BRAHMIN
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(Redirected from Brahmins)
:''This page deals with the Hindu varnas. For other uses of this word and similar words, see Brahmana, Brahman and Brahman (disambiguation). For the family of moths known as 'brahmin moths', see Brahmaeidae''
The term 'Brahmin' denotes both a member of the priestly class in the Hindu ''varna'' system, and a member of a caste in the caste system of Hindu society.
The Sanskrit word '' denotes priestly class () and caste (tribe).[1][2][3] The Sanskrit terms '' and '' ("belonging to Brahman") are also used.[4] The English word ''brÄhmin'' is an anglicised form of vernacular word ''brÄhman'', with a short central vowel in the last syllable .
Brahmins are also called 'Vipra' "inspired",[5] or 'Dvija' "twice-born".[6]
Brahmins are one of many minority groups in India. In 1931 (the last Indian census to record caste), Brahmins accounted for 4.32% of the total population. Brahmins even in Uttar Pradesh, where they were most numerous, constituted just 9%. In Tamil Nadu they formed less than 3% and in Andhra Pradesh, less than 2%.[7]
Main articles: History of Hinduism
The history of the Brahmin community in India begins with the Vedic religion, also known as Brahminsm or Sanatana Dharma, in ancient India. The Vedas are the primary source of knowledge for brahmin practices. All the sampradayas of Brahmins take inspiration from the Vedas. According to Brahmin tradition, it is believed that Vedas are '' (not written by either humans or god) and ''anÄdi'' (beginning-less), but are revealed truths of eternal validity. Accordig to Rigveda, Mandala 10 (or chapter / adhyÄya 8), brahmins were ''situated'' ("ÄsÄ«ta")in the mouth of at the beginning of Creation (in , which occurs in YV.32 also).
The Vedas are considered ''Åšruti'' (''that which is heard'', signifying the oral tradition). The "Brahmanas" "Manusmiriti" notVedas are the primary source of knowledge for all Brahmin traditions, both orthodox and 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 man-made), 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 are a very diverse community. Major Brahmin castes in the Indian Continent include Chitpavana Brahmins, Daivajna Brahmins, Deshastha Brahmins, Dhima Brahmins, Gouda Saraswat Brahmins, Havyaka Brahmins, Hoysala Karnataka Brahmins, Iyers, Kandavara Brahmins, Karade Brahmins, Karhada Brahmins, Kayastha Brahmins, Khandelwal Brahmins, Kota Brahmins, Konkanastha Brahmins, Koteshwara Brahmins, Nagar Brahmins, Namboothiri Brahmins, Niyogi Brahmins, Padia Brahmins, Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins, Saklapuri Brahmins, Sanketi Brahmins, Saraswat Brahmins, Shivalli Brahmins, Smarta Brahmins, Sthanika Brahmins, Thenkalai Iyengars, Tuluva Brahmins, Vadagalai Iyengars, Vaidiki Brahmins and Vaishnava Brahmins. According to the Rev. M.A. Sherring, there were some 2,000 Brahmin groups.[8]
These Brahmin castes are broadly divided into two regional groups: 'Pancha-Gauda Brahmins' and 'Pancha-Dravida Brahmins' as per the shloka,
करà¥à¤£à¤¾à¤Ÿà¤•à¤¾à¤¶à¥à¤š तैलंगा दà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤µà¤¿à¤¡à¤¾ महाराषà¥à¤Ÿà¥à¤°à¤•à¤¾à¤ƒ,
गà¥à¤°à¥à¤œà¤°à¤¾à¤¶à¥à¤šà¥‡à¤¤à¤¿ पञà¥à¤šà¥ˆà¤µ दà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤µà¤¿à¤¡à¤¾ विनà¥à¤§à¥à¤¯à¤¦à¤•à¥à¤·à¤¿à¤£à¥‡ ||
सारसà¥à¤µà¤¤à¤¾à¤ƒ कानà¥à¤¯à¤•à¥à¤¬à¥à¤œà¤¾ गौडा उतà¥à¤•à¤²à¤®à¥ˆà¤¥à¤¿à¤²à¤¾à¤ƒ,
पनà¥à¤šà¤—ौडा इति खà¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤¤à¤¾ विनà¥à¤§à¥à¤¸à¥à¤¯à¥‹à¤¤à¥à¤¤à¤°à¤µà¤¾à¤¸à¤¿à¤¨à¤ƒ ||[9]
Translation: Karnataka, Telugu (Andhra), Dravida (Tamil and Kerala), Maharashtra and Gujarat are Five Southern (Panch Dravida). Saraswata, Kanyakubja, Gauda, Utkala, Maithili are Five Northern (Pancha Gauda). This classification occurs in Rajatarangini of Kalhana and is mentioned by Jogendra Nath Bhattacharya in "Hindu Castes and Sects." [10]
Panch Dravida (the five classes of Southern India): 1) Andhra, 2) Dravida (Tamil and Kerala), 3) Karnataka, 4) Maharashtra and Konkon, and 5) Gujarat.
In Andhra Pradesh, Brahmins are broadly classified into 2 groups: Vaidika (meaning educated in vedas and performing religious vocations) and Niyogi (performing only secular vocation), which are further divided into several sub-castes. However, majority of Brahmins, both Vaidika and Niyogi, perform only secular professions. [11]
In Kerala, Brahmins are classified into three groups: Namboothiris, Pottis and Pushpakas. (Pushpakas are commonly clubbed with Ampalavasi community). The major priestly activities are performed by Namboothiris while the other temple related activities known as Kazhakam are performed by Pushpaka Brahmins and other Ampalavasis. Sri Adi Shankara was born in Kalady, a village in Kerala, to a Namboothiri Brahmin couple, Shivaguru and Aryamba and lived for thirty-two years. The Namboothiri Brahmins, Potti Brahmins and Pushpaka Brahmins in Kerala follow the Philosophies of Sri Adi Sankaracharya. The Brahmins migrated to Kerala from Tamil Nadu are known as Pattar in Kerala. They possess almost same status of Potti Brahmins in Kerala.
In Tamil Nadu, Brahmins belong to 2 major groups: Iyer including dikshitar, shastri, sharma and gurukkal of Smarthas, the followers of Sri Adi Shankaracharya , Sri-Vaishnavas (Iyengars), who are the followers of Sri Ramanujacharya's vision.
In Karnataka, Brahmins belong to 3 major groups: Smarthas, the followers of Sri Adi Shankaracharya, Madhvas (or Vaishnavas) who are the followers of Sri Madhvacharya, and Sri-Vaishnavas (Iyengars), who are the followers of Sri Ramanujacharya and Srimathe Vedanta Desika.
In Maharashtra, Brahmins are classified into four groups: Chitpavan Konkanastha Brahmins, Deshastha Brahmin and Karhade Brahmin, Devrukhe. As the name indicates, Kokanastha Brahmin are from Konkan area. Deshastha Brahmin are from other plains region of Maharashtra. Karhade Brahmins are perhaps from Karhatak, and an ancient region in India that included present day south Maharashtra and northern Karnataka, Devrukhe Brihamins are from Devrukh near Ratnagiri.
Panch Gaur (the five classes of Northern India): 1) Saraswata, 2) Kanyakubja, 3) Gauá¸a brahmins, 4) Utkala Brahmin, and 5) Maithil Brahmin. In addition, for the purpose of giving an account of Northern Brahmins each of the provinces must be considered separately, such as, North Western Provinces and Pakistan, Gandhar, Punjab, Kashmir, Sindh, Rajputana, Kurukshetra, Oudh, Central India, Trihoot, Bihar, Orissa, Bengal, Assam etc.
In Bihar, majority of Brahmins are Bhumihar Brahmins and Maithil Brahmins.
In Haryana, the brahmin classified in mainly Dahima/Dayama/Dahima brahmin, Gaud brahmin, Khandelwal brahmin.
In Punjab, they are classified as Saraswat Brahmins.
In Rajasthan, the Brahmins are classified in mainly Dahima/Dayama/Dahima brahmin, Gaud Brahmin, Sri Gaud Brahmin, Khandelwal Brahmin, Gujar-Gaud Brahmins.
In general, gotra denotes all persons who trace descent in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as ' apatyam pautraprabh
★ rti gotram' (IV. 1. 162), which means 'the word gotra denotes the progeny (of a sage) beginning with the son's son. When a person says ' I am Kashypasa-gotra' he means that he traces his descent from the ancient sage Kashyapa by unbroken male descent. According to the Baudhâyanas'rauta-sûtra ViÅ›vÄmitra, Jamadagni, Bharadvâja, Gautama, Atri, Vasishtha, Kashyapa and Agastya are 8 sages; the progeny of these eight sages is declared to be gotras. This enumeration of eight primary gotras seems to have been known to PÄnini. The offspring (apatya) of these eight are gotras and others than these are called ' gotrâvayava '.
The gotras are arranged in groups, e. g. there are according to the Âsvalâyana-srautasûtra four subdivisions of the Vasishtha gana, viz. Upamanyu, ParÄshara, Kundina and Vasishtha (other than the first three). Each of these four again has numerous sub-sections, each being called gotra. So the arrangement is first into ganas, then into pakshas, then into individual gotras. The first has survived in the Bhrigu and Ä€ngirasa gana. According to Baud, the principal eight gotras were divided into pakshas. The pravara of Upamanyu is Vasishtha, Bharadvasu, Indrapramada; the pravara of the Parâshara gotra is Vasishtha, Shâktya, Pârâsharya; the pravara of the Kundina gotra is Vasishtha, Maitrâvaruna, Kaundinya and the pravara of Vasishthas other than these three is simply Vasishtha. It is therefore that some define pravara as the group of sages that distinguishes the founder (lit. the starter) of one gotra from another.
There are two kinds of pravaras, 1) sishya-prasishya-rishi-parampara, and 2) putrparampara. Gotrapravaras can be ekarsheya, dwarsheya, triarsheya, pancharsheya, saptarsheya, and up to 19 rishis. Kashyapasa gotra has at least two distinct pravaras in Andhra Pradesh: one with three sages (triarsheya pravara) and the other with seven sages (saptarsheya pravara). This pravara may be either sishya-prasishya-rishi-parampara or putraparampara. When it is sishya-prasishya-rishi-parampara marriage is not acceptable if half or more than half of the rishis are same in both bride and bridegroom gotras. If it is putraparampara, marriage is totally unacceptable even if one rishi matches.
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 BCE to 200 BCE, Brahmins became divided into various Shakhas (branches), based on the adoption of different Vedas and different rescension Vedas. Sects for different denominations of the same branch of the Vedas were formed, under the leadership of distinguished teachers among Brahmins.
There are several Brahmin law givers such as Angirasa, Apasthambha, Atri, Brihaspati, Boudhayana, Daksha, Gautam, Harita, Katyayana, Likhita, Manu,[12] Parasara, Samvarta, Shankha, Shatatapa, Ushanasa, Vashishta, Vishnu, Vyasa, Yajnavalkya and Yama. These twenty-one rishis were the propounders of Smritis. The oldest among these smritis are Apastamba, Baudhayana, Gautama, and Vasishta Sutras.
Brahmins adhere to the principles of Brahmanism or Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism, such as acceptance of the Vedas with reverence, adherence to the position that the means or ways to salvation and realization of the ultimate truth are diverse, that God is one, but has innumerable names and forms to chant and worship due to our varied perceptions, cultures and languages. Brahmins believe in '' — Let the entire society be happy and prosperous and '' — the whole world is one family. Most Brahmins practice vegetarianism or lacto-vegetarianism. However, some may follow veganism or ovo-lacto-vegetarianism or pescetarianism. In addition, many prominent communists and atheists in India are of Brahmin origin.
The six duties of Brahmin are given as per the Sloka
Teaching, study (''svÄdhyÄya''), performing Yajna, make performing Yajna, accept Daana, and give Daana are the six duties of a Brahmin.
In the ancient times the priests were expected to have control of their emotions, control of senses, purity, truthfulness, tolerance, simplicity, renounce material wealth and have sustenance from other community, belief in God, and studying and teaching of sacred scriptures.
The daily routine[13] includes performing
★ Snana (bathing),
★ Sandhyavandana,
★ Japa,
★ Puja,
★ Aupasana and
★ Agnihotra.
The last two named Yajnas are performed in only a few households today. Brahmacharis perform Agnikaryam instead of Agnihotra or Aupasana. The other rituals followed include Amavasya tarpanam and Shraddha.
''See also: Nitya karma and Kaamya karma''
Brahmins also perform sixteen major Samskaras (rites) during the course of their lifetime.[14]
★ In the pre-natal stage,
★
★ Garbhadharana (conception),
★
★ Pumsavana (rite for consecrating a male child in the womb) and
★
★ Simantonnayana (rite for parting the hair of a pregnant woman) are performed.
★ During infancy,
★
★ Jatakarma (birth ceremony),
★
★ Namakarana (naming ceremony),
★
★ Nishkarmana (first outing),
★
★ Annaprasana (first feeding solid food),
★
★ Choodakarana (first tonsure) and
★
★ Karnavedha (ear piercing) are performed.
★ During childhood and adolescence of the child,
★
★ Vidhyarambha (starting of education),
★
★ Upanayanam (thread ceremony- initiation),
★
★ Vedarambha (starting of the study of the Vedas),
★
★ Keshanta or Godana (first shaving of the beard) and
★
★ Samavartanam or Snaana (ending of studentship) are performed.
★ During adulthood,
★
★ Vivaha (marriage)
★
★ Nisheka (first sexual intercourse, 4 days after marriage) and
★
★ Antyesti (funeral rites) are the main ceremonies.
The three sampradayas (traditions) of Brahmins, especially in South India are the Smarta sampradaya, the Srivaishnava sampradaya and the Madhva sampradaya.
Brahmins feature extensively in Buddhist canonical texts i.e. the Tripitaka, and are found among the chief disciples of the Buddha. The Brahmana Varga (section on Brahmins) contained in the Dharmapada lists down the Buddha's views on Brahmins[15]
★ Abhaya Raja (built Mahabouddha temple with his descendants in Patan, Nepal in year 1604)[16]
★ Asvaghosa (wrote the 'Buddhacharita' and is considered along with Nagarjuna to have founded the Mahayana). His philosophy was favored in the court of King Kanishka.
★ Atapa
★ Bakula[17]
★ Bhitka (Buddha's fifth successor)
★ Cuda Panthaka[18]
★ Dignaga
★ Gopaka[18]
★ Guhyashila[20]
★ Harita[21] (wrote the "Harita Dharmasutra")
★ Humkara[22]
★ Jnanadharma[23]
★ Kacanna[24]
★ Kamashila (Kashmiri Pandit)
★ Kalika[18]
★ Kumarajiva (was imprisoned in China for spreading Buddhism)
★ Kanaka (Yamantaka Tantra)
★ Kukuraja[26]
★ Manjushri (The mentor of Asoka)[27]
★ Padma (woman)
★ Palden Dekyong[28]
★ Pingala-Koccha (preached to the Buddha the CÅ«lasÄropama Sutta, after which he became a dedicated student of the Buddha)
★ Radhasvami (another mentor of Asoka)[27]
★ Majnushrimitra[30]
★ Nagasena[31]
★ Narpola (student of Tipola)
★ Sahara (master of Tipola)
★ Sariputra
★ Shantideva
★ Shantarakshita (Kashmiri Pandit)
★ Subha
★ Subhadra
★ Subrahman (coming father of Bodhisattva Maitreya)
★ Tipola (Mahasiddha, from modern-day Bangladesh)
★ Vakkali
★ Vanavasi[18]
Aryadeva (successor of Nagarjuna)
Asangha (from Hinayana sect and Peshwar city founded the Yogacarya and established the
Classical age of Buddhism)
★ Bodhidharma (royalty of Pallava, from Kanchi) that went to China
★ Brahmadatta
★ Nagarjuna (founded the Shunyata concept and considered along with Asvaghosa to have founded the Mahayana)
★ Kusanda Buddha
★ Konagamana Buddha
★ Kasyapsa Buddha
★ Kshitagarbha
★ Maitreya (Bodhisattva to come)
★ Parmasambhava (founder of Vajrayana Buddhism)
Because of the aim of the Brahmins, and the Buddha following on their path, several Buddhist texts have been dedicated to them.[33]
★ Annatara Brahmana Sutta: To a Brahmin
★ Aññatra Sutta: To a certain Brahman (SN XII.46)
★ Brahmana Sutta 1: To Unnabha the Brahman
★ Cankii Sutta: To the Brahmin Cankii
★ Esukaari Sutta: To the Brahmin Esukari
★ Janussoni Brahmana Sutta: To the Brahmin Janussoni
★ Ganakamoggallaanasuttam B: To the Brahmin Ganakamoggallaana
★ Paccha-bhumika Sutta: To Brahmins of the Western Land (SN XLII.6)
★ Saleyyaka Sutta A: The Brahmins of Sela
★ Saleyyaka Sutta B: The Brahmans of Salahar"
There have been Brahmin Buddhists too in Buddhist kingdoms.
★ In Cambodia (Sanskrit Kambhoja) there is an edict saying that King Jayavarman and his son Rudravarman build a monument in dedication of Lord Buddha and appointed a Brahmin to protect it.[34]
★ In Sri Lanka, Maha Adigar was the first Buddhist emperor of Sri Lanka, converting many to Buddhism.[35]
★ In 120 BC, the Indo-Greek King Milinda converted to Buddhism under sage Nagasena.
★ The Shunga Dynasty is thought by neo-Buddhists as an anti-Buddhist dynasty but the Shungas themselves built a stupa dedicated to the Buddha at Baharut.
★ The founder of the new Jain religion was the Tirthankara or Jina Mahavira but his first convert was Indrabhuti (aka Gautamswami) the Brahmin, who headed a group of other Brahmins and converted them to Jainism. He was from the village Gobbar (also called Govarya) near Rajgriha.
★ Sajjambhava was another born from Rajgriha and was elected the head of the Jain temple. He is famous for his composition of the "Dasavaikalika Sutra."
★ Acharya Vidyanand is a Brahmin of the Dhigambar Jain sect and compiled in the Sanskrit language, "Ashta Shahastri" with eight thousand verses.
★ Acharya Shushil Kumar, known better to Jains as "Guruji", was born a Vaidik in the Shakarpur village of the Haryana province. At the age of 15, he took Diksha (became a sanyassin) into the Sthanakvasi, a Swhetambara sub-sect.
★ There is also a story about a wealthy Brahmin named Dhangiri in the town of Tumbhivan, who, when heard the sermons of the Jain Acharya Sinhgiri, while he regularly listened to but later lost his interest in wealth and decided to take the Diksha.
★ Umasvati was a composer who was so loved by Jains that he is considered by the Dhigambar sect to be a Dhigambar member and the Svetambara sect to be a Svetambara member.
★ The Jain Acharya Bhadrabahu of Pundravardhana is said to be the preceptor of Chandragupta Maurya of the Mauryan dynasty, grandfather of Ashoka the Buddhist ruler.
★ A copperplate grant from the Gupta period found in the vincity of Somapura mentioned a Brahmin donating land to a Jain vihara at Vatagohali.
★ A Brahmin general by the name of Vasudeva in the army of Kamadeva in the Vijayaditya dynasty had built a temple to Lord Parshvanath.
★ The Kadamba kings of Palasika were Jain Brahmins who supported Jainism and gave land grants and erected many temples and hence, patronised Jainism. This supports the view that Jainism entered South India through the West and perhaps from Ujjayini itself.
★ King Mrigesavarman of the Kadamba dynasty of palasika further went on to give grants to Yapaniyas, Nigranthas and Kurchakas.
★ The Brahmin Haribhadra was a pupil of Jinabhadra (or Jinabhata) and Jinadatta and later received the title of "Suri" (an honorable epithet of learning Jain monks.)
Brahmins have immensely contributed to the making of modern India and to the world in fields such as literature, science and technology, politics, culture, and religion.
Brahmins played an extraordinary role in the spread of knowledge and vitalizing the Indian society for millennia. Recently, in the freedom movement and national revitalization movements they proved their merit by playing their traditional role as usual. Brahmin tribe’s contribution in fighting against the British imperialism was immense. One can give innumerable examples of Brahmin contributions. Their role and participation was great in various legislative bodies. During the Indian independence movement, many Brahmins, including Mangal Pandey, Balgangadhar Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, C. Rajagopalachari, Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, Basawon Singh (Sinha), Yogendra Shukla, and Sheel Bhadra Yajee, to name just a few, were at the forefront of the struggle for freedom. Jawaharlal Nehru, a Brahmin, was the first Prime Minister of India. Other Brahmins who later attained this position are Morarji Desai, P.V. Narasimha Rao and Atal Behari Vajpayee. Among the great Brahmin scholars and writers are Nobel laureates Rabindranath Tagore and V. S. Naipaul and others like Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan, Subramanya Bharathy, Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar', Suryakant Tripathi Nirala, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Great Brahmin scientists include Nobel Laureate Sir C.V.Raman and Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, and great Brahmin mathematicians include Srinivasa Ramanujan and C. P. Ramanujam.
For a short time after the independence, they maintained good positions in various fields. However, within a few decades they lost their prominence. Their role and participation slowly dwindled down in every aspect of power structure. They lost completely in political arena. Brahmins, who influenced and organized infinite numbers of people into action by pouring all their energies and efforts, now have no place and role in the society. [36] and [37]
★ Varnas
★ Brahmin Communities
★ Maithil BrÄhamana
★ Brahmanism
★ Forward Castes
★ List of famous Brahmins
★ Social cycle theory
1. For definition of the noun बà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤®à¤£à¤ƒ '' as "1. A man belonging to the first of the four classes ('' instead of ''castes'' in Apte's Skt-Hindi dictionary) of the Hindus, a (priest) (born from the mouth of the ''Purusha'')"; and the adjective बà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤®à¤£ '' as "''a''. 1. Belonging to a ", and other meanings, see: , ; on p.901 of the latter, Apte gave one of the meanings of as ''caste'' but qualified it with a statement :"mainly people of four of , vaiÅ›ya (merchants), Å›udra (artisans)}}", and did not permit use of the term for any caste other than these four.
2. For definition of बà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤®à¤£ '', with last syllable showing a Vedic accent, used as a noun as "m. (having to do with Brahman ''or'' divine knowledge), one learned in the Veda, theologian, priest, , man of the first four castes"; and definition of बà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤®à¤£ '', with only first syllable showing a Vedic accent, used as an adjective as "''a''. (i) belonging to a , BrÄhmanic", see: .
3. For definition of '', with last syllable showing Vedic accents, as a noun, "''m''., one who has divine knowledge, a . a man belonging to the 1st of the 3 twice-born classes and of the 4 original divisions of the body", and the adjective '', with first syllable showing a Vedic accent, as "relating to or given by a , befitting or becoming a Br., BrÄhmanical", see: Monier-Williams, p. 741, middle column. Cf. Rgveda, Pune Edition, vol-5 (index), p.408 in which all occurrences of '' as first person singular show anudÄtta (absence of accent) on first two syllables.
4. For definition of the neuter noun '' (with Vedic accent on first syllable) as "n. the class of men who are the repositories and communicators of sacred knowledge, the BramÄnical caste as a body (rarely an individual BrÄhman)"; and the masuline noun '' (with Vedic accent on final syllable) as "one who prays, a devout or religious man, a BrÄhman who is a knower of Vedic texts or spells, one versed in sacred knowledge", see: MW, pp. 737-738.
5. Monier-Williams : inspired, inwardly ''stir''red, wise, learned, etc.
6. 'Dvija was used more frequently for Brahmins, but it also included and Vaiśyas who were "reborn through investiture with the sacred thread" - Monier-Williams.
7. [1]
8. [2]
9. BrÄhmanotpatti Martanda, cf. Dorilal Sharma,p.41-42
10. [3]
11. [4]
12. Manu Smriti on learning of the Vedas
13. A day in the life of a Brahmin
14. The Forty Samskaras
15. http://www.serve.com/cmtan/Dhammapada/holyman.html
16. http://www.catmando.com/casinosnepal/july/buddhist.htm Mahabouddha temple
17. http://www.luxlapis.co.za/arahats.htm Arhants
18. http://www.luxlapis.co.za/arahats.htm
19. http://www.luxlapis.co.za/arahats.htm
20. http://www.cipa.emory.edu/pdf/TibetanResearch_Mull.pdf
21. http://teozofija.info/Blavatsky_Hindustan_Chapter_III.htm
22. http://rywiki.tsadra.org/index.php/Glossary_from_The_Great_Image
23. http://www.khandro.net/deity_Manjushri.htm
24. http://www.diva-portal.org/diva/getDocument?urn_nbn_se_vxu_diva-488-2__fulltext.pdf
25. http://www.luxlapis.co.za/arahats.htm
26. http://www.khandro.net/animal_dog.htm
27. http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/f/fa-hien/f15l/chapter27.html
28. shambhala.com
29. http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/f/fa-hien/f15l/chapter27.html
30. http://www.keithdowman.net/lineage/dzokchen_masters.htm#Manjushrimitra:
31. http://www.newsfinder.org/site/comments/nagasena
32. http://www.luxlapis.co.za/arahats.htm
33. http://www.buddhistinformation.com/ida_b_wells_memorial_sutra_library/
34. http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Mar272005/ac2.asp
35. http://www.mysrilanka.com/travel/lanka/people/ehelepola.htm
36. [5]
37. [6]
★ .
★ .
★ .
★ .
★ . The Editorial Board for the First Edition included N. S. Sontakke (Managing Editor), V. K. , M. M. , and T. S. . This work is entirely in Sanskrit.
★ A History of Brahmin Clans () in Hindi, by DorilÄl ÅšarmÄ,published by RÄÅ›triya BrÄhamana MahÄsabhÄ, Vimal Building, JamirÄbÄd, Mitranagar, MasÅ«dÄbÄd,Aligarh-1, 2nd ed-1998. (This Hindi book contains the most exhaustive list of Brahmana gotras and pravaras together their real and mythological histories).
★ Mayne's ''"Treatise on Hindu Law and Usage''.
★ Kane, Pandurang Vaman, "History of dharmasastra" (ancient and mediæval religious and civil law in India)
★ ''Hindu Castes and Sects'' Jogendranath Bhattacharya.
★ ''Andhra Viprula Gotramulu, Indla Perlu, Sakhalu'' by Emmesroy Sastri.
★ ''History and Culture of Andhra Pradesh'' Rao PR.
★ ''History of India'' Herman Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund.
★ ''Acharalu sastriyata''Narayanareddi Patil.
★ ''Hindu Manners, Customs, and Ceremonies'' Abbe J. A. Dubois
★ (Manusmriti) : Available online as The Laws of Manu
★ About Kerala Iyers, a.k.a ''Pattars'' , the brahmins who moved to Kerala centuries ago from Tamil Nadu
★ List Of Andhra Brahmins And Surnames
★ A Long List of Brahmin Castes and Sub-castes
:''This page deals with the Hindu varnas. For other uses of this word and similar words, see Brahmana, Brahman and Brahman (disambiguation). For the family of moths known as 'brahmin moths', see Brahmaeidae''
The term 'Brahmin' denotes both a member of the priestly class in the Hindu ''varna'' system, and a member of a caste in the caste system of Hindu society.
The Sanskrit word '' denotes priestly class () and caste (tribe).[1][2][3] The Sanskrit terms '' and '' ("belonging to Brahman") are also used.[4] The English word ''brÄhmin'' is an anglicised form of vernacular word ''brÄhman'', with a short central vowel in the last syllable .
Brahmins are also called 'Vipra' "inspired",[5] or 'Dvija' "twice-born".[6]
Brahmins are one of many minority groups in India. In 1931 (the last Indian census to record caste), Brahmins accounted for 4.32% of the total population. Brahmins even in Uttar Pradesh, where they were most numerous, constituted just 9%. In Tamil Nadu they formed less than 3% and in Andhra Pradesh, less than 2%.[7]
History
Main articles: History of Hinduism
The history of the Brahmin community in India begins with the Vedic religion, also known as Brahminsm or Sanatana Dharma, in ancient India. The Vedas are the primary source of knowledge for brahmin practices. All the sampradayas of Brahmins take inspiration from the Vedas. According to Brahmin tradition, it is believed that Vedas are '' (not written by either humans or god) and ''anÄdi'' (beginning-less), but are revealed truths of eternal validity. Accordig to Rigveda, Mandala 10 (or chapter / adhyÄya 8), brahmins were ''situated'' ("ÄsÄ«ta")in the mouth of at the beginning of Creation (in , which occurs in YV.32 also).
The Vedas are considered ''Åšruti'' (''that which is heard'', signifying the oral tradition). The "Brahmanas" "Manusmiriti" notVedas are the primary source of knowledge for all Brahmin traditions, both orthodox and 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 man-made), 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.
Brahmin Communities
Brahmins are a very diverse community. Major Brahmin castes in the Indian Continent include Chitpavana Brahmins, Daivajna Brahmins, Deshastha Brahmins, Dhima Brahmins, Gouda Saraswat Brahmins, Havyaka Brahmins, Hoysala Karnataka Brahmins, Iyers, Kandavara Brahmins, Karade Brahmins, Karhada Brahmins, Kayastha Brahmins, Khandelwal Brahmins, Kota Brahmins, Konkanastha Brahmins, Koteshwara Brahmins, Nagar Brahmins, Namboothiri Brahmins, Niyogi Brahmins, Padia Brahmins, Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins, Saklapuri Brahmins, Sanketi Brahmins, Saraswat Brahmins, Shivalli Brahmins, Smarta Brahmins, Sthanika Brahmins, Thenkalai Iyengars, Tuluva Brahmins, Vadagalai Iyengars, Vaidiki Brahmins and Vaishnava Brahmins. According to the Rev. M.A. Sherring, there were some 2,000 Brahmin groups.[8]
These Brahmin castes are broadly divided into two regional groups: 'Pancha-Gauda Brahmins' and 'Pancha-Dravida Brahmins' as per the shloka,
करà¥à¤£à¤¾à¤Ÿà¤•à¤¾à¤¶à¥à¤š तैलंगा दà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤µà¤¿à¤¡à¤¾ महाराषà¥à¤Ÿà¥à¤°à¤•à¤¾à¤ƒ,
गà¥à¤°à¥à¤œà¤°à¤¾à¤¶à¥à¤šà¥‡à¤¤à¤¿ पञà¥à¤šà¥ˆà¤µ दà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤µà¤¿à¤¡à¤¾ विनà¥à¤§à¥à¤¯à¤¦à¤•à¥à¤·à¤¿à¤£à¥‡ ||
सारसà¥à¤µà¤¤à¤¾à¤ƒ कानà¥à¤¯à¤•à¥à¤¬à¥à¤œà¤¾ गौडा उतà¥à¤•à¤²à¤®à¥ˆà¤¥à¤¿à¤²à¤¾à¤ƒ,
पनà¥à¤šà¤—ौडा इति खà¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤¤à¤¾ विनà¥à¤§à¥à¤¸à¥à¤¯à¥‹à¤¤à¥à¤¤à¤°à¤µà¤¾à¤¸à¤¿à¤¨à¤ƒ ||[9]
Translation: Karnataka, Telugu (Andhra), Dravida (Tamil and Kerala), Maharashtra and Gujarat are Five Southern (Panch Dravida). Saraswata, Kanyakubja, Gauda, Utkala, Maithili are Five Northern (Pancha Gauda). This classification occurs in Rajatarangini of Kalhana and is mentioned by Jogendra Nath Bhattacharya in "Hindu Castes and Sects." [10]
Pancha Dravida Brahmins
Panch Dravida (the five classes of Southern India): 1) Andhra, 2) Dravida (Tamil and Kerala), 3) Karnataka, 4) Maharashtra and Konkon, and 5) Gujarat.
In Andhra Pradesh, Brahmins are broadly classified into 2 groups: Vaidika (meaning educated in vedas and performing religious vocations) and Niyogi (performing only secular vocation), which are further divided into several sub-castes. However, majority of Brahmins, both Vaidika and Niyogi, perform only secular professions. [11]
In Kerala, Brahmins are classified into three groups: Namboothiris, Pottis and Pushpakas. (Pushpakas are commonly clubbed with Ampalavasi community). The major priestly activities are performed by Namboothiris while the other temple related activities known as Kazhakam are performed by Pushpaka Brahmins and other Ampalavasis. Sri Adi Shankara was born in Kalady, a village in Kerala, to a Namboothiri Brahmin couple, Shivaguru and Aryamba and lived for thirty-two years. The Namboothiri Brahmins, Potti Brahmins and Pushpaka Brahmins in Kerala follow the Philosophies of Sri Adi Sankaracharya. The Brahmins migrated to Kerala from Tamil Nadu are known as Pattar in Kerala. They possess almost same status of Potti Brahmins in Kerala.
In Tamil Nadu, Brahmins belong to 2 major groups: Iyer including dikshitar, shastri, sharma and gurukkal of Smarthas, the followers of Sri Adi Shankaracharya , Sri-Vaishnavas (Iyengars), who are the followers of Sri Ramanujacharya's vision.
In Karnataka, Brahmins belong to 3 major groups: Smarthas, the followers of Sri Adi Shankaracharya, Madhvas (or Vaishnavas) who are the followers of Sri Madhvacharya, and Sri-Vaishnavas (Iyengars), who are the followers of Sri Ramanujacharya and Srimathe Vedanta Desika.
In Maharashtra, Brahmins are classified into four groups: Chitpavan Konkanastha Brahmins, Deshastha Brahmin and Karhade Brahmin, Devrukhe. As the name indicates, Kokanastha Brahmin are from Konkan area. Deshastha Brahmin are from other plains region of Maharashtra. Karhade Brahmins are perhaps from Karhatak, and an ancient region in India that included present day south Maharashtra and northern Karnataka, Devrukhe Brihamins are from Devrukh near Ratnagiri.
Pancha Gauda Brahmins
Panch Gaur (the five classes of Northern India): 1) Saraswata, 2) Kanyakubja, 3) Gauá¸a brahmins, 4) Utkala Brahmin, and 5) Maithil Brahmin. In addition, for the purpose of giving an account of Northern Brahmins each of the provinces must be considered separately, such as, North Western Provinces and Pakistan, Gandhar, Punjab, Kashmir, Sindh, Rajputana, Kurukshetra, Oudh, Central India, Trihoot, Bihar, Orissa, Bengal, Assam etc.
In Bihar, majority of Brahmins are Bhumihar Brahmins and Maithil Brahmins.
In Haryana, the brahmin classified in mainly Dahima/Dayama/Dahima brahmin, Gaud brahmin, Khandelwal brahmin.
In Punjab, they are classified as Saraswat Brahmins.
In Rajasthan, the Brahmins are classified in mainly Dahima/Dayama/Dahima brahmin, Gaud Brahmin, Sri Gaud Brahmin, Khandelwal Brahmin, Gujar-Gaud Brahmins.
Gotras and Pravaras
In general, gotra denotes all persons who trace descent in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as ' apatyam pautraprabh
★ rti gotram' (IV. 1. 162), which means 'the word gotra denotes the progeny (of a sage) beginning with the son's son. When a person says ' I am Kashypasa-gotra' he means that he traces his descent from the ancient sage Kashyapa by unbroken male descent. According to the Baudhâyanas'rauta-sûtra ViÅ›vÄmitra, Jamadagni, Bharadvâja, Gautama, Atri, Vasishtha, Kashyapa and Agastya are 8 sages; the progeny of these eight sages is declared to be gotras. This enumeration of eight primary gotras seems to have been known to PÄnini. The offspring (apatya) of these eight are gotras and others than these are called ' gotrâvayava '.
The gotras are arranged in groups, e. g. there are according to the Âsvalâyana-srautasûtra four subdivisions of the Vasishtha gana, viz. Upamanyu, ParÄshara, Kundina and Vasishtha (other than the first three). Each of these four again has numerous sub-sections, each being called gotra. So the arrangement is first into ganas, then into pakshas, then into individual gotras. The first has survived in the Bhrigu and Ä€ngirasa gana. According to Baud, the principal eight gotras were divided into pakshas. The pravara of Upamanyu is Vasishtha, Bharadvasu, Indrapramada; the pravara of the Parâshara gotra is Vasishtha, Shâktya, Pârâsharya; the pravara of the Kundina gotra is Vasishtha, Maitrâvaruna, Kaundinya and the pravara of Vasishthas other than these three is simply Vasishtha. It is therefore that some define pravara as the group of sages that distinguishes the founder (lit. the starter) of one gotra from another.
There are two kinds of pravaras, 1) sishya-prasishya-rishi-parampara, and 2) putrparampara. Gotrapravaras can be ekarsheya, dwarsheya, triarsheya, pancharsheya, saptarsheya, and up to 19 rishis. Kashyapasa gotra has at least two distinct pravaras in Andhra Pradesh: one with three sages (triarsheya pravara) and the other with seven sages (saptarsheya pravara). This pravara may be either sishya-prasishya-rishi-parampara or putraparampara. When it is sishya-prasishya-rishi-parampara marriage is not acceptable if half or more than half of the rishis are same in both bride and bridegroom gotras. If it is putraparampara, marriage is totally unacceptable even if one rishi matches.
Sects and Rishis
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 BCE to 200 BCE, Brahmins became divided into various Shakhas (branches), based on the adoption of different Vedas and different rescension Vedas. Sects for different denominations of the same branch of the Vedas were formed, under the leadership of distinguished teachers among Brahmins.
There are several Brahmin law givers such as Angirasa, Apasthambha, Atri, Brihaspati, Boudhayana, Daksha, Gautam, Harita, Katyayana, Likhita, Manu,[12] Parasara, Samvarta, Shankha, Shatatapa, Ushanasa, Vashishta, Vishnu, Vyasa, Yajnavalkya and Yama. These twenty-one rishis were the propounders of Smritis. The oldest among these smritis are Apastamba, Baudhayana, Gautama, and Vasishta Sutras.
Practices
Brahmins adhere to the principles of Brahmanism or Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism, such as acceptance of the Vedas with reverence, adherence to the position that the means or ways to salvation and realization of the ultimate truth are diverse, that God is one, but has innumerable names and forms to chant and worship due to our varied perceptions, cultures and languages. Brahmins believe in '' — Let the entire society be happy and prosperous and '' — the whole world is one family. Most Brahmins practice vegetarianism or lacto-vegetarianism. However, some may follow veganism or ovo-lacto-vegetarianism or pescetarianism. In addition, many prominent communists and atheists in India are of Brahmin origin.
Brahmins from South India performing Sandhyavandana
Traditional duties
The six duties of Brahmin are given as per the Sloka
adhyÄpanam adhyÄyÄnam
yajanam yajanam tathÄ
dÄnam pratigraham caiva
brahmanÄnÄmakalpayÄt
Teaching, study (''svÄdhyÄya''), performing Yajna, make performing Yajna, accept Daana, and give Daana are the six duties of a Brahmin.
samodamastapah saucham
kshanthirÄrjavamevaca
jnanam vijnÄnamÄstikyam
brahmakarma svabhavajam
In the ancient times the priests were expected to have control of their emotions, control of senses, purity, truthfulness, tolerance, simplicity, renounce material wealth and have sustenance from other community, belief in God, and studying and teaching of sacred scriptures.
The daily routine[13] includes performing
★ Snana (bathing),
★ Sandhyavandana,
★ Japa,
★ Puja,
★ Aupasana and
★ Agnihotra.
The last two named Yajnas are performed in only a few households today. Brahmacharis perform Agnikaryam instead of Agnihotra or Aupasana. The other rituals followed include Amavasya tarpanam and Shraddha.
''See also: Nitya karma and Kaamya karma''
Samskaras
Brahmins also perform sixteen major Samskaras (rites) during the course of their lifetime.[14]
★ In the pre-natal stage,
★
★ Garbhadharana (conception),
★
★ Pumsavana (rite for consecrating a male child in the womb) and
★
★ Simantonnayana (rite for parting the hair of a pregnant woman) are performed.
★ During infancy,
★
★ Jatakarma (birth ceremony),
★
★ Namakarana (naming ceremony),
★
★ Nishkarmana (first outing),
★
★ Annaprasana (first feeding solid food),
★
★ Choodakarana (first tonsure) and
★
★ Karnavedha (ear piercing) are performed.
★ During childhood and adolescence of the child,
★
★ Vidhyarambha (starting of education),
★
★ Upanayanam (thread ceremony- initiation),
★
★ Vedarambha (starting of the study of the Vedas),
★
★ Keshanta or Godana (first shaving of the beard) and
★
★ Samavartanam or Snaana (ending of studentship) are performed.
★ During adulthood,
★
★ Vivaha (marriage)
★
★ Nisheka (first sexual intercourse, 4 days after marriage) and
★
★ Antyesti (funeral rites) are the main ceremonies.
Sampradayas
The three sampradayas (traditions) of Brahmins, especially in South India are the Smarta sampradaya, the Srivaishnava sampradaya and the Madhva sampradaya.
Brahmins in Buddhism
Brahmins feature extensively in Buddhist canonical texts i.e. the Tripitaka, and are found among the chief disciples of the Buddha. The Brahmana Varga (section on Brahmins) contained in the Dharmapada lists down the Buddha's views on Brahmins[15]
Brahmin bhikshus
★ Abhaya Raja (built Mahabouddha temple with his descendants in Patan, Nepal in year 1604)[16]
★ Asvaghosa (wrote the 'Buddhacharita' and is considered along with Nagarjuna to have founded the Mahayana). His philosophy was favored in the court of King Kanishka.
★ Atapa
★ Bakula[17]
★ Bhitka (Buddha's fifth successor)
★ Cuda Panthaka[18]
★ Dignaga
★ Gopaka[18]
★ Guhyashila[20]
★ Harita[21] (wrote the "Harita Dharmasutra")
★ Humkara[22]
★ Jnanadharma[23]
★ Kacanna[24]
★ Kamashila (Kashmiri Pandit)
★ Kalika[18]
★ Kumarajiva (was imprisoned in China for spreading Buddhism)
★ Kanaka (Yamantaka Tantra)
★ Kukuraja[26]
★ Manjushri (The mentor of Asoka)[27]
★ Padma (woman)
★ Palden Dekyong[28]
★ Pingala-Koccha (preached to the Buddha the CÅ«lasÄropama Sutta, after which he became a dedicated student of the Buddha)
★ Radhasvami (another mentor of Asoka)[27]
★ Majnushrimitra[30]
★ Nagasena[31]
★ Narpola (student of Tipola)
★ Sahara (master of Tipola)
★ Sariputra
★ Shantideva
★ Shantarakshita (Kashmiri Pandit)
★ Subha
★ Subhadra
★ Subrahman (coming father of Bodhisattva Maitreya)
★ Tipola (Mahasiddha, from modern-day Bangladesh)
★ Vakkali
★ Vanavasi[18]
Brahmin Bodhisattvas
Aryadeva (successor of Nagarjuna)
Asangha (from Hinayana sect and Peshwar city founded the Yogacarya and established the
Classical age of Buddhism)
★ Bodhidharma (royalty of Pallava, from Kanchi) that went to China
★ Brahmadatta
★ Nagarjuna (founded the Shunyata concept and considered along with Asvaghosa to have founded the Mahayana)
★ Kusanda Buddha
★ Konagamana Buddha
★ Kasyapsa Buddha
★ Kshitagarbha
★ Maitreya (Bodhisattva to come)
★ Parmasambhava (founder of Vajrayana Buddhism)
Scriptures dedicated to Brahmin bhikkus
Because of the aim of the Brahmins, and the Buddha following on their path, several Buddhist texts have been dedicated to them.[33]
★ Annatara Brahmana Sutta: To a Brahmin
★ Aññatra Sutta: To a certain Brahman (SN XII.46)
★ Brahmana Sutta 1: To Unnabha the Brahman
★ Cankii Sutta: To the Brahmin Cankii
★ Esukaari Sutta: To the Brahmin Esukari
★ Janussoni Brahmana Sutta: To the Brahmin Janussoni
★ Ganakamoggallaanasuttam B: To the Brahmin Ganakamoggallaana
★ Paccha-bhumika Sutta: To Brahmins of the Western Land (SN XLII.6)
★ Saleyyaka Sutta A: The Brahmins of Sela
★ Saleyyaka Sutta B: The Brahmans of Salahar"
In Kingdoms
There have been Brahmin Buddhists too in Buddhist kingdoms.
★ In Cambodia (Sanskrit Kambhoja) there is an edict saying that King Jayavarman and his son Rudravarman build a monument in dedication of Lord Buddha and appointed a Brahmin to protect it.[34]
★ In Sri Lanka, Maha Adigar was the first Buddhist emperor of Sri Lanka, converting many to Buddhism.[35]
★ In 120 BC, the Indo-Greek King Milinda converted to Buddhism under sage Nagasena.
★ The Shunga Dynasty is thought by neo-Buddhists as an anti-Buddhist dynasty but the Shungas themselves built a stupa dedicated to the Buddha at Baharut.
Brahmins in Jainism
★ The founder of the new Jain religion was the Tirthankara or Jina Mahavira but his first convert was Indrabhuti (aka Gautamswami) the Brahmin, who headed a group of other Brahmins and converted them to Jainism. He was from the village Gobbar (also called Govarya) near Rajgriha.
★ Sajjambhava was another born from Rajgriha and was elected the head of the Jain temple. He is famous for his composition of the "Dasavaikalika Sutra."
★ Acharya Vidyanand is a Brahmin of the Dhigambar Jain sect and compiled in the Sanskrit language, "Ashta Shahastri" with eight thousand verses.
★ Acharya Shushil Kumar, known better to Jains as "Guruji", was born a Vaidik in the Shakarpur village of the Haryana province. At the age of 15, he took Diksha (became a sanyassin) into the Sthanakvasi, a Swhetambara sub-sect.
★ There is also a story about a wealthy Brahmin named Dhangiri in the town of Tumbhivan, who, when heard the sermons of the Jain Acharya Sinhgiri, while he regularly listened to but later lost his interest in wealth and decided to take the Diksha.
★ Umasvati was a composer who was so loved by Jains that he is considered by the Dhigambar sect to be a Dhigambar member and the Svetambara sect to be a Svetambara member.
In Kingdoms
★ The Jain Acharya Bhadrabahu of Pundravardhana is said to be the preceptor of Chandragupta Maurya of the Mauryan dynasty, grandfather of Ashoka the Buddhist ruler.
★ A copperplate grant from the Gupta period found in the vincity of Somapura mentioned a Brahmin donating land to a Jain vihara at Vatagohali.
★ A Brahmin general by the name of Vasudeva in the army of Kamadeva in the Vijayaditya dynasty had built a temple to Lord Parshvanath.
★ The Kadamba kings of Palasika were Jain Brahmins who supported Jainism and gave land grants and erected many temples and hence, patronised Jainism. This supports the view that Jainism entered South India through the West and perhaps from Ujjayini itself.
★ King Mrigesavarman of the Kadamba dynasty of palasika further went on to give grants to Yapaniyas, Nigranthas and Kurchakas.
★ The Brahmin Haribhadra was a pupil of Jinabhadra (or Jinabhata) and Jinadatta and later received the title of "Suri" (an honorable epithet of learning Jain monks.)
Contributions to modern India
Brahmins have immensely contributed to the making of modern India and to the world in fields such as literature, science and technology, politics, culture, and religion.
Brahmins played an extraordinary role in the spread of knowledge and vitalizing the Indian society for millennia. Recently, in the freedom movement and national revitalization movements they proved their merit by playing their traditional role as usual. Brahmin tribe’s contribution in fighting against the British imperialism was immense. One can give innumerable examples of Brahmin contributions. Their role and participation was great in various legislative bodies. During the Indian independence movement, many Brahmins, including Mangal Pandey, Balgangadhar Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, C. Rajagopalachari, Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, Basawon Singh (Sinha), Yogendra Shukla, and Sheel Bhadra Yajee, to name just a few, were at the forefront of the struggle for freedom. Jawaharlal Nehru, a Brahmin, was the first Prime Minister of India. Other Brahmins who later attained this position are Morarji Desai, P.V. Narasimha Rao and Atal Behari Vajpayee. Among the great Brahmin scholars and writers are Nobel laureates Rabindranath Tagore and V. S. Naipaul and others like Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan, Subramanya Bharathy, Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar', Suryakant Tripathi Nirala, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Great Brahmin scientists include Nobel Laureate Sir C.V.Raman and Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, and great Brahmin mathematicians include Srinivasa Ramanujan and C. P. Ramanujam.
For a short time after the independence, they maintained good positions in various fields. However, within a few decades they lost their prominence. Their role and participation slowly dwindled down in every aspect of power structure. They lost completely in political arena. Brahmins, who influenced and organized infinite numbers of people into action by pouring all their energies and efforts, now have no place and role in the society. [36] and [37]
See also
★ Varnas
★ Brahmin Communities
★ Maithil BrÄhamana
★ Brahmanism
★ Forward Castes
★ List of famous Brahmins
★ Social cycle theory
Notes
1. For definition of the noun बà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤®à¤£à¤ƒ '' as "1. A man belonging to the first of the four classes ('' instead of ''castes'' in Apte's Skt-Hindi dictionary) of the Hindus, a (priest) (born from the mouth of the ''Purusha'')"; and the adjective बà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤®à¤£ '' as "''a''. 1. Belonging to a ", and other meanings, see: , ; on p.901 of the latter, Apte gave one of the meanings of as ''caste'' but qualified it with a statement :"mainly people of four of , vaiÅ›ya (merchants), Å›udra (artisans)}}", and did not permit use of the term for any caste other than these four.
2. For definition of बà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤®à¤£ '', with last syllable showing a Vedic accent, used as a noun as "m. (having to do with Brahman ''or'' divine knowledge), one learned in the Veda, theologian, priest, , man of the first four castes"; and definition of बà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤®à¤£ '', with only first syllable showing a Vedic accent, used as an adjective as "''a''. (i) belonging to a , BrÄhmanic", see: .
3. For definition of '', with last syllable showing Vedic accents, as a noun, "''m''., one who has divine knowledge, a . a man belonging to the 1st of the 3 twice-born classes and of the 4 original divisions of the body", and the adjective '', with first syllable showing a Vedic accent, as "relating to or given by a , befitting or becoming a Br., BrÄhmanical", see: Monier-Williams, p. 741, middle column. Cf. Rgveda, Pune Edition, vol-5 (index), p.408 in which all occurrences of '' as first person singular show anudÄtta (absence of accent) on first two syllables.
4. For definition of the neuter noun '' (with Vedic accent on first syllable) as "n. the class of men who are the repositories and communicators of sacred knowledge, the BramÄnical caste as a body (rarely an individual BrÄhman)"; and the masuline noun '' (with Vedic accent on final syllable) as "one who prays, a devout or religious man, a BrÄhman who is a knower of Vedic texts or spells, one versed in sacred knowledge", see: MW, pp. 737-738.
5. Monier-Williams : inspired, inwardly ''stir''red, wise, learned, etc.
6. 'Dvija was used more frequently for Brahmins, but it also included and Vaiśyas who were "reborn through investiture with the sacred thread" - Monier-Williams.
7. [1]
8. [2]
9. BrÄhmanotpatti Martanda, cf. Dorilal Sharma,p.41-42
10. [3]
11. [4]
12. Manu Smriti on learning of the Vedas
13. A day in the life of a Brahmin
14. The Forty Samskaras
15. http://www.serve.com/cmtan/Dhammapada/holyman.html
16. http://www.catmando.com/casinosnepal/july/buddhist.htm Mahabouddha temple
17. http://www.luxlapis.co.za/arahats.htm Arhants
18. http://www.luxlapis.co.za/arahats.htm
19. http://www.luxlapis.co.za/arahats.htm
20. http://www.cipa.emory.edu/pdf/TibetanResearch_Mull.pdf
21. http://teozofija.info/Blavatsky_Hindustan_Chapter_III.htm
22. http://rywiki.tsadra.org/index.php/Glossary_from_The_Great_Image
23. http://www.khandro.net/deity_Manjushri.htm
24. http://www.diva-portal.org/diva/getDocument?urn_nbn_se_vxu_diva-488-2__fulltext.pdf
25. http://www.luxlapis.co.za/arahats.htm
26. http://www.khandro.net/animal_dog.htm
27. http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/f/fa-hien/f15l/chapter27.html
28. shambhala.com
29. http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/f/fa-hien/f15l/chapter27.html
30. http://www.keithdowman.net/lineage/dzokchen_masters.htm#Manjushrimitra:
31. http://www.newsfinder.org/site/comments/nagasena
32. http://www.luxlapis.co.za/arahats.htm
33. http://www.buddhistinformation.com/ida_b_wells_memorial_sutra_library/
34. http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Mar272005/ac2.asp
35. http://www.mysrilanka.com/travel/lanka/people/ehelepola.htm
36. [5]
37. [6]
References
★ .
★ .
★ .
★ .
★ . The Editorial Board for the First Edition included N. S. Sontakke (Managing Editor), V. K. , M. M. , and T. S. . This work is entirely in Sanskrit.
★ A History of Brahmin Clans () in Hindi, by DorilÄl ÅšarmÄ,published by RÄÅ›triya BrÄhamana MahÄsabhÄ, Vimal Building, JamirÄbÄd, Mitranagar, MasÅ«dÄbÄd,Aligarh-1, 2nd ed-1998. (This Hindi book contains the most exhaustive list of Brahmana gotras and pravaras together their real and mythological histories).
★ Mayne's ''"Treatise on Hindu Law and Usage''.
★ Kane, Pandurang Vaman, "History of dharmasastra" (ancient and mediæval religious and civil law in India)
★ ''Hindu Castes and Sects'' Jogendranath Bhattacharya.
★ ''Andhra Viprula Gotramulu, Indla Perlu, Sakhalu'' by Emmesroy Sastri.
★ ''History and Culture of Andhra Pradesh'' Rao PR.
★ ''History of India'' Herman Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund.
★ ''Acharalu sastriyata''Narayanareddi Patil.
★ ''Hindu Manners, Customs, and Ceremonies'' Abbe J. A. Dubois
★ (Manusmriti) : Available online as The Laws of Manu
External links
★ About Kerala Iyers, a.k.a ''Pattars'' , the brahmins who moved to Kerala centuries ago from Tamil Nadu
★ List Of Andhra Brahmins And Surnames
★ A Long List of Brahmin Castes and Sub-castes
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