Vaishya (Sanskrit: वैश्य,vaiśya) is one of the fourvarnas of theVedic Hindu social order inIndia. Vaishyas are classed third in the order ofVarna hierarchy.
The occupation of Vaishyas consists mainly of agriculture, taking care of cattle, trade and other business pursuits as mentioned in theBhagavad Gita.
Hindu religious texts assigned Vaishyas to traditional roles inagriculture andcattle-rearing, but over time they came to belandowners,traders andmoney-lenders.[1] They ranked third in the varna system belowBrahmins andKshatriyas and traditionally had the responsibility to provide sustenance or patronage for the higher varnas.[2] The Vaishyas, along with members of theBrahmin andKshatriya varnas, claimdvija status ("twice born", a second or spiritual birth) after sacrament of initiation as in Hindu theology.[3] Indian traders were widely credited for the spread ofIndian culture to regions as far assoutheast Asia.[4]
Historically, Vaishyas have been involved in roles other than their traditionalpastoralism, trade and commerce. According to historianRam Sharan Sharma, theGupta Empire was a Vaishya dynasty that "may have appeared as a reaction against oppressive rulers".[5]
Many Vaishyas are vegetarian due to the influence ofJainism and Buddhism which preaches the concept ofahimsa which forbade killing of animals for food.[6]
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