For most of Indian history, Hindu society has been divided into . The four major social classes in Hindu society were , , , and . The Brahmins are at the top of the caste system. Their job is to be . were warriors. Vaisyas were herders, farmers, , and craftspeople. were farm workers, servants, and laborers. The lowest group in Hindu society is not an official part of the caste system. They are called , also known as and are responsible for “ work.” Each person in Hindu society is supposed to follow their as determined by their caste. This ensures that all jobs are done in society. If a person follows the of their caste, then they will have good . If they do not complete their duties, then they will have bad . Karma is important because Hindus believe that when they die, they go through the process of . If someone has good karma when they die, they will be reborn into a higher . If they do not follow their dharma, and as a result, have bad karma, then they will be reborn into a caste. They might even be born as an animal.
Hindus believe that the goal of life is to escape the cycle of death and rebirth. They can do this by achieving “union with Brahman,” also known as . To reach that goal, a person needs to climb the caste ladder until they are Brahmins, then they have to fulfill the Brahmin’s dharma so they have good at the end of their life.