Vaisya caste is surname of many people in southern India. Vaisya caste meaning is Vaisya is the third of the traditional castes of Manu. It is, Mr. Francis writes,6 doubtful whether there are any true Dravidian Vaisyas, but some of the Dravidian trading castes (with the title Chetti), notably the Komatis, are treated as Vaisyas by the Brahmans, though the latter do not admit their right to perform the religious ceremonies which are restricted by the Vedas to the twice-born, and require them to follow only the Puranic rites. The Muttans (trading caste in Malabar) formerly claimed to be Nayars, but recently they have gone further, and some of them have returned themselves as Vaisyas, and added the Vaisya title of Gupta to their names. They do not, however, wear the sacred thread or perform any Vedic rites, and Nayars consider themselves polluted by their touch. Some Vellalas and Nattukottai Chettis describe themselves as being Bhu (earth) Vaisyas, and some Gollas claim to be regarded as Go(cow) Vaisyas.6 Some Ganigas and Nagartas call themselves Dharmasivachar Vaisyas,7 and, [272]like the Canarese Ganigas (oil-pressers), the Tamil oil-pressers (Vaniyan) claim to rank as Vaisyas. Vaisya Brahman is noted8 as being a curious hybrid name, by which the Konkani Vanis (traders) style themselves. A small colony of Baniyans, who call themselves Jain Vaisyas, is said9 to have settled in Native Cochin. Vaisya is recorded as the caste of various title-holders, whose title is Chetti or Chettiyar, in the Madras Quarterly Civil List.
Vaisya caste is one of the many castes subcastes of India.
India has thousands of castes and subcastes, they are in existence and practice since the Vedic times. They were created to solve the problem of division of labor. Vaisya caste name could indicate the type of work people belonging to the Vaisya caste do or did in earlier times. Many last names in India indicate the place the person originally belongs to. All castes sub castes are primarily divided into 4 categories:
1.Brahmins – The learned or priestly class
2.Khastriyas – The warrior class or those with governing functions
3.Vaishyas – The trader, agriculturalists or cattle rearers class
4.Shudra – The class that serves other three categories
Vaisya caste belongs to one of the above 4 categories. Indian caste system is the best system to solve the problem of division of labor. In earlier times there was no rigidity in caste system. Indian caste system is still the best solution for the problem of division of labor, the only change that is needed as per changed times is that rather than having a vertical hierarchical system with Brahmins on top and Shudras at bottom, it would be good to have a horizontal socialist system with Brahmins, Khastriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras all at same level.
The caste system of India is in ruins at present. It is also cause of bloody quarrels in certain parts of the rural India. People of backward castes have reservations in government jobs, this facility is widely misused in India. Many of the backward caste people have become rich and still use the facility for their benefit. Many in India believe reservation in jobs should be given on the basis of poverty rather than caste because there are many poors in upper castes as well.
Many criticize the Indian caste system because of bad material condition of lower castes but if they observe in an unbiased way they would find that there are many in upper castes with bad material conditions. The problem lies in power not in castes, power can corrupt anyone be it from upper caste or lower caste.
All cultures, all countries, all religions have caste system in one form or the other. Christians have different churches depending on the region or language or skin color of people. Muslims have a priestly class that tries to control everything. Arab Muslims before the oil boom were so much divided among tribes that if you drank water from a well of a different tribe you could be shot dead. Tribal divisions still exists among Muslims. You can also see the caste system in a different form in your corporate companies. I had seen different food and drinking facilities for people at different levels.
Vaisya caste is also known as Vaisya Gotra.
Caste situation is quiet different in urban India, people in urban areas especially youngsters don?t bother about castes. Inter caste, inter religious, inter lingual marriages are quiet common in urban India. Inter caste, inter religious and inter lingual marriages in rural areas attract severe criticism and many times people are expelled from community for not marrying as per religious and caste rules.