DHARMA OF BRAHMIN --1

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Friends, We call ourself as a Brahmin when both our parents were of Brahminical origin. We attain the stage of Dwija when we are invested with Yagnopaveetham (sacred thread). Thereafter ceratin daily rituals such as Trikala Sandhyavandanam has to be done by all Brahmins every day including the day of death of close relatives. Brahmacharis (bachelors) are required

to do Samidhaadanaam and Grihastas (married males) are required to perform Aupasanam two times a day all the 365 days of the year. This is the commandment of the Sruti(Vedas). It is upto each person who claims to be Brahmin to question himself whether he can call himself to be a Brahmin despite not complying with the requirements of Sruti. In the Bhagawad Gita Lord Krishna says, "One`s own duty(occupation), though seemingly devoid of merit or faulty, is superior to that of another, even if well performed or discharged perfectly. It is preferable and honorable to die doing one`s duty(occupation) (Sreyan sva-dharmo vigunah

paradharmaat sva anushthitat sva dharme nidhanaa sreyah para dharmo bhayavaha); undertaking another`s duty(occupation) is fraught with danger"(Chapter

3,verse 35). Moreover, "It is better to engage in one`s occupation(Dharma) though uninviting, than that of another better discharged; for he who performs the duty(occupation) according to one`s nature does not incur any sin" Svabhava niyatam karma kurvan na apnoti kilbisham ( Chapter 18,verse 47). From this it is clear that without performing Brahminical duties such as Yajnas, Vedha Adhyayana, sandhya vandana etc. and observing of Vratas like Ekadsi Vrata etc. etc. we are not eligible to call ourselves as Brahmins. Our community people are excelling by engaing themselves in other`s occupation such as joining the armed forces etc. for fighting for the country,technology(yantra vidyakan), trade etc. etc. Such people have given more importance to

other occupations, professions, trade etc. etc. than Brahminical svadharma. In the past one or two centuries a trend seems to have emerged whereby the young members of our community did/ do not want to accept their karma of being born as in a brahmana- parivara and attempt to follow Brahminal codes. Majoroty of them seem to have migrated to technologically advanced or richer nations to do the jobs of sudras in order to earn greater amount of money. If one takes pride in proclaiming that he is a brahmin by birth, he should rigidly adhere to the rules of the Dharma Sastras

which declare that if a Brahmana crosses the ocean, he loses his caste. Thus those who went/ have gone/are going to work in foreign countries have lost their brahminical identity. Only a sudra is allowed to reside outside Bharatavarsha and Bharatah khanda that too when he is in distress or for subsistance. I am not saying this out of my hat. usbManu Smriti 4.61 says "Let him ( brahmana) not dwell in a land that is goverened by sudras.(to be continued)G.BalasubramanianLet us now take a glimpse of