What is the second highest caste in Hinduism?
Kshatriya
Kshatriya, also spelled Kshattriya or Ksatriya, second highest in ritual status of the four varnas, or social classes, of Hindu India, traditionally the military or ruling class.
Which caste is second in Hindu?
Kshatriya is the second Varna within the social hierarchy. The Brahmin and the Kshatriya make up the upper castes, 20 percent of India’s population is within this category. The Kshatriya constitutes the ruling and military elite, the warriors.
What are the 4 Hindu classes?
The caste system divides Hindus into four main categories – Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and the Shudras. Many believe that the groups originated from Brahma, the Hindu God of creation.
Who is the second highest in the caste system?
Kshatriyas: Second Highest of the Four Varnas Kshatriyas, it is written, come from the arms of Purush, and they are considered to be the second highest caste in the varna system or the second social classes. Kshatriyas exercise temporal authority and power and their main occupations are warriors and rulers.
What are twice born castes?
dvija, (Sanskrit: “twice-born”) in the Hindu social system, members of the three upper varnas, or social classes—the Brahmans (priests and teachers), Kshatriyas (warriors), and Vaishyas (merchants)—whose sacrament of initiation is regarded as a second or spiritual birth.
Why are Brahmins twice born?
The meaning of the two births The second ‘birth’ occurs when one takes up fulfilling a role in society, at the time of Upanayana initiation ceremony. For example, a Brahmin is initiated into school to study and pursue Brahmopadesha (preach, counsel) in the matter of the nature of Brahman, the ultimate reality.
Why is a Brahmin called twice born?
Being “twice born” means that you come of age religiously, making you a member of the Vedic religion, eligible to learn Sanskrit, study the Vedas, and perform Vedic rituals. The “second birth” is thus like Confirmation or a Bar Mitzvah. Boys are “born again” at specific ages: 8 for Brahmins; 11 for Ks.
How is the caste system determined in Hinduism?
A caste system is a class structure that is determined by birth. In Hinduism, there are four set castes called ‘ varnas ,’ and each has its own set of rules and duties to live by, known as ‘ dharma .’ The following are the four Hindu castes:
How does the Hindu caste system affect intermarriage?
Inter-varna (inter-caste) mixing, especially intermarriage, is strongly condemned. Economically, the caste system limits the jobs a Hindu may have, since it is only suitable for a Hindu to have a job appropriate to his caste.
Why are people born in an upper caste in India?
To be born in an upper caste is a matter of pride whether the family to which a person belongs deserves it or not. A number of Indians who visit foreign countries often complain about being treated differently on account of their skin color or accent.
How does the theory of karma justify the caste system?
Justification in the theory of Karma: The concept of karma perfectly justifies the caste system based on birth. It favors the argument that people of lower castes have to blame themselves for their plight because of their bad karma in their past lives.