The Caste System

Castes are social groups that people are born into which can rarely be changed. The caste system was closely linked to Hindu beliefs. To Hindus, people in different castes were of different species of beings. For example, people in higher castes, like Brahmins, were purer beings than people in lower castes. Those in higher castes were also closer to moksha. Caste rules determined every aspect of life, such as what you eat, where you live, and who your friends are. These rules were stricter for people in high castes. Caste ensured a stable social order. People believed that karma determined their social caste, so they always fulfilled the duties of their current social standing in order to move to a higher caste in their next life. The castes were all interdependent because they all relied on each other to meet basic needs. Over time, the castes and sub castes evolved, while new people immigrated into India, creating new castes. Today, thousands of major castes and sub castes exist.