 The "varnas" originated in Vedic society (c. 1500–500 BCE).The first three groups, Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishya have parallels with other Indo-European societies, while the addition of the Shudras is probably a Brahmanical invention from northern India.The "varna" system is propounded in revered Hindu religious texts, and understood as idealised human callings.