Āryaka
Āryaka · ārya-ka, “the noble ones”
Grammar: masculine noun, used in the plural (āryakāḥ); from ārya (noble, honoured).
Meaning: the name of the brāhmaṇa varṇa of Plaksha-dvīpa.
In the scriptures: Lomaharshaṇa the Sūta tells the munis of Plaksha-dvīpa. In all seven of the regions from Plaksha-dvīpa there is no order of the yugas: time always runs as in the Tretā yuga, and from Plaksha-dvīpa up to Śāka-dvīpa people live five thousand years, free of disease. Dharma there is of four kinds, by the division of varṇa and āśrama, and there are four varṇas. The brāhmaṇas are called Āryakas, and the kshatriyas Kurus. There Hari, the maker of the world and Sarveśvara (the Īśvara of all), is worshipped in the form of Soma by the Āryakas and the other varṇas (Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 20).
Related terms: Plaksha-dvīpa · Varṇa · Brāhmaṇa · Soma
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 20