Ancient Indian Caste System
By Hailey Hunter, Nathan Frimel, Anna DiSanto, Ryan McClure
Brahmans
The Brahmans were the highest possible spot in the caste system. They were made up of priests and other well respected jobs in the Indian community. Most Brahman castes were made up of strictly vegetarians. The northern Brahmans consist of the Sarasvati, Gauda, Maithil, and Utkal. The southern group consists of the Maharashtra, Andhra, Dravida, Karnata, and Malabar.
Brahmans
The Brahmans were the highest possible spot in the caste system. They were made up of priests and other well respected jobs in the Indian community. Most Brahman castes were made up of strictly vegetarians. The northern Brahmans consist of the Sarasvati, Gauda, Maithil, and Utkal. The southern group consists of the Maharashtra, Andhra, Dravida, Karnata, and Malabar.
Vaisyas
The Vaisyas were the in middle of the caste system being third in command. In the Vaisya caste, the people were described in the Laws of Manu. They are interpreted as people that tend to cattle, give gifts, and masters of trade. This group are known for being merchants and traveling long distances on the Silk Road for trade. The Vaisyas can be described as the middle class, the working class focusing on specific specialties; bakers sheepherders, farmers, metal craftsmen, and businessmen. According to the Bhagavad Gita, an epic from ancient India, states that society couldn’t survive without the Vaisyas. Life in this class wouldn’t be as bad as some of the other classes. Being a Vaisya meant that you could reincarnate, unlike the Shudras and the Untouchables. You would work hard for a living and sometimes travel long distances for your work if you specialized in trade. Although not on the top of the totem pole, all in all, the Vaisyas were treated mostly with respect.
Untouchables
The untouchable were the first level in the caste system. They were very unclean and were very poor. If they try to move up the caste system they were beaten and had their belongings burned by other people higher up in the caste system. They are called the untouchables because legally nobody higher up was allowed to touch them. In restaurants (if they could afford it) they had to use separate utensils and separate places to eat. In extreme but not uncommon they were raped, burned, lynched, and gunned down. The untouchables always do the dirty work and lived in the most disgusting part of town. The untouchables were the most unclean unkempt people that live(d) in India. The caste system is still active in India today.