Hinduism has 4 castes... what do they actually symbolize?

It is the class identity of Hindu society.

four varnas: the Brahmins (teachers, scholars and priests), the Kshatriyas (kings and warriors), the Vaishyas (traders), and Shudras (agriculturists, service providers, and some artisan groups). Offspring of different varnas belong to different Jātis. Another group excluded from the main society was called Parjanya or Antyaja. This group of former "untouchables" (now called Dalits) was considered either the lower section of Shudras or outside the caste system altogether.

4 Castes In Hinduism

Who told you that Hinduism has 4 Castes? There is no Caste in Hinduism. It is an invention of corrupt and powerful Hindu men who used it as a political tool to exploit people.

Read the Upanishads: How did Jabala, the disciple of Saint Gautam become a Brahmin, inspite of being born of a Servant? "Brahman" means a knowledgeable person. It is NOT a Caste. Gautam was a true Brahmin, so he never hesitated to take Jabala as his disciple since he saw in him truthfulness when inquired about his parentage (example of good conduct).

Read the Mahabharata: Why did Yudhishtira say that one does not become a Brahmin by birth, neither by complete knowledge of the Vedas, but by conduct alone?

"Brahman" means a knowledgeable person. It is NOT a Caste. Chanakya was a true Brahmin, so he never hesitated to take Chandragupta, a person born among "Smlechhas", a class considered even "inferior" to the Shudras, as his disciple. He chose him to train him to be a ruler since he saw in him exemplary skill in delivering justice (example of good conduct).

Hinduism talks about Varna, i.e. classification of professions. A man could be a warrior, his brother could be a servant. This has nothing to do with birth.

In the later stages on Hinduism and since Manu distorted the teachings of Hinduism, he changed the very definition of Varna and it was no longer Varna since, as it gradually became Jati.

The bottomline is: Caste is based on birth. Varna is based on Profession. Hinduism talks about Varna, but never about Caste. Like Swami Vivekananda said, neither God nor Vedantic Hinduism ever differentiates between people of different Castes. Caste is not religion, it is a social norm.

You cant choose your caste.

You are born into them.

A stupid man does not become a sudra.

This is what has been practiced for several millenia.

There is a difference between caste and varna.

There are 4 varnas.

But there are numerous castes.

they were for the uses of Karma, if you lead a righteous life you came back as a member of the elite caste, if your were a scumbag you came back as a servant.