Hinduism: Details about 'Brahmin'
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Who is a Brahmin?A Brahmin (ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣ, ब्राह्मण, Sanskrit pronunciation- braahmaNa) is a caste and a member of the Hindu. A Brahmin is considered twice-born due to the birth into a Brahmin Caste family and upanayana, initiation into Vedik education. The Brahmins are further divided into mainly priestly and non-preistly castes. The word is related to, but not to be confused with, the Hindu religious conception of the transcendent and immanent supreme soul, "Brahman" (ब्रह्म) or the religious texts related to Vedas, the Brahmanas Brahmins are one of many minority groups in India. In 1931, Brahmins were 4.32% of the total population. Brahmins even in Uttar Pradesh, where they are most numerous, constitute just 9 percent. In Tamil Nadu they form less than 3 percent and in Andhra Pradesh they are less than 2 percent. Also see: Dhammapada: Practices of the BrahminsMost of the practicing Brahmins adhere to the principles of Brahminism, such as acceptance of the Vedas with reverence; recognition of the fact that the means or ways to salvation and realization of the truth are diverse; God is one, but has innumerable names and forms to chant and worship due to our varied perceptions, cultures and languages; that a Brahmin works for the welfare of the entire society (sarvejanaassukhinobhavanti) and believes in vasudhaiva kutumbam (the whole world is one family); and so on. Daily practices of Brahmins include sandhyavandana (Gayatri prayer to Sun God), prayer to ishtadaiva or ilavelpu (personal God), yoga, ahimsa (non-violence), vegetarianism etc. Everything in the daily life of a Brahmin is a sacred ritual. However, special rituals include marriage, ritual of conception and consummation of the wedding, rituals of childbirth, naming ceremony, first feeding ceremony, the child’s first tonsure, upanayana (the sacred-thread ceremony - initiation into vedic learning and ritual), ritual baths, cremation rituals, shraaddha, etc. All of these rituals are very important for a practicing Brahmin. Also see: Deivatthin Kural: The Brahmin ScholarshipThe Vedas are the primary source of knowledge for all Brahmin traditions, both orthodox & heterodox. All religions of Brahmins and all traditions, in one way or other, take inspiration from the Vedas. Traditional Brahmin accepts Vedas as apaurusheyam (not composed by human), but revealed truths and of eternal validity or relevance and hence the Vedas are considered Srutis that which have been heard and are the paramount source of Brahmin traditions and is believed to be divine. These Srutis include not only the four Vedas (the Rigveda, the Yajurveda, the Samaveda and the Atharvaveda), but also their respective Brahmanas. Brahmins also give tremendous importance to purity of body and mind and hence attach importance to ritual baths and cleanliness. Due to the diversity in religious and cultural traditions and practices, and the Vedic schools which they belong to, Brahmins are further divided into various subcastes. During the sutra period, roughly between 1000 BC to 200 BC, Brahmins became divided into various Sakhas or branches, based on the adoption of different Vedas and different readings and interpretations of Vedas. Sects or schools for different denominations of the same Veda were formed, under the leadership of distinguished teachers among Brahmins. The teachings of these distinguished rishis are called sutras. Every Veda has its own sutras. The sutras that deal with social, moral and legal precepts are called dharma sutras, whereas those sutras that deal with ceremonials are called Srauta sutras and domestic rituals are called gruhya sutras. Sutras are generally written in prose or in mixed prose and verse. These sutras are based on divine Vedas and are manmade and hence are called Smritis, meaning “recollected or remembered.” There are several Brahmin law givers such as Angirasa, Apasthambha, Atri, Brihaspati, Boudhayana, Daksha, Gautama, Harita, Katyayana, Likhita, Manu, Parasara, Samvarta, Sankha, Satatapa, Usanasa, Vasishta, Vishnu, Vyasa, Yajnavalkya and Yama. These twenty-one rishis were the propounders of Dharma Sastras or sutras. There is a lot of contradiction among these Dharma Sastras, even within one Smriti. These differences in the rules and rituals resulted in the rigid stratification of subcastes among Brahmins. None of these smritis is supreme and universally applicable. The oldest among these Dharma sutras are Apasthambha, Baudhayana, Gautama and Vasishta Sutras.
Manu Smriti The Brahmin communitiesMajor Brahmin castes in the Indian Continent are divided into two regional groups. Pancha-Gauda: Those from North or Eastern India: Kanyakubja, Saryupareen Brahmins, Gouda Saraswat Brahmins, Khandelwal Brahmins, Kota Brahmins, Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins, Saraswat Brahmins, Bhumihar Brahmins, Maithili Brahmins, Dadhich Brahmin, Gaur Brahmin, Kashmiri Pandits, khedaval, Kulin Brahmins, Mohyal Brahmins etc. Pancha-Dravida: Living in Dakshinapatha (including Gujarat): Bardai Brahmins, Chitpavana Brahmins, Daivajna Brahmins, Deshastha Brahmins, Dhima Brahmins, Havyaka Brahmins, Hoysala Karnataka Brahmins, Iyers, Kandavara Brahmins, Kannada Brahmins, Karade Brahmins, Karhada Brahmins, Kayastha Brahmins, Konkanastha Brahmins, Koteshwara Brahmins, Nagar Brahmins, Namboothiri Brahmins, Niyogi Brahmins, Padia Brahmins, Saklapuri Brahmins, Sanketi Brahmins, Shivalli Brahmins, Sthanika Brahmins, Telugu Brahmins, Thenkalai Iyengars, Tuluva Brahmins, Vadagalai Iyengars, Vaidiki Brahmins etc. They can also be grouped according to sampradaya (philosophical schools) : Smarta Brahmins, Vaishnava Brahmins, Madhva, Advaita, Vishishtadvaita etc. The Brahmin goals have been the spiritual enlightenment, peace and prosperity of the whole society. Brahmins played an extraordinary role in the spread of knowledge and vitalizing the Indian society for millennia and resulted into extrordinary diversity of Indian cultures and religious traditions.
Vepachedu: References1) Mayne’s "Treatise on Hindu Law and Usage." 2) "Hindu Castes and Sects," Jogendranath Bhattacharya. 3) "Andhra Viprula Gotramulu, Indla Perlu, Sakhalu," by Emmesroy Sastri. 4) "History and Culture of Andhra Pradesh," Rao PR. 5) "History of India," Herman Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund. 6) "Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies", Abbe J. A. Dubois 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) See also
RelatedTopics in HinduismBrahmaanid バラモン Brahmanas Bramin Brâmane Brahmin Bà-la-môn 婆罗门
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