Vaishya
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Vanika
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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.
Traditional duties
Hindu religious texts assigned Vaishyas to traditional roles in
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
References
- ISBN 978-0-73910-607-5.
- ISBN 978-0-393-91847-2.)
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ISBN 978-0-71008-782-9.
- ISBN 978-1-56324-265-6.
- 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
Media related to Vaishya at Wikimedia Commons- All India Vaish Federation
