The majority of castes are provided with a legend devised by the Brahmans to show that their first ancestor was especially created by a god to follow their caste calling, or at least that this was assigned to him by a god.

The ancestors of the bearer-caste of Kahars were created by Siva or Mahadeo from the dust to carry his consort Parvati in a litter when she was tired; the first Mang was made by Mahadeo from his own sweat to castrate the divine bull Nandi when he was fractious, and his descendants have ever since followed the same calling, the impiety of mutilating the sacred bull in such a manner being thus excused by the divine sanction accorded to it.

The first Mali or gardener gave a garland to Krishna.

The first Chamar or tanner made sandals for Siva from a piece of his own skin; the ancestor of the Kayasth or writer caste, Chitragupta, keeps the record of men's actions by which they are judged in the infernal regions after death; and so on.
45.Subcastes.local type.
All important castes are divided into a number of subordinate groups or subcastes, which as a rule marry and take food within their own circle only.

Certain differences of status frequently exist among the subcastes of the occupational or social type, but these are usually too minute to be recognised by outsiders.