What is Jati and Varna? Explain differences among them.
- ‘Varna’ is a division of society based on occupation while ‘Jati’ is a division that was not restricted to only caste or ‘varna’ system. It is a division based on birth units of Hindu society.
- There are only four varnas but there are thousand of jatis. In fact, whenever Brahmanical authorities encountered new groups like the ’ forest dwellers’, they classified them as a jati.
- ‘Varna’ is an ancient division with origin in the Vedas. ‘Jati’ is of a later origin.