Vaiśya
Vaiśya
Grammar: masculine noun.
Meaning: the third varṇa; those who live by farming, go-raksha (protecting cattle) and trade.
In the scriptures: Origin and karma. The Bhavishya Purāṇa says that vaiśyas were born from the thighs of Brahmā, for the welfare of the loka, and that their karmas are protecting cattle, dāna, yajña, study, trade, lending, agriculture and the like (Brahma Parva, Chapter 2; Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapter 10). Svayambhū Brahmā first brought forth brāhmaṇas, then kshatriya, vaiśya and śūdra (Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 1, Chapters 2–3). Those of the conduct of earning a livelihood are vaiśyas. Some weak ones joined vaiśya karma and with foresight destroyed the mean paths on the earth, and those on the mixed livelihood of ploughing, farming, go-raksha, trade and thrift, Īśvara called vaiśyas (Brahma Parva, Chapter 44).
Saṃskāras and conduct. A vaiśya’s son is named Dhanavardhana, a name joined with wealth (Brahma Parva, Chapter 3). The keśānta saṃskāra is laid down for a vaiśya in the twenty-fifth year, and upanayana is best in śarat. One born a brāhmaṇa, kshatriya or vaiśya who does not do the japa of Oṃkāra and the Gāyatrī at the proper time is blamed among good people. A vaiśya is greeted by asking about kshema. The wise call a vipra the grandfather of the vaiśya, and among brāhmaṇas, kshatriyas and vaiśyas those who have wealth, kinship, age, karma and vidyā deserve honour. Among the varṇas a vaiśya is great by wealth. After the rules of the brahmacārī’s bhikshā, Sumantu Muni says that all this is the karma of the brāhmaṇa, and that the paṇḍitas say it is not for kshatriyas or vaiśyas (Brahma Parva, Chapter 4). Brāhmaṇas, kshatriyas and vaiśyas should keep one tawny cow for deva and agni work (Brahma Parva, Chapter 17). For pratimās, caṇḍra and candana are best for vaiśyas and give puṇya (Brahma Parva, Chapter 131).
Marriage. By dharma the savarṇā is best for the vaiśya; by kāma a śūdra woman also, and by dharma a kshatriya woman is not allowed. Three kinds of vivāha, other than the Rākshasa, are for vaiśya and śūdra, and the paṇḍitas say the Āsura is praiseworthy for them. From a vaiśya kanyā the goad is held (Brahma Parva, Chapter 7).
Varṇa and fruit. Vaiśyas who have left their own dharma are not vaiśyas in truth, and kshatriya and vaiśya too can attain brāhmaṇatva (Brahma Parva, Chapter 40). Vaiśyas are not of haridala colour (Brahma Parva, Chapter 41). One who does the ārādhana of Bhagavān Sūrya, if a vaiśya, goes to the loka of Kubera (Brahma Parva, Chapter 64). By the fast of Māgha Saptamī a vaiśya gains kshatriyatva (Brahma Parva, Chapter 59). Vaiśyas keeping the gṛhastha dharma reach Amṛtaloka (Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 1, Chapter 1). Hearing the Purāṇa and the dharma-saṃhitās gives all four varṇas the fruit of the aśvamedha (Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 1, Chapters 7–8).
Other mentions. A phalaśruti names vaiśyas among those who may hear the chapter (Brahma Parva, Chapter 22). Under the āgraha of Vināyaka a vaiśya gets no profit in his trade (Brahma Parva, Chapter 23). If the tulā of the ratha breaks, it foretells ruin for vaiśyas (Brahma Parva, Chapter 56). Nirmālya must not be given to śūdras or vaiśyas (Brahma Parva, Chapter 117). Dhanapāla of Ayodhyā, who died keeping the vrata of Purāṇa hearing, was of the vaiśya jāti (Brahma Parva, Chapter 94). Vaiśyas living by trade do the pūjā of Meghapālī (Uttara Parva, Chapters 16–17). Dhaneśvara of Vārāṇasī, who guarded a serpent, was a vaiśya (Uttara Parva, Chapter 169).
Related terms: Varṇa · Brāhmaṇa · Kshatriya · Śūdra
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 2–4, 7, 17, 22–23, 40–41, 44, 56, 59, 64, 94, 117, 131; Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 1, Chapters 1–3, 7–8; Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapter 10; Uttara Parva, Chapters 16–17, 169