Since its inception, the science of the Indian caste fed from two main sources - the sacred books of Hindus, and observations of living reality, whereas the actual historical sources, until recently, little used. The paucity of historical material can hardly explain it, even that which was open to the scientists, rarely are reflected in the pages of their works. Probably the main reason is that the cast has never been considered as a dead institution. She was always "at hand" and is always able to answer almost any question-. Of course, played a role, and superstition, from which proceeded in silence for a long time a generation of scholars, about the supposed permanence and immutability of caste. Interest in historical sources to really become apparent only in our days, when the idea of the immutability of caste has lost its force.The sacred books of Hindu epics, shastras, created over many centuries, held a near monopoly position in the first stages of the study of caste. Do not they have lost their importance today. The reason for this lies in the huge volume of literature, its wealth, which allows each generation of scientists to find it for yourself something new. Researchers use it to get information about social structure and political structure, the role of various social institutions in the public zhizyi subcontinent. This literature reveals the spiritual world and the society, its main ideas.Limitations of this kind of scientific texts as the source is not just naive to the modern point of view, the explanation of social phenomena, but also in their bias. Their compilers were generally Brahmans, eager, to assert its dominant position in society. They drew a social order that is in their interest, but that is unlikely to match reality. The information contained in the Hindu texts, the actual information is greatly impaired by the fact that most of them are still unclear where and when they were created, who were their authors, and what goals they have set themselves. However, this does not mean that the data sources have said his last word. As scientists answer the questions "who" "where," "when" and "why" ancient works will reveal more and more their wealth.Another major source of the study are descriptions of caste caste and the caste system, coming from the pen of a foreign - travelers, traders, administrators, missionaries, scientists, among whom were Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Chinese, etc., and later - Arabs , Turks, Afghans, Persians, Portuguese, French, English and the Indians themselves, whose role became dominant after 1947