Vaishya
Encyclopedia
Vaishya is one of the four varnas of the Hindu
social order. According to Vedic tradition
, this caste primarily comprises merchants, farmers, cattle-herders and artisans.
ideologies in India.
The Vaisyas, along with the Kshatriyas, claim to be of the 'twice born' (dvija) castes of the classical theory. Historically, Vaisyas have played a much larger role in Indian affairs apart from trade and commerce. Indian traders were widely credited for the spread of Indian culture to regions as far as southeast Asia
.
s, notably the Agrawal
s, the Kasuadhan
s, the Patwa, the Khandelwal
s, the Mathurs
, the Oswal
s, Arora
s, Rastogis, Lohana
s, the Khatri
s and the Maheshwari
s of the north; the Arya Vaishyas of the south, the Vaishya Vani
s of Konkan and Goa and the Ambani
s, Sarabhai
s, Beesa Neema, Dasa Neema, Dasore, Parekhs and Patidar
s of the west. Some jātis are of mixed heritage. For example, according to legend, the Agrawals trace their origin to the Suryavansha
who later adopted Vaishya traditions. Khandelwals and Barnwals are similarly from Kshatriya background and their adoption of Vaishya Dharma is of relatively recent origins, probably no more than a thousand years.
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
social order. According to Vedic tradition
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
, this caste primarily comprises merchants, farmers, cattle-herders and artisans.
Duties of Vaishyas
According to the Hindu texts, the duties of a Vaishya, as described, are or (growing food grains), or (cow protection), (trade), (work) and (born of his own nature). The Vaisyas eventually became land-owners, money-lenders and influential traders and are often credited for the evolution of capitalistCapitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
ideologies in India.
The Vaisyas, along with the Kshatriyas, claim to be of the 'twice born' (dvija) castes of the classical theory. Historically, Vaisyas have played a much larger role in Indian affairs apart from trade and commerce. Indian traders were widely credited for the spread of Indian culture to regions as far as southeast Asia
Greater India
Greater India is a term that refers to the historical spread of the culture of India beyond the Indian subcontinent...
.
Modern Communities
The Vaisya community consist of several jātiJati
Jāti is the term used to denote clans, tribes, communities and sub-communities in India. It is a term used across religions. In Indian society each jāti typically has an association with a traditional job function or tribe, although religious beliefs Jāti (in Devanagari: जाति Tamil:சாதி) (the...
s, notably the Agrawal
Agrawal
Agrawal or Agarwal is a large and influential community in India. Agrawals are Kshatriya by birth of the Solar Dynasty but after the adoption of Vanika dharma by king Agrasena, Agrawals started dealing in business...
s, the Kasuadhan
Kasuadhan
The Kasaudhan are a Hindu caste found in the states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in India. There Gotra is Kashyap made after rishi Kashyapa, hence they use surname as 'Kashyap' or 'Kasaudhan' or 'Gupta' ....
s, the Patwa, the Khandelwal
Khandelwal Vaishya
Khandelwal Vaishya is a Vaishnava community originally from Khandela, a historical town in northern Rajasthan. The Khandelwal Vaishya community can be further subdivided into 72 gotras...
s, the Mathurs
Mathur Vaishya
MathurVaishya , is a sub-caste of Vaishya, a Hindu caste. They are also referred as Mathuria .-Origins:According to the Hindu theology, Lord Brahma, the Creator, created the four Varnas. Also as per the oldest mention of the varna system in the Purusha sukta of Rigveda 10.90.12, "... his two thighs...
, the Oswal
Oswal
The Oswal are a social group of people from the Indian States of Rajasthan and Punjab. Oswals are primarily adherents of Svetambara Jainism, but a few are Digambaras and some are Hindu adherents of Vaishnavism....
s, Arora
Arora
Arora is an Indo-Aryan community of the Punjab region. Commentators differ in their opinions regarding the relationship between the Arora and the Khatri community....
s, Rastogis, Lohana
Lohana
The Lohana also referred to as Luvana are an Indian caste,largely classified as merchants and are categorized as Vaishya or Bania caste although their ancient history proves that they are Kshatriya of Suryavanshi descant, claiming their lineage from Lava, son of Rama...
s, the Khatri
Khatri
Khatri is a caste from the northern Indian subcontinent. Khatris in India are mostly from Punjab, region but later they migrated to regions like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu, Uttarkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber...
s and the Maheshwari
Maheshwari
Maheshwari are a business community of Vaishnava, originating from Khandela, Rajasthan in western India. They are a sub-group within the Marwaris community. The community is found throughout North India.- History & Origin :...
s of the north; the Arya Vaishyas of the south, the Vaishya Vani
Vaishya Vani
Vaishya Vani, is a trader/merchant community hailing from the western coast of India, residing in the Konkan division of Maharashtra, Goa,some parts of coastal and central Karnataka, and Kerala. This community commonly known as Vanis and sometimes Kudali Vanis...
s of Konkan and Goa and the Ambani
Ambani
Ambani is a surname in IndiaThe people of that surname are originated from the small village Chorwad in Saurastra in Gujarat.- Billionaires :* Dhirubhai Ambani, an Indian businessman and founder of Reliance Industries in Mumbai...
s, Sarabhai
Sarabhai family
The Sarabhai family has been a major business family of India belonging to the Shrimal Jain community. Members include*Ambalal Sarabhai was in the 1940s and 1950s, the owner of the Sarabhai Textile Mills in Ahmedabad - at the time one of India's largest textile companies.*Anasuyaben , Gandhian...
s, Beesa Neema, Dasa Neema, Dasore, Parekhs and Patidar
Patidar
The Patidar are a Hindu ethnic group found primarily in the state of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh in India.Patidars are also known as Patel, a common surname with in the community.D. F...
s of the west. Some jātis are of mixed heritage. For example, according to legend, the Agrawals trace their origin to the Suryavansha
Suryavansha
The Sooryavamsham or Suryavansh or Suryavamsa or Sun Dynasty or Solar Dynasty was one of the most prominent dynasties in the mythical history of India, along with the "Chandra-vaṃśa" or Lunar Dynasty.-Introduction:...
who later adopted Vaishya traditions. Khandelwals and Barnwals are similarly from Kshatriya background and their adoption of Vaishya Dharma is of relatively recent origins, probably no more than a thousand years.
See also
- Varna (Hinduism)
- PatelPatelPatel is a surname of Indian origin, originally meaning "headman" or"village chief". Patels are socially, economically and politically the most dominant caste in Gujarat Patels are basically Kurmis or Kunbis and are found in various geographical locations. The Kunbi are an Indian subcaste...
- TeliTeliTeli is a business caste of oil pressers in India and Pakistan. Members may be either Hindu or Muslim; Muslim Teli are called Roshandaar or Teli Malik....
- BaniaBaniaBania may refer to:* Bania or Vanika, a trader or merchant belonging to the Indian business class** Punjabi Banias* Bănia, a commune in Caraş-Severin County, Romania* Bănia River, a tributary of the Nera River in Romania...
- ChettiarChettiarChettiar , also spelled Chetty, is a title used by various castes in South India especially in Tamil Nadu. In Kannada, it appears as Setty, Shettar and Shettigar, who are Padmashalis in Andhra Pradesh....
- MoothanMoothanMoothans are a community in Palakkad district of Kerala state who primarily engage in trade. The majority of the community is spread in the Moothanthara region of Palakkad town. Moothans are known in Palakkad under caste names like Moothan and its sub-castes like Guptan and similar castes like...
- GuptanGuptanGuptan is a Hindu caste from the Palakkad district of Kerala, South India. The majority of the Guptans are in Valluvanad, with major agglomerations around Vayillyamkunnu, Katambazhippuram, Sreekrishnapuram, Chethallur and Mannarkkad...
- TharakanTharakanTharakan is a Hindu forward caste from Palakkad region of Kerala state. Tharakan community is mainly found at Chittur, Koduvayur,Kollengode,Mangode,Karippode and Thiruvazhiyode.-Etymology:...
External links
- http://www.indianchild.com/caste_system_india.htm
- http://www.kvvs.org/
- http://www.moothan.com/