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Caste meaning Varna or color originated in Vedic period. Through this distinction Aryans claimed supremacy over the conquered (Dasas and Panis). It is a Portuguese word meaning clan. Aryans settled between the Indus and Gangetic regions around 1,000 B.C.; they mastered the art of cultivation with it emerged greater division of labor and hence need for different occupations.Once the Aryans settled as agriculturists the Aryan society developed into grouping what is known as the four-fold caste system. Those who were fighting were known as Kshatriyas; those cultivating were known as Sudra; the priestly community elevated themselves to the status of Brahmins. Significantly, with the beginning of cultivation by the Aryans the earlier word "gavasthi" meaning search for cows came to mean 'to fight', because fights between the various tribes of Aryans for fertile land and herds of cattle were common. Soon, by 600 B.C. a new grouping emerged in the Aryan community, a group of people dealing with trade and commerce. This led to emergence of new class Vaishyas, the Sudra community moved up to form this new grouping, while the non-Aryans and mixed-Aryan became Sudras. The concept of pollution also figured during this time as those who undertook unclean occupations like cleaning of carcasses, fishing and other occupations came into existence.
From sixth century B.C. onwards the historical evidence reveal that the Sudras were primarily drawn from non-Aryans and mixed-Aryans. Ashoka enslaved one and-half lakh people after the Kalinga war and brought them to the Gangetic region to cut forests and cultivate land. The Mauryan Empire saw the establishment of caste system based on occupation. This period also saw Brahmanism growing obscurantist as well as repulsive because of its rituals and sacrifices. The Aryan rituals and festivals became more pronounced marked by elaborate ceremonies by the priestly class. Historical evidence shows that it was during the Aryan stay in the Saraswati region that the legend of Manu was created that all kings were adjudged as descendants of the ninth Manu, while Brahma created the first Manu. Here again Priestly class tried to assume power so that they were not neglected.
The emergence of 61 schools of religious thought saw two, Buddhism and Jainism surviving the Brahmanism. Confronted by these new faiths, Brahmanism lost ground. Vaishyas became Buddhist and Jainis since they were not accorded a respectable status in Aryan society. Royalty too patronized these new heterodox sects which tried to simplify life for the common people - Bimbisara, Chandragupta Maurya (probably a Jain) and Ashoka became Buddhist. The subsequent period see the emergence of more rigid form of caste system in which more communities were added as subjatis.The observations of Fahien in the fifth century A.D. clearly show that untouchability was institutionalized.
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