varna - (Hinduism) the name for the original social division of Vedic people into four groups (which are subdivided into thousands of jatis)group, grouping - any number of entities (members) considered as a unit Hindooism, Hinduism - a body of religious and philosophical beliefs and cultural practices native to India and characterized by a belief in reincarnation and a supreme beingof many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and by a desire for liberation from earthly evils jati - (Hinduism) a Hindu caste or distinctive social group of which there are thousands throughout India; a special characteristic is often the exclusive occupation of its male members (such as barber or potter) brahman, brahmin - the highest of the four varnas: the priestly or sacerdotal category rajanya - the second highest of the four varnas: the noble or warrior category vaisya - the third of the four varnas: the commoners or yeoman farmers or mercantile and professional category shudra, sudra - the lowest of the four varnas: the servants and workers of low status |