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Pronunciation:
Brahmana
Religion: Hindu
Caste: Hindu Priestly Caste (regarded as the highest order
caste)
Subdivisions in Brahmin Communities: Geographically,
Brahmins are divided into two main groups - of the North and of the
South. Each of these groups is further divided into five categories.
Categories of the North Brahmins: Kanyakubja, Sarasvata,
Gauda, Mithila and Utkala.
Categories of the South Brahmins: Maharashtra, Telinga,
Dravida, Karnataka and Malabar.
Presently there are 1,800 subdivisions in Brahmin Community. A
Brahmin should be able to trace his origin to one of the seven great
sages - Kashyapa, Atri, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Vishvamitra, Jamadagni
and Vasishtha.
Major Brahmin Castes in India: Bardai Brahmins, 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, Vaishnava Brahmins.
Language: Hindi
Religious Scriptures: Vedas
Traditional Occupation: Brahmins tend to engage in education
and learning-based activities rather than purely business pursuits.
Population: Brahmins are said to be in minority in India. In
1931, Brahmins were 4.32% of the total population. Their maximum
population is in Uttar Pradesh (9%), while in Tamil Nadu they form
3% and in Andhra Pradesh about 2% of the population.
Food Habits: Culturally, most Brahmins are known for
practicing strict vegetarianism. Some are not even allowed to eat
onions, garlic, mushrooms and some other foods.
Marriage Preference: Prefer intra-caste marriages
Famous Personalities: Bal Gangadhar Tilak, K.B. Hedgewar,
Vinayak Damodar, Savarkar, Nathuram Godse, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan,
Jawaharlal Nehru, Sir M. Vishveshwaraiya, Sri Thyagaraja, N R
Narayana Murthy, chairman of Infosys Technologies Ltd
Meaning of the word 'Brahmin': The word Brahmin is said to
literally mean, "One who has realized or attempts to realize
Brahman." The traditional duties of this caste include studying
Vedas, preserving them in memory and transmitting them orally to the
next generation. Brahmins were also the philosophers, contributing
to Hindu Philosophy and religion. The priests of Hindu temples were
also from this caste. In ancient India, Brahmins also served as
spiritual advisors to Kshatriya kings.
History and Origin: According to the Puranas, Brahmins were
created from the mouth of Brahma so that they might instruct
mankind. Because of this reason they were considered the highest of
the four castes.
According to the Aryan invasion theory,
Brahmins are descendants of the Aryans, who displaced the Dravidians
from the northern areas of India. The religion practiced by the
early Aryans derived from the Vedas and what scholars know as
Brahminism laid part of the societal foundation for Classical
Hinduism as witnessed with the advent of the Upanishads, the
Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Brahmin Culture: Brahmins have specific rituals for
marriage, conception and consummation of the wedding. Besides, there
are rituals for childbirth, naming ceremony, first feeding ceremony,
child's first tonsure (mundan), upanayana (the sacred-thread
ceremony - initiation into vedic learning and ritual), ritual baths,
cremation rituals, shraaddh, etc. All of these rituals are very
important for a practicing Brahmin. People of Brahmin Community also
give lot of importance to purity of body and mind and hence attach
great importance to ritual baths and cleanliness. |
