 Chronicles mention more castes than the four commonly known castes in the Hindu social system , some as many as seven castes . One traveller 's account mentions sixteen castes including the four basic castes of Brahmins , Kshatriya , Vaishya and Sudras . The <unk> or <unk> caste consisted of communities specialising in dance and acrobatics . People in the professions of sailing , hunting , weaving , <unk> , basket making and fishing belonged to specific castes or subcastes . The <unk> caste provided many menial services to the wealthy . Brahmins enjoyed the highest status in Rashtrakuta society ; only those Kshatriyas in the Sat @-@ Kshatriya sub @-@ caste ( noble Kshatriyas ) were higher in status . 
