Question

What were varnas????

Answer 1

The varnas were the 4 main social classes: 1. priests, 2. rajas, warriors, 3. merchants, peasants 4. servants

Answer 2

The Varnas, unfortunately, are not a thing from the past: they still are very present. Varna is the name for the four Indian castes: Brahmins (on top of the hierarchy); kshatriyas (after the Brahmins); vaishyas (after that) and shudras: at the very bottom.

the modern caste system is a more detailed division into even smaller groups, but the basic distinction into the four varnas is still influencing the Indian society.