varna
Fourfold social division
Varna is the Hindu system of four social classes: Brahmin (priests and scholars), Kshatriya (warriors and rulers), Vaishya (merchants and farmers), and Shudra (laborers and servants).
The system is often conflated with caste, though varna refers to the broader theoretical categories while caste (jati) describes the thousands of specific hereditary groups within Indian society.
The ancient texts describe varna as determined by one's qualities and actions, not birth.
Color's specific character
- pigmentColor-imparting material
- shadeDarkness from blocked light
- tintFaint color addition
- SanskritAncient Indo-Aryan language
chroma · spectrum · classification · category · appearance · complexion · luster · brilliance
Oppressed caste group member
- DharmaBuddha's collected teachings
- VedasHindu canonical texts
- Bhagavad GitaHindu philosophical dialogue
- karmaSpiritual cause and effect
hierarchy · stratification · purity · occupation · birthright · endogamy · social mobility · reservation
hue
Color's specific character
Sanskrit · chroma · spectrum · classification · category · appearance · complexion · luster · brilliance · quality
Dalit
Oppressed caste group member
- DharmaBuddha's collected teachings
- VedasHindu canonical texts
- Bhagavad GitaHindu philosophical dialogue
karma · hierarchy · stratification · purity · occupation · birthright · endogamy · social mobility · reservation · discrimination
Bulgaria
Southeastern European nation
beach · Thracian · Byzantine · Ottoman · cathedral · archaeology · maritime
- Dharmic Traditionsdharma, karma, moksha, samsara, atman
- HinduismVishnu, Shiva, Krishna, Ganesh, Ganesha
- Indian Societycaste, Dalit, untouchability, caste system, social hierarchy
- Ancient IndiaIndus Valley, Vedas, Sanskrit, Upanishads, Mahabharata
- Hindu conceptsmoksha, karma, atman, dharma, karma yoga
- Sanskrit WordsSanskrit, Veda, asana, Vedas, Vedic
varnameritocracy
Advancement through demonstrated ability
merit-based system · social mobility · open society · credentialism · equal opportunity
varnaegalitarianism
Philosophy of universal equality
classless society · human equality · social equality · egalitarian society · communism
varnaopen society
Society permitting free inquiry
classless society · class mobility · rags-to-riches · upward mobility · democratic society