History

The Varna system was first mentioned in the Rigveda, a ancient Hindu text, around 1500 BCE.

The system was further developed in the Manusmriti, a ancient Hindu law book, around 200 BCE.

The Varna system was a social hierarchy that divided people into four varnas or classes:

• Brahmins (priests and teachers)
• Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers)
• Vaishyas (merchants and traders)
• Shudras (laborers and artisans)