History Of Brahmins India

[prasad1]

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The term Brahmana means one who has realized Ultimate Reality.

Brahmins are one of the groups of India who pray for the welfare of the people in general, are ordained to be a role model for the Society and are expected to lead the society.

In exercise of this, Brahmins have been priests, Advisers to kings (which continues even today) and in some cases have also been Kings, though this is not the function of the Brahmins.

Brahmins are called ‘Vipra’ the ‘Inspired ones’ ‘Dwija ‘ Twice , first being born physically, the second, when a Brahmin is anointed with the ceremony and practice of the Upanayana, the opening of the third Eye.

The authority for the Brahmins are the Sruthi( which is heard), the Vedas, and the Smritis(The remembered).

The Vedas are four in number, Rig, Yajur(Krishna and Shukla), Sama and Atharva.

There are many Smritis.Vasishta,Vishnu, Manu and many more.

To be a Brahmin is no Birthright.

It is be nature and character one becomes a Brahmin.

Such is the expectations from the Brahmins, the Manu Dharma Shastra sanctions 1000 times more severe punishment for Brahmin for similar offence committed by the other groups like Kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudras.

There are references to Brahmins from time of the Vedas, about 5000 years old, and in the Purans.

Pippalatha, Katyayani.Angiras,Bharadwaja,Maitri, Gargi are some of the Brahmins who composed the Veda sutras.

Maitri, Gargi and Katyayani were women.

The Brahmins were spread through out the world as were the Vedas.

Later after Sage Viswamitra consigned his sons beyond the Vindhyas to the Dakshina Desa, or Dravida, there appeared a distinction between the Brahmins of the North and those from the South.

The Brahmins from the South of the Vindhyas generally follow the Apasthamba Sutra, Apasthamba being a descendant of Viswamitra.

This sutra contains some material culled out from another great Culture the Tamils.

However there is commonality between the Brahmins from North and South.

For both of them the primary Deity is Agni, the God of Fire.

Both follow the Vedas.

Both have Upnayana, Jathakarma,marriage ceremonies up to Samskara (Death Rites)

There are minor variations in the mantras and both follow the basic 40 Samskaras.

Kalhana , in His Rajatharangini describes and assigns the geographical locations for Brahmins.

कर्णाटकाश्च तैलंगा द्राविडा महाराष्ट्रकाः,
गुर्जराश्चेति पञ्चैव द्राविडा विन्ध्यदक्षिणे ||
सारस्वताः कान्यकुब्जा गौडा उत्कलमैथिलाः,
पन्चगौडा इति ख्याता विन्ध्स्योत्तरवासि ||

Karnataka (Kannada), Telugu (Andhra), Dravida (Tamil and Kerala), Maharashtra and Gujarat are Five Southern (Panch Dravida). Saraswata, Kanyakubja, Gauda, Utkala (Orissa), Maithili are Five Northern (Pancha Gauda).

This classification occurs in Rajatarangini of Kalhana, mentioned by Jogendra Nath Bhattacharya in “Hindu Castes and Sects.”

Pancha Gauda Brahmins.

Panch Gaur (the five classes of Northern India):

(1) Saraswat, (2) Kanyakubja, (3) Maithil Brahmins, (4) Gauda brahmins (including Sanadhyas), and (5)Utkala Brahmins .

In addition, for the purpose of giving an account of Northern Brahmins each of the provinces must be considered separately, such as, Kashmir, Nepal, Uttarakhand, Himachal, Kurukshetra, Rajputana, Uttar Pradesh,Ayodhya (Oudh), Gandhar, Punjab, North Western Provinces and Pakistan, Sindh, Central India, Trihoot, Bihar, Orissa, Bengal, Assam, etc. The originate from south of the (now-extinct) Saraswati River.

In Bihar, majority of Brahmins are Kanyakubja Brahmins, Bhumihar Brahmins and Maithil Brahmins with a significant population of Sakaldiwiya or Shakdwipi Brahmins.

With the decline of Mughal Empire, in the area of south of Avadh, in the fertile rive-rain rice growing areas of Benares, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Ghazipur, Ballia and Bihar and on the fringes of Bengal, it was the ‘military’ or Bhumihar Brahmins who strengthened their sway.

The distinctive ‘caste’ identity of Bhumihar Brahman emerged largely through military service, and then confirmed by the forms of continuous ‘social spending’ which defined a man and his kin as superior and lordly.

History Of Brahmins India

Such is the expectations from the Brahmins, the Manu Dharma Shastra sanctions 1000 times more severe punishment for Brahmin for similar offence committed by the other groups like Kshatriya, Vaisya …

ramanisblog.in

 

[prasad1]

Who Are South Indian Brahmins, Five Vedic Families
6 Votes

Though the culture of India is one, one that is based on Hinduism,there are minor differences in practices by the people.

The four castes, which is a loose and incorrect translation of the word Varna, follow uniform code, though they might be quite far off from each other, despite no written scripture for such practices.

However one finds some differences in the practices followed by them,though they follow the general spirit of the Vedas and Smritis.

Take the instance of Brahmins .

Brahmins Population distribution in India Interactive Map. Image
Distribution of Brahmins in India. Interactive Map by Joshua Project
The Brahmins of South India, Iyers and Iyengars do not generally have surname following their names as is the case in North India.

The terms Iyer and Iyengars are unique to Tamil Nadu.

Then one case divisions among the Brahmins in South India.

In Tamil Nadu, there are Iyers, with sub groups like Ashtasahasrama, Brahathcharanam,Vadama, and Vathima.

In Andhra one has Mulukanadu and the like.

In Karnataka also there are subdivisions.

Why such differences from the North indian Brahmins and among the Brahmins of South Indian themselves?

There are some references.

One states that Sage Viswamitra had his fifty sons ostracised to Dravida Desa for questioning his authority and these people intermarried with the Dravidas.

One of their descendants, Apasthamba compiled the Vedas in yet another form in the form of Sutras, called the Apasthamba Sutras.

This sutra incorporates some practices of the Dravidians like the wearing of Mangal Sutra in a Marriage.

This practice is not present in Vaidika system of marriage.

Then we have the difference in the Veda Paatas, the specific branch and the recitation.

One finds the near absence od the Ataharva Veda in the South and the Shukla Yajur is followed by a few people in Tamil Nadu.

In Tamil Nadu, one finds Krishna Yajur and Sama Veda being practiced more.

In Andhra and Karnataka , Rig Veda and Krishna Yajur, in Andhra Rig And Sama Veda.

Why?

Though there is yet another reference of Brahmins having been in the South around 5000 BC and even before this, why there is such a difference in practices?

Did Brahmins live in the South or did they migrate from the North?

“Battles mentioned in the Rig Veda, whether between those called Aryans or Dasyus, are largely between the “five peoples” (pancha manava). These five are identified as the Turvashas, Yadus, Purus, Anus and Druhyus, which the Puranas describe as oRiginating from the five sons of Yayati, an early Vedic king in the lunar dynasty descended from Manu, and the son of Nahusha. These peoples, both Dasyus and Aryans, are also called Nahushas in the Rig Veda.(*24) Of the five the main people of the Rig Veda are the Purus who are usually located on the Sarasvati river or the central region. The Yadus are placed in the south and west in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra up to Mathura in the north. The Anus are placed in the north. The Druhyus are placed in the west and the Turvasha southeast. These are the directions given to them in the Puranas.

In the original Puranic story there were two groups of people, the Devas and Asuras, or godly and ungodly people, who had various conflicts. Both had Brahmin gurus, the Angirasas for the Suras (Devas) and the BhRigus for the Asuras. Both these Brahmin groups we might add were responsible for many teachings in ancient India, including the Upanishads. The battles between the Devas and Asuras involved a struggle between their gurus.

King Yayati, the father of the five Vedic peoples and a follower of the Angirasas, had two wives, Devayani, the daughter of Shukra of the BhRigu seers, and Sharmishta, the daughter of Vrisha Parvan, king of the Asuras. Turvasha and Yadu were sons of Yayati by Devayani of the BhRigus. Anu, Druhyu and Puru were sons of Yayati by Sharmishta of the Asuras.(*26) Yayati’s story shows that the five Vedic people were born of an alliance of Aryan and Asuric kings, and their Angirasa and BhRigu seers.

Vrisha Parvan and Shukra appear to have come from southwest India, Gujarat, as the BhRigus were descendants of Varuna, God of the sea, and have always been associated with this region of India (for example, their city BhRigukaccha or modern Baruch near Baroda). In the Puranic story their territory bordered on that of Yayati, who happened upon both Devayani and Sharmishta, while hunting.

Hence three of the original five Vedic peoples had Asuric blood in them through their mother. Puru, whose group ultimately predominated, had Asuric blood, whereas the Yadus, who were most criticized in Vedic and Puranic literature, had no Asuric blood but rather that of the Brahmins. In this story we see that both groups of people – thought by the Aryan invasion theory to be the invading Aryans and the indigenous peoples – had the same religion and ancestry.

These five peoples were styled either Arya or Dasyu, which mean something like good or bad, holy or unholy according to their behavior. Their designation can shift quickly. The descendants of an Aryan king can be called Dasyu or its equivalent (Rakshasa, Dasa, Asura, etc.), if their behavior changes.

For example, in the most important battle in the Rig Veda, the famous battle of the Ten Kings (Dasarajna), victorious Sudas, regarded as a Puru king, and located on the Sarasvati river, includes among his enemies called Dasyu groups of the five Vedic peoples like the Anus, Druhyus, Turvashas, and even Purus.(*27) However, the sons of Sudas themselves fall and in Brahmanical and Puranic literature are themselves called Rakshasas or demons for killing the sons of the great rishi Vasishta.(*28) Meanwhile the Kavashas, a seer family, listed among the defeated enemies of Sudas (*29) appear again in the Brahmanas and Upanishads as the chief priests of the famous dynasty of Kuru kings, particularly Tura Kavasheya, the purohit for King Janamejaya.(*30) The BhRigus, who were among those defeated by Sudas, appear as prominent teachers in later Vedic and Puranic lore as already noted. Such shifts would be impossible if Aryan and Dasyu were simply racial terms. Aryans and the Dasyus are not a racial or linguistic but a religious or spiritual divide, which changes along with human behavior.”

The Puranas make the Dravidians descendants of the Vedic family of Turvasha, one of the older Vedic peoples. These ancient historians did not feel any need to limit the Vedic people to one linguistic group. The Vedas portray the large region of north India which must have been as complex culturally then as today. In fact the Puranas regard the Chinese, Persians and other non-Indic peoples to be descendants of Vedic kings. The Vedas see all human beings as descendants of Manu, their legendary first man.

Thus one sees that the Brahmins were the residents of Dravida and there was also a group that moved in, sent in by Viswamitra(History of the Tamils by PT.Srinivasa Ayengar).

Thus one can assert that the Brahmins of the South are the descendants of Yayati of Lunar Dynasty.

Who Are South Indian Brahmins, Five Vedic Families

Distribution of Brahmin population in India explained.

ramanisblog.in

 

[prasad1]

Thread 'History of Tamil Brahmins'

Aug 28, 2006

Authored by Ramachander

History of Tamil Brahmins
P.R.Ramachander
A peep in to ancient and medieval history
Migration
According to reputed historians, in the hoary past Tamil Nadu was occupied by a very cultured people whose religion was perhaps different from Hinduism. They did not have the Chaturvarnyam among them but had different caste groups. To this country the Brahmins of North India migrated. This according to historians took place when the Maurya Kings were ruling India, the reason being the new religious...

• praveen
• Replies: 38
• Forum: General Discussions [Archives]

 

[tbs]

hi

migration is part of TB blood....many migrated from villages to chennai /other cities....many moved to delhi

bombay and calcutta....many palakkad brahmins moved to dubai /muscat/baharain....now many moved to

USA/UK/AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND.....many other tamil communities moved to

srilanka/singapore/malaysia/ maurious/ fiji etc..

 

[prasad1]

If there were only 5 Brahmin family who migrated to south India, and kept the purity of castes, we must all be related. How far are we from incest? What about these 100 different Gothra's among TB's.

 

[GNANA SUNYAM]

If there were only 5 Brahmin family who migrated to south India, and kept the purity of castes, we must all be related. How far are we from incest? What about these 100 different Gothra's among TB's.

There are numerous versions on who brahmins are, what is their origin, how they multiplied, why so many divisions, sects, sub-sects, what are the gothras, what is the origin of the gothras etc, the authenticity of the versions yet to be established notwithstanding.

One version:
Brahmins are descendants of the Brahma Rishis after whom their gothras are named. Initially they married among themselves. As centuries passed they migrated to far off lands, mingled with other people groups, language groups, married across groups and hence the numerous sub-sects and linguistic groups. The common denominator is the chanting of sanskrit mantras regardless of mother tongues, performance of brahmopadesam, sandhyavandhanam etc. Brahmins are sought, hired and engaged for priestly duties by most of the other caste groups, barring some who have their own priests.

Another Version:
The Israelites (currently Jews), also descendants of Abraham, pronounced 'Brhm' in their native language, were divided into 12 tribes (gothra in tamil bible), each tribe named after the 12 sons of Jacob (pronounced yaqb in their native language and yakkobu in tamil) who in turn is son of Isaac, who in turn is son of Abraham alias Brhm.
The tribe of Levi were seperated out and called for priesthood, assigned the task of priests. They were commanded to perform priestly duties and ceremonies for other tribes. On numerous occasions the Israelites were in exile, in erstwhile babylon on some occasions and in erstwhile persia on some other occasions. During exile some Israelites moved towards east to escape slavery, cruelty, harassment and some such mingled with some people groups who are now Indians. The religious practices also got mingled with modifications to suit the land, environment, circumstances etc. When queried about their identity, they expressed themselves as descendants of 'Brhm' and the local groups called them Brahmanaha, anglicized Brahmins by the Englishmen. While similarities in the ceremonial practices of Brahmins and the Levites, as found in the books of Leviticus, Dueteronomy, Exodus, Numbers lends credence to this theory, the vast number of differences find no explanation. This version is yet to be dismissed as mere coincidence.

There are numerous other versions also whose authenticity remains un-established.

 

[GNANA SUNYAM]

There is a belief that one takes numerous cycles of births and deaths and is eventually born as brahmin, highest caste, owing to net righteous deeds, ('punniyams') in earlier births

Is this true, or is it just a brainwashed belief, a conditioning of the mind, a programming of the mind over centuries?. Is it true that brahmins are highest caste? Is there any documented evidence or artefact to corroborate the 'highest', 'greatest' status? Or is it just a myth, a lofty egotistic claim?