jati

jati
/jah"tee/, n. Hinduism.
caste (def. 2). Cf. varna.
[ < Skt jati]

* * *

▪ Hindu caste
also spelled  jat,  

      caste, in Hindu society. The term is derived from the Sanskrit jāta, “born” or “brought into existence,” and indicates a form of existence determined by birth. In Indian philosophy jati (genus) describes any group of things that have generic characteristics in common. Sociologically, jati has come to be used universally to indicate a caste group among Hindus.

      Although the lawgivers of the traditional Hindu codes (Dharma-shastra) themselves tend to treat jatis as varnas (social classes) and try to account on other occasions for jatis as products of alliances between the four varnas (Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Sudras) and their descendants, a sharp distinction should be made between jati, as a limited regional endogamous group of families, and varna, as a universal all-Indian model of social class. The official Hindu view gives second place to jati as an aberration of varna.

      In different parts of India, certain caste groups have sought respectability within the varna system by claiming membership in a particular varna. Typical and most successful was the claim of the Rajputs (Rājput) that they were the Kshatriyas, or nobles, of the second varna, and, to reinforce their claim, they invented a new lineage (Agnikula, the dynasty of Fire) to coexist side-by-side with the Solar and Lunar lineages of ancient times. Untouchables have adopted caste habits of conduct and sought the status of Sudra (the lowest class, or varna) to escape from their pitiable condition.

      The very notion of jati has been under attack by reform-minded Indians. They do not always ask for total abolition but frequently advocate a purification of the system by the reabsorption of the jatis into the original, complementarily functioning varnas. See also varna.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Jāti — Jāti, जाति est un mot qui, en pâli et en sanskrit, signifie naissance ; L équivalent en japonais est le terme shou. Jāti indienne Article détaillé : Le système de castes en Inde. Dans la société indienne, à côté du système de la varna… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Jati — may refer to: *Jātis: communities and sub communities of India. *Jati (Buddhism), the arising of a new living entity. *Jati, Ceará, a city in Brazil. *Jati, a small town in the Pakistani province of Sindh. *Jati Umrah, a small town in the… …   Wikipedia

  • jati — ● jati nom masculin (mot sanskrit) En Inde, caste (subdivision du varna) …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Jati — 1 Original name in latin Jati Name in other language Jati State code ID Continent/City Asia/Jakarta longitude 6.5153 latitude 106.1958 altitude 48 Population 0 Date 2012 01 21 2 Original name in latin Jati Name in other language Djati 4, Jati… …   Cities with a population over 1000 database

  • Jati — Der Begriff Kaste (portugiesisch/spanisch casta – Rasse, von lateinisch castus – rein) wird in der Völkerkunde und der Soziologie in erster Linie mit einem aus Indien bekannten sozialen Phänomen assoziiert. Er wird aber auch umgangssprachlich… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Jāti — Jātis (in Devanagari: जाति) (the word literally means births ) is the term used to denote communities and sub communities in India. It is a term used across religions. In Hindu society each jāti typically has an association with a traditional job …   Wikipedia

  • Jati — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom.  Brésil Jati est une municipalité de l État du Ceará, au Brésil …   Wikipédia en Français

  • jati — [ dʒα:ti] noun (plural same or jatis) Indian a caste or division of a caste. Origin via Hindi from Sanskrit jāti birth …   English new terms dictionary

  • Jati — Admin ASC 2 Code Orig. name Jati Country and Admin Code BR.06.2307205 BR …   World countries Adminstrative division ASC I-II

  • jati — /ˈdʒati/ (say jahtee) noun Indian English a people, tribe or community. {Hindi (from Sanskrit) jāti} …  

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”