Vaishya

Vaishya (Skt. vaiśya; T. rje'u rigs རྗེའུ་རིགས) is one of the four castes or social classes (varna) of traditional Indian society. The other three castes being priests (brahmin) warriors/rulers (kṣatriya), and servants (shudra).

Traditionally, the vaishya were the class of merchants and traders.

The Buddha and the early Buddhist sanghas accepted followers from all social classes.