Wikipedia: Classification of caste's

 

Wikipedia: Classification of caste's

Manu also explains that the classification of castes based on profession, does not disqualify the members to inter-marry. He speaks of marriages (in the descending order) according to which a man belonging to the higher order may marry a woman belonging to the lower order. The Varna classification was of course, not rigid or inflexible.

In the Rāmāyana for instance, Parasurāma who was a Brahmin by birth but behaved as a Katriya. Visvāmitra who was a king by birth became a Brahmin by virtue of his spiritual attainments. Drona and K.rupa in the Mahābhārata were Brahmins by Jāti but became Katriyas by profession.

One may claim to have been born in a particular Jāti and consider oneself as ’.Suddha’ (pure) or ‘Subha’ (auspicious). But the division in terms of caste by profession (varna) remains flexible. E.g., professions as those of Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, Professors and Musicians.

Those born in any Jāti can take up any of the above professions. That was the original import and intention of ancient scriptures and law-texts. But in India, in the middle ages, people began to think of only one type of caste, i.e., caste by birth or Jāti. An individual began to think of himself or herself as superior or inferior to others. This is the chief cause of malady in India.