Varnashrama

System of social division in Vedic culture that characterizes traditional Hindu society. The four varnas (orders) are the Brahman, or priests; the Kshatriya, warriors and rulers; the Vaisya, merchants and farmers; and the Sudra, labourers and craft-workers. The four ashramas, or stages of life, are brahmacari, celibate student; grihastha, householder; varnaprastha, retired person; and sannyasin, ascetic.