Shudra is the fourth
varna, whose mythological origins are described in the
Purusha Sukta of the
Rig veda, one of the sacred texts of
Hinduism, and later explained in the
Manusmṛti. This latter text defines society as comprising four groups, sometimes also called
chaturvarna, of which the other three are
Brahmins (priests),
Kshatriya (those with governing functions) and
Vaishya (agriculturalists, cattle rearers and traders). According to this ancient text, the Shudra perform functions of serving the other three varna.
