Vaisya

Vaishya, also known as Vaisya, Vanika or Vysyas, is one of the four varnas (social order) of Hinduism. According to Vedic tradition, this order primarily comprises merchants, cattle-herders and artisans^[1][2]. In Hindu beliefs, the duties of a Vaisya, as described by Hindu God Krishna, are krsi (growing food grains), goraksha (cow protection), vanijyam (trade), vaisya karma (work) and svabhavajam (born of his own nature). The Vaisyas eventually became land-owners, money-lenders and influential traders and are often credited for the evolution of capitalist ideologies in India.^[3]

The Vaisyas, along with the Kshatriyas and Brahmins, are of the 'twice born' (dvija) castes of the classical theory.^[4] Historically, Vaisyas have played a much larger role in Indian affairs apart from trade and commerce. Indian traders were widely credited for the spread of Indian culture to regions as far as southeast Asia.^[5]

The Vaisya community consist of several Jātis, notably — the Agarwals, the Vijayvargiyas, the Khandelwals, the Mathuria Vaishya, the Rastogis the Oswals and the Maheshwaris of the north; the Arya Vysyas of the south; and the Ambanis, Sarabhais, Parekhs and Patidars (Patels) of the west. Some jātis are of mixed heritage. For example, according to legend, the Agrawals trace their origin to the Kshatriya Sun Dynasty who later adopted Vaisya tradition.^[6][7]

Etymology

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The word derives from the root vishal meaning "to live". Latin villa and the English wich, as in Greenwich, are also cognate to this word. In Buddhist literature, they are termed as Grihapati. The Sanskrit and Hindi word "vishva", which means "The Universe", is also formed from the word vish. Vaishyas are merchants.

According to the Manu-smriti, the Vaishyas arose from the belly of Brahma.

Modern history

The Vaishyas have played an influential role throughout India's history. Several Vaishyas, such as Lala Lajpat Rai and Lala Shri Ram, were involved in the Indian independence movement. The most prominent leader of the Indian independence movement, Mahatma Gandhi, was a Modh bania.^[8] Sir Ganga Ram, the "father of modern Lahore", was from Agarwal community.

Since India gained independence, Vaishyas have played an enormous role in shaping Indian economy. A study revealed Vaisyas to be the most economically progressive community in India.^[9] Some of the India's first prominent entrepreneurs are from this community. These include Walchand Hirachand, Dhirubhai Ambani, G.D. Birla and Jamnalal Bajaj.

Prominent current industrialists from this community include Lakshmi Mittal of Arcelor Mittal,D.Sree Harsha Setty of SNIST, Mukesh and Anil Ambani of Reliance Industries, Sunil Mittal of Bharti Airtel, Kumar Mangalam Birla of Aditya Birla Group, Rahul Bajaj of Bajaj Auto, Naveen Jindal of Jindal Group, Anil Agarwal of Vedanta Resources, Venugopal Dhoot of Videocon, Naresh Goyal of Jet Airways, Subhash Chandra Goel of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, R. P. Goenka of RPG Group, Indu Jain of The Times Group and Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao of GMR Group.

See also

• Arya Vysyas
• Varna in Hinduism
• Forward Castes
• List of Arya Vaishya people

References

External links

• http://www.vaisya.net/