These complexities are reflected in another term used in texts to refer to social categories- jati. In Brahmanical theory, jati, like varna was based on birth. However, while the number of varnas was fixed at four, there was no restriction on the number of jatis. In fact, whenever Brahmanical authorities encountered new groups- for instance, people living in forests such as the nishadas- or wanted to assign a name to occupational categories such as the goldsmith or suvarnakara, which did not easily fit into the fourfold varna system, they classified them as a jati. Jatis which shared a common occupation or profession were sometimes organised into shrenis or guilds.

We seldom come across documents that record the histories of these groups.

Certain communities were assigned a name of occupational category such as ______.

Suvarnakara

In fact, whenever Brahmanical authorities encountered new groups- for instance, people living in forests such as the nishadas- or wanted to assign a name to occupational categories such as the goldsmith or suvarnakara, which did not easily fit into the fourfold varna system, they classified them as a jati.