Vaishya

In the traditional Hindu social theory of
the four major social groups (varnas),
the vaishyas were the third group—less
influential than the brahmins and
kshatriyas, but with greater status than
the shudras. In this model of society,
the vaishyas’ social function was economic activity, to provide the material
basis for social life. This image is
reflected in the creation story known as
the Purusha Sukta, in which the
vaishyas are described as being created
from the Primeval Man’s (purusha’s)
thighs—a standard euphemism for the
genitals, and thus the most direct connection with fruition and procreation.
In fact, the jatis (endogamous social
subgroups, often determined by hereditary occupation) considered to be
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Vaishya
vaishyas did all sorts of economic activity, from farming to animal husbandry
to all sorts of trades and services.