5 types of varna
In Jain Dharma, “5 types of varṇa” (colour) generally refers to the pañca‑varṇa that arise from varṇa‑nāma‑karma (a subdivision of nāma‑karma). These decide the basic colour of a living being’s body.
The five varṇa (colours) are:
- Kṛṣṇa varṇa – कृष्ण वर्ण
- Colour: Black - Like: very dark, black jewel/stone.
- Nīla varṇa – नील वर्ण
- Colour: Blue (or blue‑green) - Like: the colour of an emerald.
- Rakta / Lohita varṇa – रक्त / लोहित वर्ण
- Colour: Red - Like: vermillion (sindūr).
- Pīta / Haridra varṇa – पीत / हरिद्र वर्ण
- Colour: Yellow - Like: turmeric.
- Śukla / Śveta varṇa – शुक्ल / श्वेत वर्ण
- Colour: White - Like: conch‑shell etc.
Important Jain point
- These are not about social caste (Brahmin, Kshatriya etc.).
- In Jainism, varna here is purely a karmic/physical colour decided by nāma‑karma, not by birth-based caste.
- Both Digambar and Śvetāmbara accept these five basic body‑colours; wording may differ slightly (e.g. haridra/pīta, lohita/rakta), but the meaning is the same.