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WHO WERE THE ORIGINAL 'KSATRIYAS"?
Capt. Vimal Jain
In India, the caste system is a system of division of labour and power in human society. It is system of social stratification. The Jatis were grouped by Brahmanical text under the four well-known cast category, viz. Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya and Śūdra. Kṣatriya is the second highest in ritual status of four Varņās, or social classes. In this article the author has given a critical analysis of the genesis of the Ksatriyas with its etymological meanings based on Vedic sources. - The Editor
Introduction
When we study the Pauranic literature, both Vedic and Śramanic, and also the stories/legends of that period, we find that there is a great deal of confusion of names, whether persons/locales or other objects. Although not commonly known, the use of the word 'Kṣatriya' when viewed in the light of available literature is one such example. Let us examine it in more details.
Background
Today, 'Kṣatriya' is one of the 'Varna' out of four and is stated to have been derived from 'Kṣatra' meaning thereby umbrella' or protection and thus denotes the warring caste providing security to society as against the priestly, business or worker classes; the other three Varnas. The primary source of this is probably a sloka of Manusmrti which reads as follows:
"Lokanāmtuvivṛdhyarthaṁmukhabāhurupādataḥ/
Brāhmaṇam, Kṣatriyam Vaisyam, Sudram ca nirvartyāt //1 Mmeaning: For the development of this world, (Brahma) created
