An Aryan Merchant

May we achieve our desire for prosperity by moral means. May we seek advice from our conscience with a prayerful heart. - Rig Veda 10.31.2

I was just talking to some friends about how to classify people into the four Varnas of Hinduism using a theory I made up myself which you can see (here). Some of them did not like that I classified one guy into Vaishya (merchant/administrative class) because they viewed this as a lower caste and wanted to make sure this guy was Kshatriya. I usually try to post quotes to where I get my info but this time I'll just write what I know.  

From what I have come to understand, the word Varna means "color" or "class" and ONLY categorizes humans in terms of their INATE inborn psychological/physiological traits and attributes. This could then be further broken down into Jatis which are ur best working conditions and disposition.  Should you be a priest who teaches biology or should you be a laborer who grows wheat, or some other arrangement of psychology and occupation. 

Varna is ur psychological class and Jati is ur occupational class.  The ancient Hindu Guild System was based upon this classification where genetically related tribes would operate a certain business in which they sell some commodity or service.  The Merchant/Administrative Varna is known as Vaishya. Vaishyas are best known for being business and money type minded maintainers of social order.  Vaishyas are not lower caste, they are a uniqe color of class of humans who are born with the innate talents to buy, sell, negotiate and get things done in real time. 

Today due to too our lowered state of civilization, we have come to see merchants as greedy, selfish and exploitative as well as immoral.  But merchants were not always like this as you can see in the opening quote to this blog where in the Rig Veda an Aryan merchant prays that he make his money through honest and moral means. The Vedas also say fake morality will not help you; the gods are willing to help merchants and send them riches from heaven.

A moral wins no riches by unworthy praise: wealth comes not to the niggard churl. Light is the task to give, O Maghavan, to one like me on the decisive day. - Rig Veda 7.32.21 

Whereby the cloud, ye Bounteous Givers, shed sweet rain for Dirghasravas, for the merchant Ausija, Wherewith ye helped Kaksivan, singer of your praise,-Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids. Rig Veda 1.12.11 

Come, let us carry out, O friends, the purpose wherewith the Mother threw the Cow's stall open, That wherewith Manu conquered Visisipra, wherewith the wandering merchant gained heaven's water. - Rig Veda 5.45.7

In the Atharva Veda there is a Merchant's prayer where the chief god Indra himself is referred to as a merchant. The merchant prays that grudge will stay away from him and that his business will be successful.  The merchant is not ashamed to ask for great shares of wealth as he promises the gods he will repay them in oblations which the gods eagerly desire.

Atharva Veda.3.15 – A Merchant’s Prayer  

1. Indra, the merchant, do I summon: may he come to us, may he be our van; driving away the demon of grudge, the waylayers, and wild beasts, may he, the possessor, bestow wealth upon me! 2. May the many paths, the roads of the gods, which come together between heaven and earth, cladden me with milk and ghee, so that I may gather in wealth from my purchases! 3. Desirous do I, O Agni, with firewood and ghee offer oblations (to thee), for success and strength; according to ability praising (thee) with my prayer, do I sing this divine song, that I may gain a hundredfold! 4. O Lord! It has been a long and hard road. Please accept our oblations and prayers for the success of our business. May our purchases and sales be profitable. May our transactions bring prosperity. 5. The wealth with which I go to purchase, desiring, ye gods, to gain wealth through wealth, may that grow more, not less! Drive away, O Agni, in return for the oblation, the gods who shut off gain! 6. The wealth with which I go to purchase, desiring, ye gods, to gain wealth through wealth, may Indra, Pragâpati, Savitar, Soma, Agni, place lustre into it for me! 7. O Lord! You are the protector. We bring our adoration and reverence to you. Guard our lives and those of our children. Protect our animals. 8. Daily, never failing, shall we bring (oblations to thee), O Gâtavedas, (as if fodder) to a horse standing (in the stable). In growth of wealth and nutriment rejoicing, may we, O Agni, thy neighbours, not take harm!  

Vaishyas are not lower caste, they are a type of person whom is needed in society to move goods and look over daily operations. They are directed by Kshatriya Leaders who are then directed by Brahman Priests, but this is just the order of command because this is how each caste operates best, in the position which their temperament calls for. There are many allegories in the Puranas which show that a moral merchant is far superior to an immoral Brahmin and to be a Vaishya is no shame at all. Indra king of the gods can be a Vaishya, so so can you.