What is varna?

Varna means a social class or order, often translated as caste. In many traditional Hindu texts, society is described as four varnas: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra.

In Jainism, however, the spiritual path is not based on birth or family lineage. A person’s soul attains right knowledge and liberation through their own karma and inner conduct, not their varna. Jain ethics emphasize equal dignity of all beings, and monastery life (monks and nuns) is open to those who renounce worldly ties, regardless of birth.

So, while varna describes a social classification in some traditions, Jainism teaches that spiritual progress and liberation belong to every soul, independent of caste. If you’d like, I can explain how Digambar and Shwetambar interpretations differ on related social topics.