In regards to religion, what is the meaning of the
excerpt?

Excerpt in terms of religious meaning would be more like a passage or quote that is coming from one's religion's holy book.

other sources of text

explanation:

this can be magazines, news reports, scholarly articles, textbooks, research papers etc.

the caste system in india is the paradigmatic ethnographic example of caste. it has origins in ancient india, and was transformed by various ruling elites in medieval, early-modern, and modern india, especially the mughal empire and the british raj.it is today the basis of educational and job reservations in india.it consists of two different concepts, varna and jati, which may be regarded as different levels of analysis of this system.

the caste system as it exists today is thought to be the result of developments during the collapse of the mughal era and the british colonial regime in india. the collapse of the mughal era saw the rise of powerful men who associated themselves with kings, priests and ascetics, affirming the regal and martial form of the caste ideal, and it also reshaped many apparently casteless social groups into differentiated caste communities.the british raj furthered this development, making rigid caste organisation a central mechanism of administration

i didn’t fully understand your question but i hope this you !