who created the caste system in india

The caste system in India is generally considered to have ancient origins, rooted in the varna system that dates back over 3,000 years. According to traditional Hindu belief, the caste system originated from the body of the Hindu god Brahma, where the four main varnas (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras) were created from different parts of Brahma's body. This is described in ancient texts like Manusmriti, which justifies the caste system as a social order based on duty and occupation. Sociologically and historically, the caste system evolved over time from social, economic, and occupational divisions that solidified into hereditary groups. Archaeological evidence suggests customs similar to caste existed in the Indus Valley Civilization. The system became more rigid over centuries, influenced by religious, cultural, and political factors including post-Vedic developments. British colonial rule further codified and reinforced caste divisions through administrative policies, but the caste system itself predates their rule by millennia. In summary, the caste system was not "created" by any single individual or group but evolved as a complex socio-religious structure originally conceptualized in ancient Hindu scriptures, notably linking to the varna framework from the god Brahma, and reinforced through history by various social and political forces.