jati, also spelled jat caste, in Hindu society. The term is
derived from the Sanskrit jāta, “born” or “brought into
existence,” and indicates a form of existence determined by
birth. In Indian philosophy, jati (genus) describes any group of
things that have generic characteristics in common.
Sociologically, jati has come to be used universally to indicate
a caste group among Hindus.  Although the lawgivers of the
traditional Hindu codes (Dharma-shastras) themselves tend to
treat jatis as varnas (social classes) and try to account on
other occasions for jatis as products of alliances between the
four varnas (Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras) and
their descendants, a sharp distinction should be made between
jati as a limited regional endogamous group of families and
varna as a universal all-Indian model of social class. The
official Hindu view gives second place to jati as an aberration
of varna.  In different parts of India, certain caste groups
have sought respectability within the varna system by