Which caste does the Mistry surname in Gujrat belong?Are they brahmins or kshatriyas?I wanna know abt Hindus?
920321
As far as i have come across the Mistrys are Parsees and not Hindus.
75573
Sourashtra (alternate names and spellings: Palkar, Sowrashtra, Saurashtra, Saurashtri, Patnuli) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in parts of the Southern Indian State of Tamil Nadu. The Ethnologue puts the number of speakers at 310,000 (1997 IMA), although the actual number could be double this figure or even more.\n\n\nClassification\nSourashtra is a Indo-Aryan language belonging to the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family.\n\n\nGeographical Distribution\nThe speakers of the Sourashtra language, known as Sourashtrians, maintain a predominant presence in Madurai, a city in the southern part of Tamil Nadu. Though official figures are hard to come by, it is believed that the Sourashtra population makes up for about one-third of the city's total population. They are present in significant numbers in the cities of Dindigul, Paramakudi, Erode, Palani, Rajapalayam, Nilakottai, Salem, Thanjavur, Trichy, Kumbakonam,Thiruvarur and Kottar (Nagercoil). A sizable number is also found in Chennai, Bangalore and other parts of India, but this presence is largely due to small-scale migrations in the last few decades from one of the aforesaid traditional Sourashtrian settlements.\n\nIt is also believed that Sourashtra speakers exist, albeit in small numbers, in other southern states such as Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. However, in the absence of any reliable facts to substantiate this claim, this remains a speculation at best.\n\n\nHistory\nThough there is little historical evidence available to support the argument that the Sourashtrians lived in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat in Western India, folklore, and recent linguistic and genetic researches have been able to establish that this region was indeed once the habitat of the Sourashtrians. However, their language has more similarities with Marathi and Konkani, both Indo-Aryan languages of Western India, than it does with Modern Gujarati, the language of present-day Gujarat. Linguists have been able to explain why it is so: Both Sourashtra and Gujarati branched off from a common parent, and have since taken completely different paths to modernity. Gujarati came under the influence of Persian, Arabic, many tribal languages and Hindi, whereas Sourashtra, taking off from Gujarat before it had made any Muslim contact, was influenced by Marathi, Konkani, Kannada, Telugu, and finally, Tamil. It has been acknowledged that Persian and Arabic have had only limited influence on Marathi and Konkani, and this is why they still retain a good amount of vocabulary and grammar derived from Sanskrit, as compared to other daughter languages of Sanskrit. It is possible that the vocabulary and grammar shared between Modern Sourashtra and Marathi is what was originally derived from Sanskrit.\n\nThe southward flight of the Sourashtrians seems to have been triggered by the frequent Muslim invasions of their homeland and the instability caused by it. No details are available as to whether it was a mass-migration and when it took place. They found the safe haven they were looking for in the Vijayanagar Kingdom, with its capital at Hampi in present-day Karnataka, which was then expanding southwards. They, whose traditional occupation was weaving, were able to impress upon the Emperor with their weaving skills, and soon were elevated to the position of Royal Weavers. Telugu and Kannada were the court languages, though other languages such as Sanskrit and Tamil were also in use. It was during this period that Sourashtra started absorbing Telugu and Kannada words into its lexicon.\n\nVijayanagar rulers had the practice of appointing Governors, known as Nayaks, to manage far-flung regions of the empire. When Madurai and Thanjavur were annexed to the empire, Governors were appointed to administer the new territories. It is believed that a part of the Sourashtra community moved to Madurai and Thanjavur to serve the Governors.\n\n\n\n\n****\nHey why di they suspend you from yahoo\n*****
871315
yes all the secularists and peace loving people are to condemn the brutal killing of a dalit family  and burning of their property by upper castes in khairlanji in ,Maharashtra. it happened because surekha bhotmange, who challenged her oppression and her family.the police and lawyers collaborated with the accused. in Hinduism, every caste is a religion. upper caste people look with disdain the untouchables.as Christians think people of other religion can not reach god and as Muslims think Hindus as kafirs, in Hinduism, people belonging to one caste don't tolerate other caste people. caste system Hinduism is thousand times cruel than religious terrorists.the solution for this problem is to abolish caste system and all people should embrace rationalism which does not accept any type of inequalities. Hindus tolerate the insults heaped upon by them and their gods by other religions. they maintain stoic silence when other religion people mock at Hinduism, but their tolerance is towards other religions only but not towards the marginalised sections of the Hindu society. the reason is AT THE COST OF REPETITION , I REITERATE THAT EVERY CASTE IS A RELIGION.
272934
hinduism. i am already part of it . though Hinduism may not be called religion in the sense other religions are known. It has no founder. It is much more than a religion. It is a total way of life.  \n\nWhen religion becomes organized, man ceases to be free. It is not God that is worshipped but the group or the authority that claims to speak in his name. It is not faith, but just social idolatry. God is not like a father in a patriarchal society, who has His favorite children to whom He communicates. This idea seems rather archaic and crude. Hinduism believes in behavior than belief and  experience over authority. \n\nThe genius of Hinduism is assimilative. Puritanism is alien to its life and thought. It never opposed scientific enquiry. \n\nHinduism's greatest feature has been its positive ideas and those who do not belong to it are not infidels or heretics. Hinduism does not believe in bringing about a mechanical uniformity of belief and worship by a forcible elimination of all that is not in agreement with a particular creed. Hindus have never conquered, plundered or committed genocides on other peoples and they never will, primarily because the deeper values enshrined in the Sanatana Dharma are against such mindless violence and expansionism. At one level every true Hindu sees his/her self being one with the Universal Self . At a more samsaric level, a Hindu also understands more than any other religionist in the world, the concept of a harmonious global society that should unite, prosper and live in peace.\n\nHinduism, in its plethora of symbols and images, is endlessly complex and therefore endlessly misunderstood, but its true mission is both simple and universal: soul-enlightenment. Hinduism is goal-oriented, not way-oriented. In other words, its focus is the ultimate attainment, Self-realization, in God. Symbolism helps the seeker to concentrate his mind on the worship and meditation of god.idols are just symbolic:\n\nYes, said he, but just how many gods are there Yajnavalkya?" "Thirty three". "yes," said he, but just how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?" "One."    \n                                                                        - Brhadaranyaka Upanishad III, IX, I\n\nGod's innumerable forms, and the acknowledgement of His Presence in everything, are an expression of the extraordinary vitality of India's collective imagination down through the ages. \n\nAccording to Thomas Berry, "In quality, in quantity, in significance for man's intellectual, cultural, and spiritual life, this literature in its totality is unsurpassed among all other literary traditions of the world."\n\n"Hinduism is a process - for this reason, Hinduism must be studied not as a fixed body of doctrine, but as a developing tradition that has changed considerably throughout the centuries and which is still changing in a creative direction. Everything in India makes sense in the light of the changing process. Nothing makes sense without it. Hinduism is still a living, changing process and must be seen as such."
1101748
All I can find is that the origin is Hindu, and it's numerology is 3. I would suggest calling your local Hindu Temple Society and asking for further assistance. They will be completely thrilled to share their culture, trust me.\n\nGood luck!
975617
Brahma Muhurtham-\n\nTwo miles above sea level in the Brahmagiri hill ranges of Coorg, India, thousands of jostling devotees are waiting anxiously. Suddenly they hush to the faint sound of gurgling water. The gurgle gushes, and they all surge forward. Even a vigilant fortress of police can't stop them. Entire families are frantically pushing, prying, stretching and grabbing for tirtha (holy water) now tinged red with kumkum and flooding through the fingers of faithful devotees pressed shoulder to shoulder near the edge of a sparkling new body of water.\n\nWith the precision of a clock, the Cauvery has erupted once again - unexplainably - from the guts of the earth right on schedule just like last year, and the year before.\n\nAs local resident Narayan Achar explains it to India Today magazine: "For centuries, every year, on the day of Tulasankramana, the Cauvery is reborn here." And that's about all anyone knows for sure. The rest is a mystery, considered a miracle by many - Caugary's age-old miracle.\n\nThis sacred event called Muhurta (moment), occurs every year at approximately the same time.\nA variety of people, religious and otherwise, attend the Muhurta in Talacauvery, the small village where all of this occurs. Talacauvery itself figures prominately into the noteworthy popularity of the Muhurta. With a population of a only 20 cowherders, Talacauvery is humbly nestled in a green carpeted paradise of peace, invaded only during this festival, once each year. M. Achayya, a computer executive from Bangalore who comes every year says, "perhaps it is because it is not your regular hot, stuffy, dirty pilgrimage spot."\n\nOnce ceremoniously released upon her journey during the Muhurta, the Cauvery will course 120 miles through most of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Although years ago her yearly birthday was celebrated only locally, it now attracts pilgrims from throughout South India and even parts of North India.\n\nAccording to legend, Sage Agastya was sent to the south by Brahma to cure the region of a long drought. While he was there, he married Lopamudra, the daughter of Sage Kavera, whom he carried with him in his Kamandalu (water container). One day Sage Agastya set the Kamandalu down to take a bath. While he was away, the wind knocked the Kamandalu over, and Lopamudra flowed out as the river Cauvery to assuage the drought-scorched land.\n\nWith or without legend, the mysterious story of the origin of Cauvery is a mystical one fortifying great devotees with hope and faith. Faith?...that humble submission of the soul to its source in God, beyond the confines and fears of mind, body and emotions-.
701801
Hinduism is not a religion.\nIt is a collection of thoughts and beliefs gathered over thousands of years.\nThey have hundreds of Gods and hundreds of different theories.\nEvery region in India has a differnt following for a particular God and follow different rituals.\nHinduism has evolved with time. Because people have made changes according to thier wishes.\nEven Jesus and Mohammad (PBUT) are considered Avatars or forms of thier God.
903255
yes.\nThe Indian caste system is the traditional hereditary system of social stratification of India, in which social classes are defined by a number of hierarchical endogamous groups often termed as Jāti. Not only Hindus but Muslims, Sikhs and Christians too practice it (ref. Francis Buchanan, Indian Census Record, 1883). As Islam, Sikhism, and Christianity gained influence in the Indian subcontinent, Hindu converts would often retain their caste customs. The Indian caste system was historically linked to Hinduism through the use of scripture such as the Manusmriti. The Manusmriti is not necessarily regarded as "divine proclamation" and is regarded as the work of man. The normative texts in Hinduism such as the Vedas mention the concept of the Brahmin but do not canonically allude to any socially mandated caste system.\n\nclick here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_caste_system#Caste_divisions
1143515
Saniya, it is based on the reservation...\nSo which race u belongs to??\n\nAnyways that depends..Which state are u in??
1129768
In short idea of untouchability was taken to extereme by so called idea of Cleanliness among higher cast. The idea of hygene turned psychological peroblem.\n\nThe higher casts were more educated and followed more majors of cleanliness in comparison to lower ones. Later on it was grossly abused custom. Brahmans or other higher casts thought themselves to be purer just by being of higher caste.\n\nBut it is not a problem of Hindus only.\n\nA true telling of "caste-based" behavior of South Asians would show that it cuts across all religious lines, and can be found in churches as well as in masjids. Thus upper caste Syrian Christians advertise specifically for their own types in matrimony, as do other Christians. Goans and other Indian Christians still refer to themselves as Bamon (Brahmins), Bhandaris, Kolis, Prabhus, etc.   \n\n In spite of the fact that around 75% of the Christians are ‘dalits’ who got converted to Christianity to lose their caste or ‘outcaste’ tag, Dalit Christians within the Church were discriminated against and were denied powers within the ecclesiastical structure.\n\nIn the churches or places of worship, which were generally laid out in the shape of a cross, the Christians of upper caste have always humiliated their Dalit fellow Christians by occupying the central part of the church, while the Dalits were assigned to the wings. The Dalits were to take communion only after the upper caste people had done so. In some Protestant churches, there were separate cups for the Dalits at the eucharistic celebration. In the Catholic churches, there were separate communion rails, separate cemeteries in Madras dioceses like Trichy and Pondicherry. Such practices were also found in the Protestant churches. \n\nMuslims are also divided according to caste - Sayyads, Ashrafs, Ajlafs, Jolahas, Rajputs, etc. Marriages are disallowed between the high caste Ashrafs, Sayyads, Sheikhs or Pathans and the low caste Ansaris, Kunjras or Qureshis. The founder of the Aligarh Muslim University, Sir Sayyad Ahmad Khan, denied backward Muslims entry into AMU and kept its door open only for the Ashrafs. Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi wrote a book in which he said that the Sayyads are the highest caste! Dalit Muslims don't even come into the picture as yet."\n\nThree groups found in Indian Muslims of Bengal: \n\nAshraf or better class Muslims – The Sainads, Sheikhs, Pathans, Moghul, Mallik, and Mirza. \nAjlaf or lower caste Muslims – Cultivating Sheikhs, and others who were originally Hindus, Darzi, Jolaha, Fakir, Mallah, Kula Kunjara, Kasai, Kalal, Dhunia, Abdal, Bako, Chamba, Dafali, Dhobi, Hajjan,  etc. \nArzal or degraded class – include Bhanar, Halalkhor, Hijra, Kasbi, Lalbegi, Maugta, Mehra. \n\n\nJust sample these familiar insertions in the Sunday matrimonial pages of any newspaper:  \n\n* CSI Nadar Christian invites alliance...\n* CSI Adi dravida wants ...  \n* Roman Catholic ants...except SC/ST..    \n* Protestant Pillai seeks...  \n\nWelcome to the 'casteless' egalitarian world of Christianity. Or at least, that is what the board outside Evangelists Inc claims. Then what do the above advertisements that routinely appear in very secular newspapers point to? \n true telling of "caste-based" behavior of South Asians would show that it cuts across all religious lines, and can be found in churches as well as in masjids. Thus upper caste Syrian Christians advertise specifically for their own types in matrimony, as do other Christians. Goans and other Indian Christians still refer to themselves as Bamon (Brahmins), Bhandaris, Kolis, Prabhus, etc.   \n\nAli Anwar, a Muslim author, maintains in his book "War of Equality" that it's a myth that Indian Islam is caste-free. "Neither the Muslims' ruling elite nor the religious leaders have so far made any meaningful efforts to remove the disease of inequality that has made Dalit Muslims suffer for centuries," he writes.
837420
Gurmeet Singh Bedi\n\nShe has a brother Harmeet\n\nSome people wrongly  believe that Kabir Bedi is her father.
26974
yup.\nit is a caste.\n\nfrom wikipedia:\nA Jat (also Jatt) is a member of a sub-ethnic group who live all over Northern India. They are in the states of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and are also scattered in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Gujarat. The actually meaning of a Jat pertains to farmers and peasants, but anyone who calls him or herself a Jat also are in the army, government, & all kinds of other jobs. Many people take pride in being a Jatt even though they are no longer peasant farmers. They are not a homogeneous ethnic group living in a particular area and speaking a single language or following a single religion. Jats are predominantly Hindu, Sikh, or Muslim.
602233
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism
610417
haha, hindus, primarily pray to 3 deities..........\n\nthey are shakti (kali), vishnu, and shiva........\n\nkrishna is incarnation of vishnu......\n\nso ppl who workship vishnu are called vaisnavas,\nand those who workship shiva are called shivaites,\n\nnow , shivates, wear ash on their heads, 3 horizontal lines, which represents shivism,( shiva wears the ash like that, so followers also do the same)\n\nand vaisnavites wear the "yellow stuff" as u put it lol, they are 3 lines upwards, ie, vertical lines, to represent that they are vaisnavites......\n\nthey are monks, and they give up the world, and dont keep any posessions, they dont enjoy any luxuries, and are always trying to help the world......\n\nthey should not keep any posessions as a rule......\n\nso they beg alms from day to day and carry them, and carry ash sometimes, in those bags.....\n\nand why not?????\n\nu mean why yellow? , yellow clothes are worn by vishnu, \nyellow is supposed to represent wisdom or intelligence, i am not sure......\n\nand if you are confused with krisna and vishnu, like i said, krisna is an incarnation of vishnu, so workshippers of krisna are considered vaisnavas........\n\ndid u get the idea??\n\nand the robes they wear are in orange color, orange color represents renunciation and purity.......\n\nthe orange clothes are there to remind them that they are monks,(and have to be pure in thought word and deed, )\nand that their purpose is to serve(help) humanity......\n\ngot the idea?
912305
All you have mentioned are SUB SECT(ION)S of Brahmin community in Maharastra and North Karnataka area. It is all made due to certain reasons and some anchesters like Kanva Maharishi etc. Now a days it has not relavance and marriages in bestween the sub-sects not only in Maharastra but all so all over India are solomnised.\n\nAccording to me all are human and no one is superior or lower. It is one's own idea -
408828
Caste is the social class you are born into.  There are five main castes in India.  The highest caste is Brahman, and they are the priests.  The others are Kshatriya (landowners), Vaishya (merchants), Shudra (artisans), and Harijan (those outside the caste system, once known as untouchables).
625761
Other Backward Castes