Brahmin
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This page deals with the Hindu varna. For other uses of this word and similar words, see Brahmana, Brahman and Brahman (disambiguation).
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A Brahmin (anglicised from the Sanskrit word IAST Brāhmaṇa; Devanagari ब्राह्मण), also known as Vipra, Dvijottama (best of the Dvijas), Bhūsura (god on Earth) is a member of a caste within Hindu society. Historically, Hindu society consists of four varṇas based on occupation: Brahmin (spiritual and intellectual class), Kshatriya (ruling and warrior class), Vaishya (mercantile and artisan class) and Shudra (agricultural and labour class).
The range and profundity of the Brahmins' contributions to learning and culture in India are belied by the fact that numerically, the Brahmins constitute a minuscule segment of Indian society. In the 1931 caste census taken by the Colonial British government, Brahmins were 4.32% of the total population. Even in Uttar Pradesh, where they are most numerous, the Brahmins constituted just 9% of the total populace. In Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, they formed less than 3% and 2% of the population respectively.
The Nirukta of sage Yaska says Brahmam Jānati iti Brāhmaṇam — A Brahmin is a person who knows Brahman, the ultimate reality or God; hence Brahmin means, "knower of God". However, the historical situation in Hindu society is that Brahmins are the traditional priests and pundits (scholars). Today however, many Brahmins are employed in secular occupations and their religious traditions and culture are fast disappearing from their lives.
History
The history of the Brahmin community in India begins with the Vedic religion in ancient India. The Manu Smriti, an ancient Smriti, refers to Aryavarta, a region in present-day Haryana.
The Vedas are the primary source of knowledge for all brahmin practices. All the sampradayas of Brahmins take inspiration from the Vedas. Traditionally, it is believed that Vedas are apauruṣeya (not written by either humans or God) and anādi (beginingless), but are revealed truths of eternal validity. The Vedas are considered Śruti (that which is heard, siginifying the oral tradition).
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. The teachings of these distinguished rishis are called sūtras. Every Veda has its own sūtra. The sūtras that deal with social, moral and legal precepts are called Dharma Sutras, whereas those sūtras that deal with ceremonials are called Shrauta Sutras and domestic rituals are called Grhya Sutras. Sūtras are generally written in prose or in mixed prose and verse.
There are several Brahmin law givers such as Angirasa, Apasthambha, Atri, Brihaspati, Boudhayana, Daksha, Gautam, Harita, Katyayana, Likhita, Manu, 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.[Manu Smriti on learning of the Vedas]
Practices
Brahmins adhere to the principles of 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 Sarvejanāssukhinobhavaṃtu — Let the entire society be happy and prosperous and Vasudhaiva kuṭuṃbakaṃ — the whole world is one family. Brahmins practice vegetarianism (Bengali Brahmins and Kashmiri Pandits are exceptions to this).
Daily routine
Hindu Brahmins hold practice of Dharma more important than beliefs. This is a distinct feature of the Dharmic religions. The practices include mainly Yajnas. The daily routine[A day in the life of a Brahmin] includes performing
- Snana (bathing)
- Sandhyavandanam
- Japa
- Puja
- Aupasana
- Agnihotra
Brahmacharis perform:
instead of Agnihotra or Aupasana.The other rituals followed include Amavasya tarpanam and Shraddha.
See Also: Nitya karma and Kaamya karma
Samskaras (Rituals)
Brahmins also perform sixteen major Samskaras (rites) during the course of their life-time.[The Forty Samskaras] They are:
- Pre-natal
- Garbhadharana: Conception
- Pumsavana: Rite for consecrating a male child in the womb
- Simantonnayana: Rite for parting the hair of a pregnant woman
Sampradayas
The three sampradayas (traditions) of Brahmins, especially in South India are:Status of Brahmins Today
Historically Brahmins have been not only ascetics, sages and priests for millennia seeking welfare of the society, but also secular clerks, merchants, agriculturists, artisans, etc. They were also very poor. The average Brahmins have been poor, even in the mythology, along the side of a few rich and eminent Brahmins. Ancient Sanskrit literature, including Ramayana, Mahabharata etc,[Panchatantra] [poor Brahmin] is replete with the stories of poor Brahmins, e.g., Lord Vishnu takes the form of a young Brahmin Vamana and asks the mighty demon emperor Bali for alms; Sunasyepa's parents were so poor that they sold their son Harischandra who needed a substitute for his own son to complete a sacrifice; Dasaratha accidentally killed the only child of a poor blind Brahmin couple. Demon Ravana, in the disguise of a Brahmin beggar, deceived Sita and abducted her, while the eminent Brahmin sage Vashista advised as the head priest and adviser to emperor Dasaratha in Ramayana; One of the favorite disguises for Pandavas in Mahabharata was begging Brahmin disguise so that they could not be recognized easily, despite the fact that eminent Brahmins like Dronacharya and Kripacharya were rich and powerful warriors and ministers in the Assembly of Hastinapur (Delhi) empire; - to name a few from mythology. In the modern democratic India, the Brahmins are still not only poverty stricken, but also shunted out of every opportunity,[The status of Brahmins in Andhra Pradesh]http://www.vedah.net/manasanskriti/puranam.html#Poor_Brahmins Brahmin Poverty] despite the fact that Prime Ministers like Jawaharlal Nehru, Venkatanarasimharao Pamulaparti (P.V. Narasimha Rao), and Atal Behari Vajpayee have been Brahmins. French journalist Francois Gautier[FrancoisGautier.com] has written on the sad state of Brahmins in India today.[Are Brahmins the Dalits of today?]
Contributions to Ancient and Modern India
Brahmins have contributed immensely to the making of modern India in many fields like literature, science and technology, politics, culture, scholarship, religion etc. In the Indian independence movement, many Brahmins like Balgangadhar Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, C. Rajagopalachari and others were at the forefront of the struggle for freedom. After independence, Jawaharlal Nehru, a Brahmin and an atheist, became the first Prime Minister of India. Later, Brahmins like P.V. Narasimha Rao and Atal Behari Vajpayee became Prime Ministers. even now after persecution of brahmans by society they hold top posts in administration, academia ,business, army, jouranalism etc. Infact it was those Brahmin leaders like Rajagopalachari and Thilak who fought for the upliftment of the socially backward dalits and their equality in the society.
See also:List of famous Brahmins
Persecution
The anti-Brahmin sentiment was first kindled in India by the Dravidar Kazhagam movement in Tamil Nadu. [Caste & the Tamil Nation -Brahmins, Non Brahmins & Dalits] This was a reaction to the Brahmin hegemony in the Civil services under the British government. In later years, this movement caught on in many other parts of India even after independence.
Communities
Brahmin castes in the Indian subcontinent are traditionally divided into two regional groups: Pancha-Gauda Brahmins and Pancha-Dravida Brahmins as per the shloka,
कर्णाटकाश्च तैलंगा द्राविडा महाराष्ट्रकाः,
गुर्जराश्चेति पञ्चैव द्राविडा विन्ध्यदक्षिणे ||
सारस्वताः कान्यकुब्जा गौडा उत्कलमैथिलाः,
पन्चगौडा इति ख्याता विन्ध्स्योत्तरवासिनः ||
The classification first occurs in Rajatarangini of Kalhana.
Pancha-Gauda
Those from northern and eastern India.Approximately ordered according to geographical regions, from West to East
Saraswata
- Saraswat Brahmins
- Kashmiri Pandits
- Mohyal Brahmins
- Dhima Brahmins
- Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins
- Gouda Saraswat Brahmins
Gauda
- Khandelwal Brahmins
- Kota Brahmins
- Dadhich Brahmin
- Gaur Brahmin
- Sanadhya Brahmins
ब्रह्मक्षेत्रं गुडारण्यं मत्स्यपाञ्चालमाथुराः एष ब्रह्मर्षि देशो वै ब्रह्मावर्त समम्बरम् ||
ब्रह्मक्षेत्रं कुरुक्षेत्रं ब्रह्मदेशः प्रकथ्यते आदिगौदर्षिदेशान्तं हर्यारण्यमिहोच्यते ||
Kanyakubja
- Kanyakubja Brahmins
- Saryupareen Brahmins
Utkal
- Utkala
Maithil
- Bhumihar Brahmins
- Maithili Brahmins
- Kulin Brahmins
- Bengali Brahmins
- Bardai Brahmins
Pancha-Dravida
Those from Dakshinapatha (South India, including Gujarat).Gujarat
- Nagar Brahmins
- Bardai Brahmins
- Girinarayan Brahmins
- Shrimali Brahmins
- Khedaval
Maharashtra
- Chitpavan Brahmins (Konkanasth)
- Deshastha Brahmin
- Karhade Brahmins
- Samvedi Brahmins
Karnataka
- Kannada Brahmins
- *Daivajna Brahmins[Daivajna.org]
- *Hoysala Karnataka Brahmins
- Sankethi Brahmins
- Gauda Saraswat Brahmins (Generally considered Pancha-Gauda)[GSB World]
- Tuluva Brahmins[The Tale of Tuluva Brahmins]
- *Shivalli Brahmins
- *Sthanika Brahmins
- *Koteshwara Brahmins
- *Padia Brahmins
- *Saklapuri Brahmins
- *Kandavara Brahmins
- *Koota Brahmins
- *Havyaka Brahmins
Andhra Pradesh
Dravida (Tamil Nadu and Kerala)
- Iyers
- Iyengars (of Vadakalai and Thenkalai sects)
- Namboothiri Brahmins
- Pushpaka Brahmins (Ambalavasi Brahmins)
References, sources and external links
- Definitions: A Sanskrit English Dictionary by Sir Monier Monier-Williams
- Mayne's "Treatise on Hindu Law and Usage.
- 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 sastriyataNarayanareddi Patil.
- Hindu Manners, Customs, and Ceremonies Abbe J. A. Dubois
- [List Of Andhra Brahmins And Surnames]
- [Brahmins]
- [Brahmins of Andhra Pradesh]
- [Poverty Stricken Brahmins]
- [Source: Vepachedu Educational Foundation Inc.]
- [Brahmin Sages and Branches (Gotras and Subcastes)]
- [A Long List of Brahmin Castes and Sub-castes]
See also
Notes
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