Jāti (in
Devanagari: जाति,
Telugu:జాతి,
Kannada:ಜಾತಿ,
Malayalam: ജാതി,
Tamil:ஜாதி, literally "birth") is a group of clans, tribes, communities and sub-communities, and religions in India. Each jāti typically has an association with a traditional job function or tribe. Religious beliefs (e.g.
Sri Vaishnavism or Veera
Shaivism) or linguistic groupings may define some jatis.