Newar caste system

thumb|300px|Padmasambhāva|Padmasambhava, the archetypal vajra master in [[Tibetan Buddhism, holding a vajra and a skullcup, both important tantric ritual implements.]]

Śrēṣṭha is a Nepalese surname meaning "noble” or "great" in Sanskrit or "warrior" in Nepal Bhasa. Shrestha is one of the eponym surnames used by those belonging to the caste of Shresthas who prior to the unification of modern Nepal formed the ruling and administrative Kshatriya castes in the court of the Malla kings of Nepal. They also counted among them the trading and business Vaishya castes, and were the pre-eminent traders in between Nepal and Tibet. After the unification of Nepal, many Shresthas took up business and trading since their former positions as administrators and courtiers of t