What is a Brahmin?
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Under the Indian caste system, a Brahmin is a member of the highest caste. Priests and scholars are classified as Brahmins, and members of this caste have traditionally been figures of veneration and respect. The high ranking caste has traditionally held a great deal of power over Indian society, with many laws and social norms being instituted by the Brahmins. This may have been an act of self-preservation on the part of early members of the caste, although it was probably justified by arguing that Brahmins were highly educated and thus able to interpret the will of the gods accurately.
The caste system in India is governed by a series of Hindu texts known as the vedas. According to the vedas, someone's place in society is dictated by his or her varna, or caste. Allegedly, the varnas represent different aspects of God, with each varna being broken up into several jati, or communities. The Brahmins have two main jatis, representing North and South India, along with an assortment of smaller communities. A Brahmin would have been historically expected to marry within his own jati, thus solidifying and maintaining caste power.
Initially, someone's caste was based on their life and religious education. As the caste system evolved, however, caste came to be hereditary. Part of this trend was brought about by members of the Brahmin caste, who encouraged this change in Indian society. Brahmins have traditionally been highly educated, and they have acted as priests, scholars, and teachers, passing down an oral tradition as well as a written one.
The high levels of education among the Brahmin caste led to a natural tendency to respect and honor members of this caste. Although the Brahmins may have been a minority historically, they were a very important part of Hindu society. Priests perform a series of rituals throughout their lives as well as daily, and there are numerous situations in Hindu society in which a priest is required, such as weddings and funerals.
Reforms in India during the 20th century led to a change in the way that the caste system was administered. Modern India allows much more mobility in society and between castes, encouraging a more free and open society. A priest is still referred to as a Brahmin regardless of caste, and many priests are also members of this historical caste, since their families are steeped in religious tradition and culture.
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The Brahman is a very importement part of indian society. Brahman society gives a wheel directions of indian society. many writers, and poets wear Brahman. many raj gurus of the anceint emperors wore Barhman, but today due to the bad policies of our polictical leaders, the Brahmans are suffering many problems in his indian society. but the Brahman is the Key of indian society, and the base of our society.
Rajeev Kumar Pandey - anon46672
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What is this brahmin all about. From my point of view a brahmin is that person who is literate, learned and enjoy a life of his choice. It is neither hereditory nor by birth. So in today's world all persons are brahmin, irrespective of their caste, creed, etc., because all human beings are doing the same work as is done by normal pandits. So enjoy the life as you wish and forget about the caste and creeds because after death nobody remains anything. Anon-4762 - anon45492
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Brahmins in india are now suffering from the importance in the government jobs.They are now paying for what they have done to the other people since the introduction of caste based system in the society. it is high time to ban manu smriti.
- anon39904
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A Brahman is a person who develop his knowledge stage by stage. When a male child is born to the Brahman in B.C. 30,000- B.C 25,000 he first starts his ritual at 3. At 7 he is taught with Gayathri manthra and a sacred thread is worn by him. The combination of three threads are that 1) he should be Give up anger (Temper) and undertake Patient, 2) Should not be jealous and with broad mind, and 3) set aside the unwanted desire and obedience with the words of Guru that will teach him Philosophy.After taking up this vow, he concentrates on Gayathri Manthra that will generate a vibration in him along with heat. This is the L.K.G. stage. when concentrating on self, the teacher teaches him the approach of Other vidyas, namely, Bhuma Vidya, Parajyothi vidya and so on which are 8 in Numbers and on final he stays in Sri Vidya that is the energy of seeing the universe as small as an ANU (The Atom) Now at this stage, he can see the universe within him. At this time only he is crowned as a *brahmin*. The person who knows the Brahma, the *universe* is identified as a Brahmin. When this Brahmin knows Universe, automatically when he moves around, when seeing others he automatically combines his mind in to the universe and he can very well predict what is going to happen in the next couple of years and he can tell the remedy also. This Brahmin was good till B.C. 1, when Buddhists and Jains penetrated in South, and started ruling the states. These people were creed for money and wished to have power and as power mongers they felt they need money to buy the *group* of people. For assembling the group they created the temple and started collecting money in the name of God in several ways one of which is Tula bhara where the man was asked to sit on a scale and weighed with gold which was offered to Temple. Kings also gave gold to the Temples. In A.D. 1310 when Mallikaffore came to south India he went with 1000 elephants loaded with Gold ornaments. The glory on Brahmans faded when they turned in to money making shylocks. The Vijaya Nagara Emperor enjoyed many ladies in the name of God for which a section of Brahmins cooperated so that they earned money. But Saivas the worshipers of siva, kept mum and since they don't know the tactics to cover and Praise the Kings, the Siva temple didn't get much attention. The Vaishnava temples lent money to the traders at the interest rate 50% per month to the chettiars who went for trading across the sea. The kings also paid respect to the temple as it gave money to the kings too. Even the English Government took money from Tirupaty temple which it didn't repay. So the Brahmin lost his fame when he utilized his caste to threaten the Public. - anon34617
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hi to all who see this
caste is not hereditary, you can declare your caste on your own.
reasoning: caste was based only person's abilities and activities etc. so whatever Brahmins now are also a human beings and others who are not Brahmins also performs the acts of Brahmins and so it is.
just add any one of the surname of Brahmin's to your name and from the day onwards you are a Brahmin's.
i am enjoying the same
xyz bhatt
- anon4761
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Written by
S.E. Smith
Last Modified: 28 September 2009
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