Who are the Kshatriya's?

Question

Can someone explain to me what this means? I also would like to know how the Oshwal community is associated with the Kshatriyas.
Thank you.

I am putting this question up for voting because I have no idea which one is right.

Answer 1

Kshatriya (Hindi: क्षत्रिय, kṣatriya from Sanskrit: क्षत्र, kṣatra) is one of the four varnas in Hinduism, the other three being Brahmins, Vaishyas and Shudras. Traditionally, the ruling and the military class belonged to the Kshatriya varna. In ancient Vedic society, a person's aptitude (guna), conduct (karma) and nature (swabhava) were considered to assign his occupation or varnas. Over the years, the group became hereditary.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kshatriya

Answer 2

The earliest Vedic literature listed the Kshatriya (holders of kshatra, or authority) as first in rank, then the Brahmans (priests and teachers of law), next the Vaishya (merchant-traders), and finally the Sudra (artisans and labourers). Movements of individuals and groups from one class to another, both upward and downward, were not uncommon; a rise in status even to the rank of Kshatriya was a recognized reward for outstanding services to the rulers of the day. The legend that the Kshatriya were destroyed by Parashurama, the sixth reincarnation of Vishnu, as a punishment for their tyranny is thought by some scholars to reflect a long struggle for supremacy between priests and rulers that ended in victory for the former. By the end of the Vedic era, the Brahmans were supreme, and the Kshatriya had fallen to second place. In modern times, the Kshatriya varna is held to include a broad class of caste groups, differing considerably in status and headed by the aristocratic Rajput lineages.

Answer 3

They are the ruling class. In Traditional Hinduism people are segregated and classified according to caste:

1. The Brahmins- these are the religious leaders and the ones responsible for the preservation and interpreation of the Vedas for the people;

2. The Kshatriyas- these are the ruling class like the rajah. Although they are the ruling people, they are still below the Brahmins;

3. The Vaishyas- these are the soldiers who are responsible for the state;

4. The Shudras- these are the workers.

And the finally the DALITS "the outcast". They don't belong to any of the castes and therefore considered unclean and impure.

So how do you go up to the next higher caste level?

You can't. All your life you will be stuck to your own caste. It needs the "magic" of reincarnation for you to be able to go a higher caste level. So in short it is hereditary. Once your family's DNA is dalit or shudras, you can never escape that your children's children will suffer the same fate.

Answer 4

The social meaning is "warriors", who fight the enemies and protect the existence of the entities (be it Sovereign or any else).
The literate meaning in Humanity is "warrior in each self", who fights the negative acts of "man" and controls the lusts of "Andris" which leads one self to act against humanity.
Associating any community with any "Varnas" i.e. Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vasya & Sudra" denotes the castism which is negative sense of varnashrams. In my interpretation a human at Child hood (bal ashram) is "Sudra", at Brahmcharya is "Kshatriya", at Garhasth is "Vasya" and at Sanyas is "Brahmin".
I don't know how far these are acceptable by the literate ones as it is my purally own interpretation.

Answer 5

Ksatriyas are the warrior community (kings, princes, fighters etc.) in Hindu religion and are ranked after Brahmins (priests), and come before Vaisyas (businessmen) and sudras (agriculturists). These caste divisions are now getting blurred because all people are doing more or less same work and the original division of work according to one's caste is no longer followed. Differentiating on the basis of caste or religion is an offence now (reservations provided by the Govt. are legal).

I am not sure about the second part of your question but Oswals are from Punjab.

Answer 6

Kshatriyas are people who are well versed in the art of ruling, weaponery, war and who are responsible to maintain law and order in the society and to guard it from external forces of threat. Sounds like the military and police of today doesnt it? yes these were the people who did exactly that.

According to Hinduism the society was broadly classified into 4 categories (the person here who put dalit as a category needs to educate himself).
These were based on the needs of the society and useful for its proper functioning.
Brahmins to teach and educate (like teachers and lecturers and professors and scientists of today).
Kshatriyas to protect and maintain law and order(like the police & armed forces of today)
Vaishyas to conduct business and take care of commercial activities (Like the businessmen of today).
Shudras to assist the above three (like all those people today who assist in the proper fuctioning of the all aforesaid categories though not directly involved, as other school and college/university staff which does not teach; peopel assisting the armed forces though not enrolled; factory workes, dockyard workers, and other people who work for business and are not actually business men).

Hope it is clear now. I do not know about the Oswal community though.

Thanks

Answer 7

As a Brahman is not Brahman by birth,similarly a Kshatriya is not a Kshatriya by birth,
A person who with his muscle power , in dhaarrmic way defends people and a province .protects and provides shelter and other things is a real Kshatriya.

Answer 8

This is not a caste .It refers to a group of people that includes , the king , the watrrior , the aministrator, the police . the judge , and others connected with the administation of law and order and justice .It migt include any caste from Brahmin to the scavenger .It is the aptitudfe and education tha makes one a member of this group. In course of time ti has come top mean some castes in some states of India .the same is the case wiht the orher three varunas which include so many costes and have come to mean some castes .

Answer 9

I don't guess for Oshwal community. However, Kshatriyas are those who fights only for a good / valid cause.

Answer 10

in older times india's society was divided in 4 sections one of these is the kshatriyas they were mostly the king's who fought in the battle field and were conscious about there self respect