Caste and Race in India c7.44

c7.44

Among the four varṇas, the old distinction of Ārya and Śūdra now appears predominantly as Dvija and Śūdra, though the old distinction is occasionally mentioned. The first three varṇas are called Dvijas (twice-born) because they have to go through the initiation ceremony which is symbolic of rebirth. This privilege is denied to the Śūdra who is therefore called "ekajāti" (once-born).¹ The word "jāti" which is here used for "varṇa", henceforward is employed more often to mean the numerous sub-divisions of a "varṇa". It is also the vernacular term for a "caste". A rigorous demarcation of meaning between "varṇa" and "jāti", the former denoting the four large classes and the latter only their sub-divisions, cannot, however, be maintained. The word is sometimes indiscriminately used for "varṇa".