes.

Transformed by Indian history over the centuries, especially by the Mughal Empire and the British Raj as a means of social control, India's caste system consists of two different concepts: varna and jati. Varna is an ancient division with origin in the Vedas the oldest texts of Hinduism. The caste system was called the varna system in Vedic society c. The purpose of the varna system was to distribute responsibilities among the people.

The four social classes in the Varna system are:. Each varna covers certain aspects in the society, if all the four varnas prosper in their respective functions, society is healthy, prosperous, strong, and free. Jati is from a Sanskrit root jaha meaning to be born. A jati describes a group or community that has generic hereditary characteristics and requires endogamy marriage within the same group.

To maintain the purity of the varnas and establish eternal order, each jati had its customs and rituals. There are only four varnas, but each varna contains many jatis. There are more than 3, jatis and these different jatis all fall under one of the four basic varnas. According to the Rig Veda, the first man Purush used his body to create a human society: Brahmins came from Purush's head, Kshatriyas came from Purush's arms, Vaishyas from his thighs, and Shudras from Purush's feet.

These were considered the ultimate uncivilized occupations and so were not given a jati. In Hindu scripture, Brahmin originated from the head of Purush , so they are at the top of the varna hierarchy. Brahmin consist of priests and teachers.

They have the privilege of interpreting religious scriptures and sacrificing to gods, the right to enjoy religious dedication, and the best education.

They were in charge of the teaching of cultural education and reporting on agricultural seasons and the interpretation of religious discourse.

They also had key positions in science, business, and government. Although Brahmins have many privileges, many activities are forbidden to Brahmins, including making weapons, butchering animals, making or selling poisons, trapping wildlife, and other jobs associated with death. Brahmins live with strict austerity and voluntary poverty. They are very strict vegetarians and conform to many other Hindu beliefs.

For Brahmin women, chastity gets unequaled respect, Brahmin women usually only marry a Brahmin as inter-caste marriages are considered an imperfect match , culminating in ignoble offspring. But under some conditions, Kshatriya or Vaishya are allowed to marry a Brahmin. Shudra men are prohibited. They are mainly distributed in the northern states of India like Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, with a lesser number in the southern states including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala.