Vaishya is one of the four varnas of the Hindu social order. ==Traditional duties== Hindu religious texts assigned Vaishyas to traditional roles in agriculture and cattle-rearing but over time they came to be landowners, traders and money-lenders. The Vaishyas, along with members of the Brahmin and Kshatriya varnas, claim dvija status (`twice bor....
third highest in ritual status of the four varnas, or social classes, of Hindu India, traditionally described as commoners. Legend states that the ... [9 related articles]
The third of the four varna of Hindu society, composed of merchants and farmers.
a member of the third varna, the farming and mercantile community.