Vaishya (Sanskrit: वैश्य, vaiśya) is one of the four varnas of the Hindu social order in India. Vaishyas are classed third in the order of Varna hierarchy.
The occupation of Vaishyas consists mainly of agriculture, taking care of cattle, trade and other business pursuits.
Hindu religious texts assigned Vaishyas to traditional roles in agriculture and cattle-rearing, but over time they came to be landowners, traders and money-lenders.[1] Therefore making it their responsibility to provide sustenance for those of higher class, since they were of lower class.[2] The Vaishyas, along with members of the Brahmin and Kshatriya varnas, claim dvija status ("twice born", a second or spiritual birth) after sacrament of initiation as in Hindu theology.[3] Indian traders were widely credited for the spread of Indian culture to regions as far as southeast Asia.[4]
Historically, Vaishyas have been involved in roles other than their traditional pastoralism, trade and commerce. According to historian Ram Sharan Sharma, the Gupta Empire was a Vaishya dynasty that "may have appeared as a reaction against oppressive rulers".[5]
Vaishyas are usually vegetarian due to the concept of ahimsa.[6]
^Pollard. E., Roserngerg. C., Tignor, R. L. (2015). Worlds together Worlds Apart Volume 1. New York, NY: W.W. Norton &Company, Inc. p. 142. ISBN978-0-393-91847-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Madan, Gurmukh Ram (1979). Western Sociologists on Indian Society: Marx, Spencer, Weber, Durkheim, Pareto. Taylor & Francis. p. 112. ISBN978-0-71008-782-9.
^Sharma, Ram Sharan (2003) [2001]. Early medieval Indian society: a study in feudalisation. Orient Blackswan. p. 69. ISBN978-8-12502-523-8. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
^Staples, James (2013). Civilizing Tastes: From Caste to Class in South Indian Foodways.
External linksedit
Media related to Vaishya at Wikimedia Commons
All India Vaish Federation
April 11, 2024
vaishya, sanskrit, vaiśya, four, varnas, hindu, social, order, india, classed, third, order, varna, hierarchy, occupation, consists, mainly, agriculture, taking, care, cattle, trade, other, business, pursuits, contents, traditional, duties, also, references, e. Vaishya Sanskrit व श य vaisya is one of the four varnas of the Hindu social order in India Vaishyas are classed third in the order of Varna hierarchy The occupation of Vaishyas consists mainly of agriculture taking care of cattle trade and other business pursuits Contents 1 Traditional duties 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksTraditional duties editHindu religious texts assigned Vaishyas to traditional roles in agriculture and cattle rearing but over time they came to be landowners traders and money lenders 1 Therefore making it their responsibility to provide sustenance for those of higher class since they were of lower class 2 The Vaishyas along with members of the Brahmin and Kshatriya varnas claim dvija status twice born a second or spiritual birth after sacrament of initiation as in Hindu theology 3 Indian traders were widely credited for the spread of Indian culture to regions as far as southeast Asia 4 Historically Vaishyas have been involved in roles other than their traditional pastoralism trade and commerce According to historian Ram Sharan Sharma the Gupta Empire was a Vaishya dynasty that may have appeared as a reaction against oppressive rulers 5 Vaishyas are usually vegetarian due to the concept of ahimsa 6 See also editBania caste References edit Boesche Roger 1 March 2003 The First Great Political Realist p 24 ISBN 978 0 73910 607 5 Pollard E Roserngerg C Tignor R L 2015 Worlds together Worlds Apart Volume 1 New York NY W W Norton amp Company Inc p 142 ISBN 978 0 393 91847 2 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Madan Gurmukh Ram 1979 Western Sociologists on Indian Society Marx Spencer Weber Durkheim Pareto Taylor amp Francis p 112 ISBN 978 0 71008 782 9 Embree Ainslie Thomas Gluck Carol 1 January 1997 Asia in western and world history M E Sharpe p 361 ISBN 978 1 56324 265 6 Sharma Ram Sharan 2003 2001 Early medieval Indian society a study in feudalisation Orient Blackswan p 69 ISBN 978 8 12502 523 8 Retrieved 26 January 2012 Staples James 2013 Civilizing Tastes From Caste to Class in South Indian Foodways External links edit nbsp Media related to Vaishya at Wikimedia Commons All India Vaish Federation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vaishya amp oldid 1213458297, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
