Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1.BRAHMINS- Introduction
In the ancient world and even in the modern society people usually
form cohesive groups based on their language, culture and
geographical location. These groups have a common ancestry and
are led by chiefs of the families around which they gathered. Such
communities are called tribes
It seems there are two kinds of tribes in the Indian continent, the
TRIBES AND CASTES .
The tribes are still in the forests and hills and not really part of the
modern society. Castes have been living in the villages and cities
since ancient times and are civilized.
2.Brahmin Population
3 Geographical Location
4 Meaning of Brahmin
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. These Srutis
include not only the four Vedas (the Rigveda, the Yajurveda, the
Samaveda and the Atharvaveda), but also their respective
Brahmanas. Brahmins also give tremendous importance to purity
of body and mind and hence attach importance to ritual baths and
cleanliness.
There are two kinds of pravaras, 1) sishya-prasishya-rishiparampara, and 2) putrparampara. Gotrapravaras can be
ekarsheya, dwarsheya, triarsheya, pancharsheya, saptarsheya, and
up to 19 rishis.
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.
To be continued in part 2
The sutras that deal with social, moral and legal precepts are called
dharma sutras, whereas those sutras that deal with ceremonials are
called Srauta sutras and domestic rituals are called gruhya sutras.
sutras are generally written in prose or in mixed prose and verse.
These sutras are based on divine Vedas and are manmade and
hence are called Smritis, meaning recollected or remembered.
8
APASTHAMBHA:
BAUDHAYANA:
BRIHASPATI:
GAUTAMA:
HARITA:
10
KATYAYANA:
MANU:
NARADA:
11
VASISHTA:
VISHNU:
YAJNAVALKYA:
13
14
15
To be continued in Part 3
6 The Beginning of Divisions among Brahmins: sutra Period:
The sutras that deal with social, moral and legal precepts are called
dharma sutras, whereas those sutras that deal with ceremonials are
called Srauta sutras and domestic rituals are called gruhya sutras.
sutras are generally written in prose or in mixed prose and verse.
These sutras are based on divine Vedas and are manmade and
hence are called Smritis, meaning recollected or remembered.
APASTHAMBHA:
17
BAUDHAYANA:
BRIHASPATI:
18
GAUTAMA:
HARITA:
KATYAYANA:
MANU:
19
NARADA:
VASISHTA:
20
VISHNU:
YAJNAVALKYA:
21
22
23
24
To be continued in Part 3
10 Chief Gothras and Veda follwing
Sherring has also listed some chief gotras according to the Veda
each one observes. Thus the Bhargaus, Sankritas, Gargs
(Chandras), Bhrigus and Saunaks follow the Rig.
25
26
(Note:The following list does not represent all the Brahmin castes of
the Indian Continent)
1)
Andhra
Brahmins
VaidikiBrahmins
2) Chitpavana Brahmins
3) Daivajna Brahmins
4) Deshastha Brahmins
5) Dhima Brahmins
6) Gaur Brahmins
27
i)
NiyogiBrahmins
ii)
8) Havyaka Brahmins
10) Iyers
28
29
31)Vaishnava Brahmins
30
Similarly there have been Brahmin migrations back and forth that
continue even today. Due to these waves of Brahmin migrations,
perhaps, we see today various sub-castes and traditions among
Brahmins.
31
32
b) Aruvela Niyogi:
c) Nandavarika Niyogi
d) Karanakamma Niyogi
e) Velanati Niyogi
f) Telaganya Niyogi
g) Dravida Niyogi
h) Karanalu
j) Kasalanati Niyogi
k) Pakanati Niyogi
Vaidikis also perform rituals for every occasion in life such as birth,
giving solid food to the infant for the first time
(annapraasanamu),initiation into education (upanyanamu), female
puberty, marriage, consummation of marriage, several stages of
pregnancy, death, carrying the dead bodies, cremating the dead,
etc. Many of these rituals are very important and limited to
Brahmins, except a few ceremonies like marriage. They also take up
even begging as ascetics. This ascetic life of Brahmins was the
inspiration for the Buddhist ascetics.
36
If daytime is divided into eight parts, the Brahmin may have his
food only in the fifth or sixth part after performing all his rites.
Before that he has neither any breakfast nor any snacks. And what
does he eat? Not any rich food, no sweets like almonds crushed in
sweetened milk.
It is for his frequent baths and for the leafy vegetables growing free
there and for which he does not have to beg. He should not borrow
money: that is the meaning of the word "anrni", because if he
developed the habit of borrowing he would be tempted to lead a life
38
... The goal of Vedic works is the happiness of all mankind, indeed
the happiness of all the worlds ("Lokah samastah sukino
bhavanthu"). The sound of the Vedas creates universal well-being,
so too Vedic sacrifices. Brahmins would be committing a sin if they
gave up Vedic rituals and earned money by doing other types of
work.
39
l) Vaishnava m) Draavidulu
n) Madhvulu o) Velanati Vaidikulu
p) Telaganyulu or Telaganadu Vaidikis
q) Venginati Vaidikulu r) Kasalnati Vaidikulu
s) Muraknati Vaidikulu u) Adisaivulu
v) Saivulu
15 Vaishnava:
40
always work for reform of society. Some of the earlier vaishnava and
bhagaavata adherents also merged into the iyengars. Later there was a
large immigration of Ramaanandi vaishnavas from north India and
another large migration from Gujarat. While they too merged, slight
differences arose.
All the same it appears they made sure that the brightest were selected as
iyengars, evangelizers of vaishnavism, without any regard to their
former caste or other origins. It is however true, after some centuries this
reformist movement became just another caste, not quite sure about its
place in the hierarchy.
16 THE MADHVAAS
43
17 DRAAVIDULU:
18 VELANATI
44
20 GOUDA BRAHMINS
45
21 ADISAIVULU:
22.SAIVULU:
The Saivite Brahmins follow the Saiva aagamas. However, they study
Vedas also and belong to Krishna Yajurveda school. One of the sects of
these saivite Brahmins is called Aradhyas, related to Panditaradhyas of
Sivakaviyugamu (Era of Saiva poets) of 12th Century
They generally run Saiva and Shakti shrines, often very large, and
famous ones like Kalesvaram, Vemulavada, Srisailam, Kalahasti, etc.
They have a link to Kashmir Saivism, Varanasi and Jyotirlinga shrines
all over India like Kedarnath. The rituals they follow are different from
the smaartas.
23 ARADHYAS
46
27 ) DHIMA BRAHMINS
47
The Brahmins of Haryana are divided into four main groups: Gaurs,
Saraswats, Khandelwals and Dhima. The Khandelwals and Dhima came
into this region after Saraswats and Gaurs, most probably from
neighboring Rajasthan. The Brahmins themselves had a ranking system
between them with the Gaurs being on the top followed by the
Saraswats, the Khandelwals and the Dhima. The Gaurs used to consider
themselves to be superior to the other Brahmins and neither ate, drank
nor intermarried with them.
48
49
It is interesting that all the three are the names of ancient towns and
temples around Kanchipuram. This clearly indicates that the earliest
migration was to Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram is one of the two most
ancient cities of India, the other being Varanasi (Kashi). The linkage
between the Varanasi (Kashi) and Kanchi has existed from earliest times
and has been facilitating the migration of priests between the North and
the South. It is possible that Kanchipuram, Tiruvangadu and
Tirukalikundram were the first destinations for the Gurukuls who
arrived. They stayed and worked there till they were redeployed to other
interior temples and towns
30 Other Brahmins
1) Kandavara Brahmins
2) Karade Brahmins
3) Karhada Brahmins
4) Kashmiri Saraswat Brahmins
5) Kayastha Brahmins
6) Khandelwal Brahmins
7) Konkanastha Brahmins
50
8) Kota Brahmins
9) Koteshwara Brahmins
10) Nagar Brahmins
11) Namboothiri Brahmins
12) Padia Brahmins
13) Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins
14) Saklapuri Brahmins
15) Sanketi Brahmins
16) Saraswat Brahmins
51
The ancient Tulu nadu extended from Gokarna in the north, all
along coastal Karnataka up to Kasargod in the south. This included
both coastal Uttara Kannada district as well as all of Dakshina
Kannada district. Over many centuries the principal language of
Tulu nadu was Tulu. Today Tulu is spoken only south of River
Kalyanpur in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts of Karnataka.
This is the heartland of Tulu nadu today. While Udupi is the
religious center of Tulu nadu, Mangalore is the commercial hub.
Innumerable smaller towns and villages comprise of a green
landscape within the mountainous range of the Western Ghats as
well as along the coastal Karnataka with access to Arabian Sea.
Here Tulu language, one of the five main Dravidian languages of the
South, with its extinct script is spoken. For historical purposes the
regions settled by Brahmins are three in number. Haige or Haive
(Uttara Kannada), Taulava (Dakshina Kannada) and Kerala.
31. Some interesting notes given by the auther are added below(
Numbering is MINE):-
53
2 Japan: Our Japanese friend tells that there are 4 castes (sections)
in Japanese society. It is called Shi - Nou - Kou - Chou system.
1. Byshi (Samurai) = Kings and Soldiers
2. Noumin = Farmers etc. (large section)
3. Kou = Artisans and Workers
4. Choumin = Merchants
A Japanese Male can never change his caste. But, a woman can
climb up by marrying a man of upper caste. But, she can be only a
2nd wife of upper caste. May be her children are considered as
upper caste, but some difference in minds will be there.
54
Those who work in Temples are not included in any of these. They
are called Bouzu. The bouzus can not marry. They adopt people
from other castes (not Samurai in general) and train as Bouzus.
57
Yajnavalkya went to the Sun God and requested the Sun to teach
him Yajurveda. The Sun God agreed to teach and asked him to
follow him in the form a horse during his continuous travel across
the skies and learn. Thus Yajnavlakya became a Vajasaneya, one
who learned as a horse and a branch formed called Vajasaneya
sakha. This Yajurveda learned by Yajnavlkya as a horse from the
Sun God is called SuklaYajurveda and the earlier one that was
learned from Vaismpayana was Krishna Yajurveda.According to
Vedas, when Yajnavalkya discarded the knowledge of Vedas, other
disciples absorbed it like Tittiri birds and hence the branch that
came from those disciples is called Tittiriya sakha.
58