Final answer:
The four classifications in the Indo-Aryan caste system were called varnas, consisting of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras, with Dalits being outside of the varna system. Option a.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question is a. Varnas. The Indo-Aryan caste system was historically divided into four primary social classes or varnas, which are the Brahmins (priests), the Kshatriyas (warriors), the Vaishyas (merchants and farmers), and the Shudras (servants and peasants).
Furthermore, those existing outside of this four-tiered hierarchy were the Dalits, also known as 'untouchables' or Harijan, a term popularized by Mahatma Gandhi meaning 'children of God'.
The caste system organized social structure and daily life in ancient India, influencing professions and social interactions based on religious and historical traditions dating back to the Vedic period.
The caste system stipulated not only a person's occupation but also outlined social interactions and marriage within each varna.
It was believed to be ordained by the gods and was maintained through religious sanctions, with each varna governed by its specific duties or dharma, and the accumulation of karma influenced by adherence to these duties.
The societal order was deeply ingrained and largely immutable during a person's lifetime, with social mobility primarily occurring through the process of reincarnation.
So option a is correct answer.