What is the name of the highest ranking group of the Indian caste system?

In the traditional Hindu social hierarchy, known as the varna system, the group at the highest level consisted of priests, teachers, and intellectuals. This group, the Brahmans, was entrusted with the crucial responsibilities of performing religious rituals, studying and teaching the sacred texts known as the Vedas, and serving as the spiritual guides for society. Their function as the keepers of sacred knowledge and divine rites placed them at the pinnacle of the social order, tasked with upholding both cosmic and moral harmony.

An ancient creation myth from the Rigveda, a foundational Hindu text, offers a symbolic origin for this structure. The story describes the sacrifice of a cosmic being, Purusha, from whose body the different social classes emerged. The Brahmans were said to have come from Purusha's mouth, representing their role as speakers of sacred wisdom. In contrast, the warriors (Kshatriyas) emerged from his arms, the merchants (Vaishyas) from his thighs, and the laborers (Shudras) from his feet.

This four-tiered system created a rigid social order determined by birth. While the caste system is officially abolished in modern India, its deep historical and cultural roots mean its legacy continues to influence aspects of society today.