Caste system in Nepal

thumb| Representation of the varna system hierarchy, depicting Brahmins (priests) at the highest level and Dalits (historically marginalized as untouchables, considered outside the varna system) at the lowest stratum.

In Hindu culture, the term gotra (Sanskrit: गोत्र) is considered to be equivalent to lineage. It broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor or patriline. Generally, the gotra forms an exogamous unit, with marriage within the same gotra being regarded as incest and prohibited by custom. The name of the gotra can be used as a surname, but it is different from a surname and is strictly maintained because of its importance in marriages among Hindus, especially among castes. Pāṇini defines gotra as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram (IV. 1. 162), wh

social system in South Asia

The Damai ( ; IAST: Damāĩ) is an occupational caste found among indigenous people comprising 45 subgroups. Their surnames take after the subgroup they belong to. People belonging to this caste are traditionally tailors and musicians capable of using the Naumati baja - an ensemble of nine traditional musical instruments. The term Damai is coined from the musical instrument Damaha. The 1854 Nepalese Muluki Ain (Legal Code) categorized Damai as a "Lower caste”.

Rajopadhyaya also called Newa Brahmin (Nepali: राजोपाध्याय) is the main division of the Newar Brahmins in Nepal. The Rajopadhyayas claim to have originated in Kannauj, or modern day Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh, India. Kannauj is a city with a prestigious history from where the Bahun also claim to come. They, along with Bahun, claim to be a sub-division of Kānyakubja Brāhmins.

traditional social system in Nepal