BRAHMIN

BRAHMIN

·         The word Brahmin means many things to many people, resulting in confusion. 

·     One of the reasons for this confusion is Sanskrit language, in which, many words in Sanskrit have many meanings.  So, depending upon the context one has to absorb the meaning of the word.

·         The word Brahmana (hereinafter "Brahmin") means the one who knows God, one who has the knowledge of God, one who has the knowledge of Vedas, an intellectual, a priest, a teacher, a professor, a person belonging to Brahmin caste, knowing the text related to Vedas, and so on.

·         The 6 deeds/traits of a Brahmin are as follows:

1.    To learn

2.    To teach

3.    To worship for yourself

4.    To worship for others

5.    To give what you can

6.    To accept what is offered in love

·   Accordingly, priests in a mosque, church, a synagogue, a gurudwara etc. may all be Brahmins, too because they are all obviously, having the knowledge of God and because they are intellectuals. However, they may not be Brahmins as they may not have the knowledge of the Vedas and they may not belong to the Brahmin caste and certainly, they may not be vegetarians.

·        The process of learning involves exposure to information based on which one forms ideas, views and assessments. Knowledge pertaining to the universe is tangible to the human mind, but spiritual knowledge is elusive to rational enquiry. The Vedas are a comprehensive source of knowledge spanning both the physical and metaphysical worlds.

·        The term ‘Brahma Jignasa’ implies the desire to know the Brahman. When one is prompted to enquire about Brahman, it is up to the individual to assess the validity of the means of gaining knowledge, and to evaluate its relevance, purpose, and correctness. So a constant exposure to this knowledge, through listening (sravana) and contemplation (manana) is required in this enquiry into Brahman, and there is no shortcut.

·         In the Vedas, there is information about how to lead a purposeful life and accomplish one’s goals. These goals are collectively known as Purusharthas &are broadly classified into 4:

1.    Dharma (righteous living),

2.    Artha (material possessions),

3.    Kama (sense pleasures for enjoyment and happiness) and

4.    Moksha (liberation).

·         The first 3 pertain to life on earth, while the 4^th leads to the path of salvation.

·      The Karmakanda section of the Vedas deals with the means of attaining the first 3 goals. Based on their guidance, one may persevere to achieve the results aimed for. The Vedas also point out that these 3 goals have their limitations. Attaining these goals needs much effort; and maintaining what is gained is a still greater challenge since these are not permanent and can be lost at any point of time. This loss will also cause pain and sorrow. The sense of happiness projected in these goals is only a false sense of euphoria.

·       So the Vedas also show the way to permanent bliss which is the ultimate goal in the section known as Jnanakanda. Herein is shown the path to the superior knowledge about the Self. It is the knowledge of one’s own true nature; and understanding this itself can lead to moksha.

Most of the practicing Brahmins adhere to the principles learnt therein, 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 but God is one,

·      God has innumerable names and forms to chant and worship due to our varied perceptions, cultures and languages; and that

·        A Brahmin works or needs to work not only for the welfare of his near and dear but also the entire society and so on. 

·     Brahmins also give tremendous importance to purity of body and mind and hence attach importance to ritual baths and cleanliness.

·         Daily practices of Brahmins include:

o   Sandhyavandana (prayers to Gayatri and Sun God),

o   Prayer to ishtadaiva (personal God),

o   Yoga,

o   Non-violence,

o   Vegetarianism, etc.

·      Everything in the daily life of a Brahmin is a ritual and certain rituals are very special for a practicing Brahmin and those include:

1. Marriage,
2. Ritual conception and consummation of the wedding,
3. Rituals of childbirth, naming ceremony,
4. First feeding ceremony,
5. The child’s first tonsure,
6. Upanayana (the sacred-thread ceremony - initiation into vedic learning and ritual),
7. Ritual baths,
8. Cremation rituals,
9. Shraaddha, etc. 

·         The 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 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.