In the first millennium BC, the Vedic period in the history of Hinduism was replaced by Brahmanism, which is associated with the appearance of commentaries on the Vedas – Brahman and Upanishads. During this period, the caste system of Indian society was entrenched, which was divided into the varnas of brahmanas (priests), kshatriyas (warriors), vaisyas (farmers, artisans, merchants) and sudras (servants and laborers), while the brahmana priests took leading positions in the hierarchy of Hinduism … They made sacrifices to the gods, performed rituals, served as advisers to the kings, held in their hands a monopoly on literacy, sacred texts, knowledge.