Guest guest Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Krshnamurthi CS <krishee2000 Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 12:41 PM Fw: Great Discipline of Brahmins in India anantha1946, visundaram, kavithasubramaniam87, kalamegham Ramaswamy <kalameghamr, " Jayaraman R. " <vu2jn Cc: sreek_sk, Shreelakshmi Lakshmi <shreelak  “Vasudhaika kutumbakam†Great Discipline of Brahmins in India Brahmin is the class of educators, law makers, doctors, scholars and preachers in Hinduism. It is said to occupy the highest position among the four varnas of Hinduism. The English word brahmin is an anglicised form of the Sanskrit word Brahmana (Brahman also refers to a sanskrit word Brahma- meaning 'knowledge', Brahman (noun form) who possesses the 'knowledge.' Brahmins are also called Vipra " learned " or Dvija " twice-born " . In Buddhist sources written in Pali and Prakrit, including Ashokan inscriptions, Brahmins are commonly called Babhans which is the Pali word for Brahmins. Historically, the rulers acted in close relationship with Brahmins, and relied on them as their advisors. Gradually, the Brahmins became a powerful and influential group in India, attracting accusations of discriminating against 'lower' castes. In modern India, the Brahmins have complained of reverse discrimination. Brahmin communities The Brahmin castes may be broadly divided into two regional groups: Pancha-Gauda Brahmins and Pancha-Dravida Brahmins as per the write up is from Rajatarangini of Kalhana which is composed only in 11th CE and many communities find their traces from sages mentioned in much older Vedas and puranas. Pancha Gauda Brahmins Pancha Gauda (the five classes of Northern India): (1) Saraswat,(2) Kanyakubja, (3)Maithil Brahmins (4) Gauda brahmins (including Sanadhyas)) (5)Utkala Brahmins . Pancha Dravida Brahmins Paara Thrivikraman Namboothiri, Priest of Guruvayoor Temple in Kerala, 1960'sPanch Dravida (the five classes of Southern India): 1) Andhra, 2) Dravida (Tamil and Kerala), 3) Karnataka, 4) Maharashtra and Konkon, and 5) Gujarat. They originate from north of the (now-extinct) Saraswati River. In Haryana, the Brahmin are classified in mainly Dadhich_Brahmin, Gaud Brahmin, Khandelwal Brahmin. But large proportion of Brahmin in Haryana are Gaud(about 90%). Approximately all Brahmin in west U P are adi gaur. In Nepal, the hill Brahmins are classified in mainly Upadhaya Brahmin, Jaisi Brahmin and Kumain Brahmins. Upadhaya Brahmins are supposed to have settled in Nepal long before the other two groups. Majority of hill Brahmins are supposed to be of Khasa origin. In Punjab, they are classified as Saraswat Brahmins. In Rajasthan, the Brahmins are classified in mainly Dadhich_Brahmin, Gaur Brahmin,Sanadhya brahmins, Rajpurohit / Purohit Brahmins, Sri Gaur Brahmin, Khandelwal Brahmin, Gujar-Gaur Brahmins. Rajpurohit / Purohit Brahmins are mainly found in Marwar & Godwad region of Rajasthan. Rajpurohit a Title bestowed upon those learned Brahmins, who use to perform the rituals and rites for the rulers of some kingdoms. In the course of their service to the kingdom, according to ancient traditions, the king use to award a few villages or land known as Sasan Jagir within his kingdom to their Rajpurohits. These villages or land were considered to be free from any ruler, and were outside the ambit of any form of tax. Shakdwipiya Brahmins are also found at many places in rajasthan they are the major pujari in many temples of western rajasthan. In Sindh, the saraswat Brahmins from Nasarpur of Sindh province are called Nasarpuri Sindh Saraswat Brahmin. During the India and Pakistan partition migrated to India from sindh province. In Uttar Pradesh, from west to east: Sanadhya, Gauda & Tyagi (western UP), Kanyakubja( Central UP), Sarayuparin (Central Uttar Pradesh,Eastern, NE, & SE UP), Bhumihar (Varanasi and other parts of eastern U.P.) and Maithil(Varanasi) , the South western UP, i.e. Bundelkhand has thick population of Jujhotia brahmins(branch of Kanyakubja brahmins:ref. Between History & Legend:Power & Status in Bundelkhand by Ravindra K Jain). On the Jijhoutia clan of Bhumihar Brahmins, William Crooke writes, " A branch of the Kanaujia Brahmins (Kanyakubja Brahmins) who take their name from the country of Jajakshuku, which is mentioned in the Madanpur inscription. " 33 Mathure or mathuria Brahmins 'choubeys' are limited to Mathura area. In Gujarat, Brahmins are classified into Eight groups: Anavil Brahmin, Audichya Brahmins, Bardai Brahmins, Girinarayan Brahmins, Khedaval, Nagar Brahmins, Shrimali Brahmins, Sidhra-Rudhra Brahmins and Modh Brahmins. The Modh Brahmins worship Matangi Modheshwari mata (Modhera) and are mostly found in North Gujarat and in the Baroda region. In Maharashtra, Brahmins are classified into five groups: Chitpavan Konkanastha Brahmins, Gaud Saraswat Brahmin Pareek, Deshastha Brahmin, Karhade Brahmin, and Devrukhe. As the name indicates, Kokanastha Brahmin are from Konkan area. Gaud Saraswat Brahmins are from Konkan region or they may come from Goa or Karnataka, Deshastha Brahmin are from plains of Maharashtra, Karhade Brahmins are perhaps from Karhatak (an ancient region in India that included present day south Maharashtra and northern Karnataka) and Devrukhe Brahmins are from Devrukh near Ratnagiri. In Madhya Pradesh the descendents of Somnath temple priests, Naramdev Brahmin, Who migrated from Gujrat to Madhyapradesh after the Mohd. Ghazni notorious forays in saurashtra and desacration of Somnath, and sedenterized along the coast of Narmada river hence derived their name ie Narmdiya brahmin or Naramdevs. Guru of Adi guru Shankaracharya, shri Govindacharya claimed to belongs to this community who initiated him in the Omkareshwar in the bank of river Narmada. Naramdevs are in high concentration in Nimar (Khandwa and Khargone)and Bhuvana region (Harda) of Madhyapradesh. Here, the Brahmins are classified in mainly Shri Gaud, Sanadhya brahmin, Gujar-Gaud Brahmins. Majority of Shri Gaud Brahmins are found in the Malwa region (Indore, Ujjain, Dewas). Eastern MP has dense population of Sarayuparain Brahmins. Hoshangabad and Harda Distt. of MP have a considerable population of Jujhotia (a clan of Bhumihar Brahmins, eg. Swami Sahajanand Saraswati) and Naremdev Brahmins.. In Karnataka, Brahmins are mainly classified into Havyaka speaking Havigannada, Babbur Kamme, Hoysala Karnataka speaking kannada, Shivalli and Kota speaking Tulu, Karahada speaking Marathi and have their own tradition and culture. In Orissa, Utkala Brahmins, also known as Oriya or Orissa Brahmins, are a Jati (caste) who live mainly in the Indian state of Orissa & neighbouring states of Chhatishgarh, Northern Andhra Pradesh,West Bengal & Jharkhand. They constitute farthest branch of the Panch-Gauda in the east, south of Maithila(present day Bihar).Utkala Brahmins are mainly classified into Utkala Kulina Brahmins,Utkala Aranyaka Brahmins,Utkala Halua Brahmins,Utkala Panda Brahmins. In West Bengal, the Brahmins are classified in Barendra & Rarhi corresponding to the ancient Barendrabhumi( North Bengal) and Rarhdesh(South Bengal) making present day Bangladesh & West Bengal. It is also said that Barendras are traditional Brahmins who practiced the art of medicinal science and surgury rather than the traditional function of being the teacher or the priest, and so many a times they are not considered true brahmins by the Rarhis, although they are their own offshoots. The traditional accounts of the origin of Bengali Brahmins are given in texts termed Kulagranthas (e.g., Kuladipika), composed around the 17th century. They mention a ruler named Adisura who invited five Brahmins from Kanyakubja, so that he could conduct a yajña, because he could not find Vedic experts locally. Traditional texts mention that Adisura was ancestor of Ballal Sena from maternal side and five Brahmins had been invited in AD 1077. Historians have located a ruler named Adisura ruling in north Bihar, but not in Bengal. But Ballal Sena and his predecessors ruled over both Bengal and Mithila (i.e., North Bihar). It is unlikely that the Brahmins from Kanyakubja may have been invited to Mithila for performing a yajña, because Mithila was a strong base of Brahmins since Vedic age. Another account mentions a king Shyamal Varma who invited five Brahmins from Kanyakubja who became the progenitors of the Vaidika Brahmins. A third account refers to five Brahmins being the ancestors of Varendra Brahmins as well. From similarity of titles (e.g., upadhyaya), the first account is most probable. Besides these two major community there are also Utkal Brahmins, having migrated from present Orissa and Vaidik Brahmins, having migrated from Western and Northern India. In Andhra Pradesh, Brahmins are broadly classified into 3 groups: Vaidika (meaning educated in vedas and performing religious vocations), Niyogi (performing only secular vocation)and Dravidlu(In the Coastal Andhra Pradesh). They are further divided into several sub-castes. However, majority of the Brahmins, both Vaidika and Niyogi, perform only secular professions. In Karnataka, Brahmins are broadly classified into 2 groups: Madhwa (followers of Shri Madhwacharya) and Smartha (followers of Shri Adi Sankaracharya) .. They are further divided into several sub-castes. Other than these groups, there are other brahmin communities viz, Havyaka, Kota, Shivalli, Saraswata etc. Here, Havyaka speaking Havigannada, Babbur Kamme, Hoysala Karnataka speaking kannada, Shivalli and Kota speaking Tulu, Karahada speaking Marathi and have their own tradition and culture. In Kerala, Brahmins are classified into three groups: Namboothiris, Pottis and Pushpaka. The major priestly activities are performed by Namboothiris while the other temple related activities known as Kazhakam are performed by Pushpaka Brahmins and other Ampalavasis. Sri Adi Shankara was born in Kalady, a village in Kerala, to a Namboothiri Brahmin couple, Shivaguru and Aryamba, and lived for thirty-two years. The Namboothiri Brahmins, Potti Brahmins and Pushpaka Brahmins in Kerala follow the Philosophies of Sri Adi Sankaracharya. Nagariks are the common name for north indian immigrant brahmins The Brahmins who migrated to Kerala from Tamil Nadu are known as Pattar in Kerala. They possess almost same status of Potti Brahmins in Kerala. In Tamil Nadu, Brahmins belong to 2 major groups: Iyer and Iyengar. Iyers comprise of Smartha and Saivite Brahmins and are broadly classified into Vadama, Vathima, Brhatcharnam, Ashtasahasram, Sholiyar and Gurukkal. There are mostly followers of Adi Shankaracharya and form about three-fourths of Tamil Nadu's Brahmin population. Iyengars comprise of Vaishnavite Brahmins and are divided into two sects: Vadakalai and Thenkalai. They are mostly followers of Ramanuja and make up the remaining one-fourth of the Tamil Brahmin population. In Bihar, majority of Brahmins are Kanyakubja Brahmins, Bhumihar Brahmins and Maithil Brahmins with a significant population of Sakaldiwiya or Shakdwipi Brahmins. The Bhumihar Brahmins, of whom many, though not all, belong to the Saryupareen Brahmin division of Kanyakubja Brahmins. Therefore, there is a lot of brotherhood among these Brahmin sub-castes and Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi and Dr. Hazari Prasad Dwivedi have mentioned it in their writings. On the Jijhoutia clan of Bhumihar Brahmins (eg. Swami Sahajanand Saraswati), William Crooke writes, " A branch of the Kanaujia Brahmins (Kanyakubja Brahmins) who take their name from the country of Jajakshuku, which is mentioned in the Madanpur inscription. " In the 19th and 20th national convention of Kanyakubja Brahmins by Kanyakubja Mahati Sabha, in 1926 and 1927 respectively, it reiterated Bhumihar Brahmins to be Kanyakubja Brahmins and appealed for unity among Kanyakubja Brahmins whose different branches included Sanadhya, Pahadi, Jujhoutia, Saryupareen, Chattisgadhi, Bhumihar and different Bengali 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. In 19th century, many of the Bhumihar Brahmins were zamindars. Of the 67000 Hindus in the Bengal Army in 1842, 28000 were identified as Rajputs and 25000 as Brahmins, a category that included Bhumihar Brahmins. The Brahmin presence in the Bengal Army was reduced in the late nineteenth century because of their perceived primary role as mutineers in the Mutiny of 1857, led by Mangal Pandey. The Kingdom of Kashi belonged to Bhumihar Brahmins and big zamindaris like Bettiah Raj, Hathwa Raj and Tekari Raj belonged to them. Gotras In general, gotra denotes any person who traces descent in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as ' apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram', which means 'the word gotra denotes the progeny (of a sage) beginning with the son's son. When a person says ' I am Kashypasa-gotra' he means that he traces his descent from the ancient sage Kashyapa by unbroken male descent.. According to the Baudhâyanas'rauta- sûtra are 8 sages; the progeny of these eight sages is declared to be gotras: 1.  Visvamitra, 2.  Jamadagni, 3.  Bharadvâja, 4.  Gautama, 5.  Atri or Krisnatriya, 6.  Vasishtha, 7.  Kashyapa and 8.  Agastya This enumeration of eight primary gotras seems to have been known to Panini. These gotras are not directly connected to Prajapathy or latter brama. The offspring (apatya) of these eight are gotras and others than these are called ' gotrâvayava '. The gotras are arranged in groups. There are according to the Âsvalâyana-srautasû tra four subdivisions of the Vasishtha gana, viz. Upamanyu, Parashara, Kundina and Vasishtha (other than the first three). Each of these four again has numerous sub-sections, each being called gotra. So the arrangement is first into ganas, then into pakshas, then into individual gotras. The first has survived in the Bhrigu and Angirasa gana. According to Baudh., the principal eight gotras were divided into pakshas. ·      The pravara of Upamanyu is Vasishtha, Bharadvasu, Indrapramada; ·      The pravara of the Parâshara gotra is Vasishtha, Shâktya, Pârâsharya; ·      The pravara of the Kundina gotra is Vasishtha, Maitrâvaruna, Kaundinya and ·      The pravara of Vasishthas other than these three is simply Vasishtha.. It is therefore that some define pravara as the group of sages that distinguishes the founder (lit. the starter) of one gotra from another. Pravaras There are two kinds of pravaras. 1) Sishya-prasishya- rishi-parampara, and 2) Putrparampara. Gotrapravaras can be ekarsheya, dwarsheya, triarsheya, pancharsheya, saptarsheya, and up to 19 rishis. Kashyapasa gotra has at least two distinct pravaras in Andhra Pradesh: one with three sages (triarsheya pravara) and the other with seven sages (saptarsheya pravara). This pravara may be either sishya-prasishya- rishi-parampara or putraparampara. When it is sishya-prasishya- rishi-parampara 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. Sects and rishis Due to the diversity in religious and cultural traditions and practices, and the Vedic schools which they belong to, Brahmins are further divided into various subcastes. During the sutra period, roughly between 1000 BCE to 200 BCE, Brahmins became divided into various Shakhas (branches), based on the adoption of different Vedas and different rescension Vedas. Sects for different denominations of the same branch of the Vedas were formed, under the leadership of distinguished teachers among Brahmins. There are several Brahmin law givers such as Angirasa, Apasthambha, Atri (also sometimes more realized as Krishnatriya) , Brihaspati, Boudhayana, Daksha, Gautam, Harita, Katyayana, Likhita, Manu, Parasara, Samvarta, Shankha, Shatatapa, Ushanasa, Vashishta, Vishnu, Vyasa, Yajnavalkya and Yama. These twenty-one rishis were the propounders of Smritis. The oldest among these smritis are Apastamba, Baudhayana, Gautama, and Vasishta Sutras. Descendants from Brahmins ·      Many Indians claim descent from the Vedic Rishis of both Brahmin and non-Brahmin descent. ·      For example the Dash and Nagas are said to be the descendants of Kashyapa Muni. ·      The Rajput gothras which correspond to the name of the Rishis mean that they employ(ed) (and protect) Brahmin priest of that gothras. ·      Visvakarmas are the descendants of Pancha Rishis or Brahmarshies. ·      According to Yajurveda and brahmanda purana They are Sanagha, Sanathana, Abhuvanasa, Prajnasa, Suparnasa. ·      The Kani tribe of South India claim to descend from Agastya Muni. ·      The Gondhali, Kanet, Bhot, Lohar, Dagi, and Hessis claim to be from Renuka Devi. ·      The Kasi Kapadi Sudras claim to originate from the Brahmin Sukradeva.. Their duty was to transfer water to the sacred city of Kashi. ·      Dadheech Brahmins/dayama brahmin trace their roots from Dadhichi Rishi. Many Jats clans claim to descend from Dadhichi Rishi while the Dudi Jats claim to be in the linear of Duda Rishi. ·      Lord Buddha of course, was a descendant of Angirasa through Gautama. There too were Kshatiryas of other clans to whom members descend from Angirasa, to fulfill a childless king's wish. ·      The backward-caste Matangs claim to descend from Matang Muni, who became a Brahmin by his karma. ·      The nomadic tribe of Kerala, the Kakkarissi according to one legend are derived from the mouth of Garuda, the vehicle of Vishnu, and came out Brahmin. Brahmins taking up other duties Brahmins have taken on many professions - from being priests, ascetics and scholars to warriors and business people, as is attested for example in Kalhana's Rajatarangini. Two of the largest empires in India were established and ruled by Brahmins. When the Kshatriyas failed to conduct their duties, Brahmins have become warriors and eventually restored law and order. Brahmins according to Dharma should assume a ruling position because they are the law-makers and preservers of Dharma.. However, whenever there have been incidents in the history, where the rulers have failed to live up to Dharma, Brahmins have assume power to restore proper law and order. First, instance is Chanakya (a brahmin) created the Maurya Empire. Maurya empire was the largest empire in India. Second, the Peshwas (Brahmins) ruled almost all of greater India, starting from Mysore to Afghanistan. Brahmins with the qualities of Kshatriyas are known as 'Brahmakshatriyas' . An example is the avatara Parshurama who destroyed the entire Haiheyas 21 times. Not only did Sage Parashurama have warrior skills but he was so powerful that he could even fight without the use of any weapons and trained others to fight without weapons. The Bhumihar Brahmins were established when Parashurama destroyed the Kshatriya race, and he set up in their place the descendants of Brahmins, who, after a time, having mostly abandoned their priestly functions (although some still perform), took to land-owning. Today there is a caste, Brahmakhatris, who are a clan of the Khatris. Perhaps the word Brahma-kshatriya refers to a person belonging to the heritage of both castes. However, among the Royal Rajput households, brahmins who became the personal teachers and protectors of the Royal princes rose to the status of Rajpurohit and taught the princes everything including martial arts. They would also become the keepers of the Royal lineage and its history. They would also be the protectors of the throne in case the regent was orphaned and a minor. Kshatriyan Brahmin is a term associated with people of both caste's components. The Pallavas were an example of Brahmakshatriyas as that is what they called themselves. King Lalitaditya Muktapida of Kashmir ruled all of India and even Central Asia. King Rudravarma of Champa (Vietnam) of 657 A.D. was the son of a Brahmin father. King Jayavarma I of Kambuja (Kampuchea) of 781 A.D. was a Brahma-kshatriya. Brahmins with the qualities of a Vaisya or merchant are known as 'Brahmvyasya' . An example of such persons are people of the Ambastha caste, which exist in places like South India and Bengal. They perform medical work - they have from ancient times practiced the Ayurveda and have been Vaidyas (or doctors). Many Pallis of South India claim to be Brahmins (while others claim to be Agnikula Kshatriyas.) Kulaman Pallis are nicknamed by outsiders as Kulaman Brahmans. Hemu from Rewari ,Haryana was also a Brahmin by birth. Duties Brahmanas have six occupational duties, of which three are compulsory — namely, studying the Vedas, worshiping the Deity and giving charity. By teaching, by inducing others to worship the Deity, and by accepting gifts, the brahma?as receive the necessities of life. Of the six occupational duties of the brahmanas, three are compulsory — namely, worship of the Deity, study of the Vedas and the giving of charity. In exchange, a brahmiin should receive charity, and this should be his means of livelihood. A brahmiin cannot take up any professional occupational duty for his livelihood. The sastras especially stress that if one claims to be a brahmana. Brahmins believe in Sarvejanassukhinobh avantu — Let the entire society be happy and prosperous and Vasudhaika kutumbakam — the whole world is one family. Many Brahmins are reformers. Most Brahmins today practice vegetarianism or lacto-vegetarianism . There are some Brahmins who are non-vegetarians, mainly the Brahmins of cold mountain areas like Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Nepal, and coastal areas like Bengal, who are fish eaters. However, even the meat eating Brahmins shun beef. .. ________________________________ -- Vijendran Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.53/2155 - Release Date: 06/04/09 17:55:00 ________________________________ Get an email ID as yourname or yourname. -- -- The people who make a  difference in your life are not the ones - with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care for you. Only those who care, make a difference. To make a difference to others, Care for them. == Subramanyam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 Dear sir, it is a very good explanation. I loved it. I am also a brahmin. My gotra is Bharadvaja. Like the compulsory duties that you have said i am doing like the studying the vedas, Worshipping the deity, But as far as the other duties are concerned, I am working in a bank. I am a software technical professional. Now i cant leave my job. I know certain yagya mantras like the Laghu rudriya yagya mantras. But i cant leave this job. How am i supposed to earn my livelyhood? regards, kanishk. At 01:09 PM 6/11/2009, you wrote: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Krshnamurthi CS <krishee2000 > Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 12:41 PM Fw: Great Discipline of Brahmins in India anantha1946, visundaram, kavithasubramaniam87, kalamegham Ramaswamy <kalameghamr >, " Jayaraman R. " <vu2jn Cc: sreek_sk, Shreelakshmi Lakshmi <shreelak  “Vasudhaika kutumbakam†Great Discipline of Brahmins in India Brahmin is the class of educators, law makers, doctors, scholars and preachers in Hinduism. It is said to occupy the highest position among the four varnas of Hinduism. The English word brahmin is an anglicised form of the Sanskrit word Brahmana (Brahman also refers to a sanskrit word Brahma- meaning 'knowledge', Brahman (noun form) who possesses the 'knowledge.' Brahmins are also called Vipra " learned " or Dvija " twice-born " . In Buddhist sources written in Pali and Prakrit, including Ashokan inscriptions, Brahmins are commonly called Babhans which is the Pali word for Brahmins. Historically, the rulers acted in close relationship with Brahmins, and relied on them as their advisors. Gradually, the Brahmins became a powerful and influential group in India, attracting accusations of discriminating against 'lower' castes. In modern India, the Brahmins have complained of reverse discrimination. Brahmin communities The Brahmin castes may be broadly divided into two regional groups: Pancha-Gauda Brahmins and Pancha-Dravida Brahmins as per the write up is from Rajatarangini of Kalhana which is composed only in 11th CE and many communities find their traces from sages mentioned in much older Vedas and puranas. Pancha Gauda Brahmins Pancha Gauda (the five classes of Northern India): (1) Saraswat,(2) Kanyakubja, (3)Maithil Brahmins (4) Gauda brahmins (including Sanadhyas)) (5)Utkala Brahmins . Pancha Dravida Brahmins Paara Thrivikraman Namboothiri, Priest of Guruvayoor Temple in Kerala, 1960'sPanch Dravida (the five classes of Southern India): 1) Andhra, 2) Dravida (Tamil and Kerala), 3) Karnataka, 4) Maharashtra and Konkon, and 5) Gujarat. They originate from north of the (now-extinct) Saraswati River. In Haryana, the Brahmin are classified in mainly Dadhich_Brahmin, Gaud Brahmin, Khandelwal Brahmin. But large proportion of Brahmin in Haryana are Gaud(about 90%). Approximately all Brahmin in west U P are adi gaur. In Nepal, the hill Brahmins are classified in mainly Upadhaya Brahmin, Jaisi Brahmin and Kumain Brahmins. Upadhaya Brahmins are supposed to have settled in Nepal long before the other two groups. Majority of hill Brahmins are supposed to be of Khasa origin. In Punjab, they are classified as Saraswat Brahmins. In Rajasthan, the Brahmins are classified in mainly Dadhich_Brahmin, Gaur Brahmin,Sanadhya brahmins, Rajpurohit / Purohit Brahmins, Sri Gaur Brahmin, Khandelwal Brahmin, Gujar-Gaur Brahmins. Rajpurohit / Purohit Brahmins are mainly found in Marwar & Godwad region of Rajasthan. Rajpurohit a Title bestowed upon those learned Brahmins, who use to perform the rituals and rites for the rulers of some kingdoms. In the course of their service to the kingdom, according to ancient traditions, the king use to award a few villages or land known as Sasan Jagir within his kingdom to their Rajpurohits. These villages or land were considered to be free from any ruler, and were outside the ambit of any form of tax. Shakdwipiya Brahmins are also found at many places in rajasthan they are the major pujari in many temples of western rajasthan. In Sindh, the saraswat Brahmins from Nasarpur of Sindh province are called Nasarpuri Sindh Saraswat Brahmin. During the India and Pakistan partition migrated to India from sindh province. In Uttar Pradesh, from west to east: Sanadhya, Gauda & Tyagi (western UP), Kanyakubja( Central UP), Sarayuparin (Central Uttar Pradesh,Eastern, NE, & SE UP), Bhumihar (Varanasi and other parts of eastern U.P.) and Maithil(Varanasi) , the South western UP, i.e. Bundelkhand has thick population of Jujhotia brahmins(branch of Kanyakubja brahmins:ref. Between History & Legend:Power & Status in Bundelkhand by Ravindra K Jain). On the Jijhoutia clan of Bhumihar Brahmins, William Crooke writes, " A branch of the Kanaujia Brahmins (Kanyakubja Brahmins) who take their name from the country of Jajakshuku, which is mentioned in the Madanpur inscription. " 33 Mathure or mathuria Brahmins 'choubeys' are limited to Mathura area. In Gujarat, Brahmins are classified into Eight groups: Anavil Brahmin, Audichya Brahmins, Bardai Brahmins, Girinarayan Brahmins, Khedaval, Nagar Brahmins, Shrimali Brahmins, Sidhra-Rudhra Brahmins and Modh Brahmins. The Modh Brahmins worship Matangi Modheshwari mata (Modhera) and are mostly found in North Gujarat and in the Baroda region. In Maharashtra, Brahmins are classified into five groups: Chitpavan Konkanastha Brahmins, Gaud Saraswat Brahmin Pareek, Deshastha Brahmin, Karhade Brahmin, and Devrukhe. As the name indicates, Kokanastha Brahmin are from Konkan area. Gaud Saraswat Brahmins are from Konkan region or they may come from Goa or Karnataka, Deshastha Brahmin are from plains of Maharashtra, Karhade Brahmins are perhaps from Karhatak (an ancient region in India that included present day south Maharashtra and northern Karnataka) and Devrukhe Brahmins are from Devrukh near Ratnagiri. In Madhya Pradesh the descendents of Somnath temple priests, Naramdev Brahmin, Who migrated from Gujrat to Madhyapradesh after the Mohd. Ghazni notorious forays in saurashtra and desacration of Somnath, and sedenterized along the coast of Narmada river hence derived their name ie Narmdiya brahmin or Naramdevs. Guru of Adi guru Shankaracharya, shri Govindacharya claimed to belongs to this community who initiated him in the Omkareshwar in the bank of river Narmada. Naramdevs are in high concentration in Nimar (Khandwa and Khargone)and Bhuvana region (Harda) of Madhyapradesh. Here, the Brahmins are classified in mainly Shri Gaud, Sanadhya brahmin, Gujar-Gaud Brahmins. Majority of Shri Gaud Brahmins are found in the Malwa region (Indore, Ujjain, Dewas). Eastern MP has dense population of Sarayuparain Brahmins. Hoshangabad and Harda Distt. of MP have a considerable population of Jujhotia (a clan of Bhumihar Brahmins, eg. Swami Sahajanand Saraswati) and Naremdev Brahmins.. In Karnataka, Brahmins are mainly classified into Havyaka speaking Havigannada, Babbur Kamme, Hoysala Karnataka speaking kannada, Shivalli and Kota speaking Tulu, Karahada speaking Marathi and have their own tradition and culture. In Orissa, Utkala Brahmins, also known as Oriya or Orissa Brahmins, are a Jati (caste) who live mainly in the Indian state of Orissa & neighbouring states of Chhatishgarh, Northern Andhra Pradesh,West Bengal & Jharkhand. They constitute farthest branch of the Panch-Gauda in the east, south of Maithila(present day Bihar).Utkala Brahmins are mainly classified into Utkala Kulina Brahmins,Utkala Aranyaka Brahmins,Utkala Halua Brahmins,Utkala Panda Brahmins. In West Bengal, the Brahmins are classified in Barendra & Rarhi corresponding to the ancient Barendrabhumi( North Bengal) and Rarhdesh(South Bengal) making present day Bangladesh & West Bengal. It is also said that Barendras are traditional Brahmins who practiced the art of medicinal science and surgury rather than the traditional function of being the teacher or the priest, and so many a times they are not considered true brahmins by the Rarhis, although they are their own offshoots. The traditional accounts of the origin of Bengali Brahmins are given in texts termed Kulagranthas (e.g., Kuladipika), composed around the 17th century. They mention a ruler named Adisura who invited five Brahmins from Kanyakubja, so that he could conduct a yajña, because he could not find Vedic experts locally. Traditional texts mention that Adisura was ancestor of Ballal Sena from maternal side and five Brahmins had been invited in AD 1077. Historians have located a ruler named Adisura ruling in north Bihar, but not in Bengal. But Ballal Sena and his predecessors ruled over both Bengal and Mithila (i.e., North Bihar). It is unlikely that the Brahmins from Kanyakubja may have been invited to Mithila for performing a yajña, because Mithila was a strong base of Brahmins since Vedic age. Another account mentions a king Shyamal Varma who invited five Brahmins from Kanyakubja who became the progenitors of the Vaidika Brahmins. A third account refers to five Brahmins being the ancestors of Varendra Brahmins as well. From similarity of titles (e.g., upadhyaya), the first account is most probable. Besides these two major community there are also Utkal Brahmins, having migrated from present Orissa and Vaidik Brahmins, having migrated from Western and Northern India. In Andhra Pradesh, Brahmins are broadly classified into 3 groups: Vaidika (meaning educated in vedas and performing religious vocations), Niyogi (performing only secular vocation)and Dravidlu(In the Coastal Andhra Pradesh). They are further divided into several sub-castes. However, majority of the Brahmins, both Vaidika and Niyogi, perform only secular professions. In Karnataka, Brahmins are broadly classified into 2 groups: Madhwa (followers of Shri Madhwacharya) and Smartha (followers of Shri Adi Sankaracharya) .. They are further divided into several sub-castes. Other than these groups, there are other brahmin communities viz, Havyaka, Kota, Shivalli, Saraswata etc. Here, Havyaka speaking Havigannada, Babbur Kamme, Hoysala Karnataka speaking kannada, Shivalli and Kota speaking Tulu, Karahada speaking Marathi and have their own tradition and culture. In Kerala, Brahmins are classified into three groups: Namboothiris, Pottis and Pushpaka. The major priestly activities are performed by Namboothiris while the other temple related activities known as Kazhakam are performed by Pushpaka Brahmins and other Ampalavasis. Sri Adi Shankara was born in Kalady, a village in Kerala, to a Namboothiri Brahmin couple, Shivaguru and Aryamba, and lived for thirty-two years. The Namboothiri Brahmins, Potti Brahmins and Pushpaka Brahmins in Kerala follow the Philosophies of Sri Adi Sankaracharya. Nagariks are the common name for north indian immigrant brahmins The Brahmins who migrated to Kerala from Tamil Nadu are known as Pattar in Kerala. They possess almost same status of Potti Brahmins in Kerala. In Tamil Nadu, Brahmins belong to 2 major groups: Iyer and Iyengar. Iyers comprise of Smartha and Saivite Brahmins and are broadly classified into Vadama, Vathima, Brhatcharnam, Ashtasahasram, Sholiyar and Gurukkal. There are mostly followers of Adi Shankaracharya and form about three-fourths of Tamil Nadu's Brahmin population. Iyengars comprise of Vaishnavite Brahmins and are divided into two sects: Vadakalai and Thenkalai. They are mostly followers of Ramanuja and make up the remaining one-fourth of the Tamil Brahmin population. In Bihar, majority of Brahmins are Kanyakubja Brahmins, Bhumihar Brahmins and Maithil Brahmins with a significant population of Sakaldiwiya or Shakdwipi Brahmins. The Bhumihar Brahmins, of whom many, though not all, belong to the Saryupareen Brahmin division of Kanyakubja Brahmins. Therefore, there is a lot of brotherhood among these Brahmin sub-castes and Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi and Dr. Hazari Prasad Dwivedi have mentioned it in their writings. On the Jijhoutia clan of Bhumihar Brahmins (eg. Swami Sahajanand Saraswati), William Crooke writes, " A branch of the Kanaujia Brahmins (Kanyakubja Brahmins) who take their name from the country of Jajakshuku, which is mentioned in the Madanpur inscription. " In the 19th and 20th national convention of Kanyakubja Brahmins by Kanyakubja Mahati Sabha, in 1926 and 1927 respectively, it reiterated Bhumihar Brahmins to be Kanyakubja Brahmins and appealed for unity among Kanyakubja Brahmins whose different branches included Sanadhya, Pahadi, Jujhoutia, Saryupareen, Chattisgadhi, Bhumihar and different Bengali 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. In 19th century, many of the Bhumihar Brahmins were zamindars. Of the 67000 Hindus in the Bengal Army in 1842, 28000 were identified as Rajputs and 25000 as Brahmins, a category that included Bhumihar Brahmins. The Brahmin presence in the Bengal Army was reduced in the late nineteenth century because of their perceived primary role as mutineers in the Mutiny of 1857, led by Mangal Pandey. The Kingdom of Kashi belonged to Bhumihar Brahmins and big zamindaris like Bettiah Raj, Hathwa Raj and Tekari Raj belonged to them. Gotras In general, gotra denotes any person who traces descent in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as ' apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram', which means 'the word gotra denotes the progeny (of a sage) beginning with the son's son. When a person says ' I am Kashypasa-gotra' he means that he traces his descent from the ancient sage Kashyapa by unbroken male descent.. According to the Baudhâyanas'rauta- sûtra are 8 sages; the progeny of these eight sages is declared to be gotras: 1.  Visvamitra, 2.  Jamadagni, 3.  Bharadvâja, 4.  Gautama, 5.  Atri or Krisnatriya, 6.  Vasishtha, 7.  Kashyapa and 8.  Agastya This enumeration of eight primary gotras seems to have been known to Panini. These gotras are not directly connected to Prajapathy or latter brama. The offspring (apatya) of these eight are gotras and others than these are called ' gotrâvayava '. The gotras are arranged in groups. There are according to the Âsvalâyana-srautasû tra four subdivisions of the Vasishtha gana, viz. Upamanyu, Parashara, Kundina and Vasishtha (other than the first three). Each of these four again has numerous sub-sections, each being called gotra. So the arrangement is first into ganas, then into pakshas, then into individual gotras. The first has survived in the Bhrigu and Angirasa gana. According to Baudh., the principal eight gotras were divided into pakshas. ·      The pravara of Upamanyu is Vasishtha, Bharadvasu, Indrapramada; ·      The pravara of the Parâshara gotra is Vasishtha, Shâktya, Pârâsharya; ·      The pravara of the Kundina gotra is Vasishtha, Maitrâvaruna, Kaundinya and ·      The pravara of Vasishthas other than these three is simply Vasishtha.. It is therefore that some define pravara as the group of sages that distinguishes the founder (lit. the starter) of one gotra from another. Pravaras There are two kinds of pravaras. 1) Sishya-prasishya- rishi-parampara, and 2) Putrparampara. Gotrapravaras can be ekarsheya, dwarsheya, triarsheya, pancharsheya, saptarsheya, and up to 19 rishis. Kashyapasa gotra has at least two distinct pravaras in Andhra Pradesh: one with three sages (triarsheya pravara) and the other with seven sages (saptarsheya pravara). This pravara may be either sishya-prasishya- rishi-parampara or putraparampara. When it is sishya-prasishya- rishi-parampara 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. Sects and rishis Due to the diversity in religious and cultural traditions and practices, and the Vedic schools which they belong to, Brahmins are further divided into various subcastes. During the sutra period, roughly between 1000 BCE to 200 BCE, Brahmins became divided into various Shakhas (branches), based on the adoption of different Vedas and different rescension Vedas. Sects for different denominations of the same branch of the Vedas were formed, under the leadership of distinguished teachers among Brahmins. There are several Brahmin law givers such as Angirasa, Apasthambha, Atri (also sometimes more realized as Krishnatriya) , Brihaspati, Boudhayana, Daksha, Gautam, Harita, Katyayana, Likhita, Manu, Parasara, Samvarta, Shankha, Shatatapa, Ushanasa, Vashishta, Vishnu, Vyasa, Yajnavalkya and Yama. These twenty-one rishis were the propounders of Smritis. The oldest among these smritis are Apastamba, Baudhayana, Gautama, and Vasishta Sutras. Descendants from Brahmins ·      Many Indians claim descent from the Vedic Rishis of both Brahmin and non-Brahmin descent. ·      For example the Dash and Nagas are said to be the descendants of Kashyapa Muni. ·      The Rajput gothras which correspond to the name of the Rishis mean that they employ(ed) (and protect) Brahmin priest of that gothras. ·      Visvakarmas are the descendants of Pancha Rishis or Brahmarshies. ·      According to Yajurveda and brahmanda purana They are Sanagha, Sanathana, Abhuvanasa, Prajnasa, Suparnasa. ·      The Kani tribe of South India claim to descend from Agastya Muni. ·      The Gondhali, Kanet, Bhot, Lohar, Dagi, and Hessis claim to be from Renuka Devi. ·      The Kasi Kapadi Sudras claim to originate from the Brahmin Sukradeva.. Their duty was to transfer water to the sacred city of Kashi. ·      Dadheech Brahmins/dayama brahmin trace their roots from Dadhichi Rishi. Many Jats clans claim to descend from Dadhichi Rishi while the Dudi Jats claim to be in the linear of Duda Rishi. ·      Lord Buddha of course, was a descendant of Angirasa through Gautama. There too were Kshatiryas of other clans to whom members descend from Angirasa, to fulfill a childless king's wish. ·      The backward-caste Matangs claim to descend from Matang Muni, who became a Brahmin by his karma. ·      The nomadic tribe of Kerala, the Kakkarissi according to one legend are derived from the mouth of Garuda, the vehicle of Vishnu, and came out Brahmin. Brahmins taking up other duties Brahmins have taken on many professions - from being priests, ascetics and scholars to warriors and business people, as is attested for example in Kalhana's Rajatarangini. Two of the largest empires in India were established and ruled by Brahmins. When the Kshatriyas failed to conduct their duties, Brahmins have become warriors and eventually restored law and order. Brahmins according to Dharma should assume a ruling position because they are the law-makers and preservers of Dharma.. However, whenever there have been incidents in the history, where the rulers have failed to live up to Dharma, Brahmins have assume power to restore proper law and order. First, instance is Chanakya (a brahmin) created the Maurya Empire. Maurya empire was the largest empire in India. Second, the Peshwas (Brahmins) ruled almost all of greater India, starting from Mysore to Afghanistan. Brahmins with the qualities of Kshatriyas are known as 'Brahmakshatriyas' . An example is the avatara Parshurama who destroyed the entire Haiheyas 21 times. Not only did Sage Parashurama have warrior skills but he was so powerful that he could even fight without the use of any weapons and trained others to fight without weapons. The Bhumihar Brahmins were established when Parashurama destroyed the Kshatriya race, and he set up in their place the descendants of Brahmins, who, after a time, having mostly abandoned their priestly functions (although some still perform), took to land-owning. Today there is a caste, Brahmakhatris, who are a clan of the Khatris. Perhaps the word Brahma-kshatriya refers to a person belonging to the heritage of both castes. However, among the Royal Rajput households, brahmins who became the personal teachers and protectors of the Royal princes rose to the status of Rajpurohit and taught the princes everything including martial arts. They would also become the keepers of the Royal lineage and its history. They would also be the protectors of the throne in case the regent was orphaned and a minor. Kshatriyan Brahmin is a term associated with people of both caste's components. The Pallavas were an example of Brahmakshatriyas as that is what they called themselves. King Lalitaditya Muktapida of Kashmir ruled all of India and even Central Asia. King Rudravarma of Champa (Vietnam) of 657 A.D. was the son of a Brahmin father. King Jayavarma I of Kambuja (Kampuchea) of 781 A.D. was a Brahma-kshatriya. Brahmins with the qualities of a Vaisya or merchant are known as 'Brahmvyasya' . An example of such persons are people of the Ambastha caste, which exist in places like South India and Bengal. They perform medical work - they have from ancient times practiced the Ayurveda and have been Vaidyas (or doctors). Many Pallis of South India claim to be Brahmins (while others claim to be Agnikula Kshatriyas.) Kulaman Pallis are nicknamed by outsiders as Kulaman Brahmans. Hemu from Rewari ,Haryana was also a Brahmin by birth. Duties Brahmanas have six occupational duties, of which three are compulsory — namely, studying the Vedas, worshiping the Deity and giving chariity. By teaching, by inducing others to worship the Deity, and by accepting gifts, the brahma?as receive the necessities of life. Of the six occupational duties of the brahmanas, three are compulsory — namely, worship of the Deity, study of the Vedas and the giving oof charity. In exchange, a brahmiin should receive charity, and this should be his means of livelihood. A brahmiin cannot take up any professional occupational duty for his livelihood. The sastras especially stress that if one claims to be a brahmana. Brahmins believe in Sarvejanassukhinobh avantu — Let the entire society be happy and prosperous and Vasudhaika kutumbakam — the whoole world is one family. Many Brahmins are reformers. Most Brahmins today practice vegetarianism or lacto-vegetarianism . There are some Brahmins who are non-vegetarians, mainly the Brahmins of cold mountain areas like Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Nepal, and coastal areas like Bengal, who are fish eaters. However, even the meat eating Brahmins shun beef. .. ________________________________ -- Vijendran Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.53/2155 - Release Date: 06/04/09 17:55:00 ________________________________ Get an email ID as yourname or yourname. -- -- The people who make a  difference in your life are not the ones - with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care for you. Only those who care, make a difference. To make a difference to others, Care for them. == Subramanyam ***************************************************************************** This Email and files transmitted are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this Email in error please notify the system manager. 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Guest guest Posted June 13, 2009 Report Share Posted June 13, 2009 Kanchi Sage had observed that DRAVIDS of North India must have been so termed as they were Brahmins who must have migrated from South India!!!! Similarly SOLIAS (CHOLIAS) ,Who have their tufts in the front side unlike other brahmins who have it on the back of their heads like pony tails, were so named since they were taken to KERALA by Lord Parasuramah from the CHOLA KINGDOMs and in order to prevent them to migrate again to Tamil Nadu their tuft designs were changed but still they did migrate back!!!! Now to add to the list of pravarams GOTRAM PRAVARAM AATREYA AATREYA-AARCHANAANASA-SYAVASVA UDUTYA ANGIRASA-OUDUTHYA-GOUTHAMA NAITHRU-KASYAPA KASYAPA-AAVATSAARA-NAITHRUVA REBA-KASYAPA D0 DO RYBHA SANDILYA -KASYABHA D0 DO SANDILYA KASHYABHA(KATHYAYANA SOOTRA) kASYABHA VATSARA-NYTHRUVA-REBA- RYBHA-SANDILA-SANDILYA KABYANGIRASA AANGIRASA-AAMAHAAYYA-OURUKSHYA GAARGEYA DO--------GAARGYA-CHYNYA GAARGEYA DO- BARHASPATHYA-BHARADWAJA- CHYNYA-GAARGYA KOUNDINYA VAASISHTA-MYTHRAVARUNAKOUNDINYA KOUSIGA VYSWAMITRA-AAGAMARSHANA-KOUSIGA GOUTHAMA AANGIRASA-AAYASYA-GOUTHAMA PARAASARA VAASISHTA-SAAGATHYA-PAARAACHARYA POURUGUTHSA AANGIRASA-POURUGUTHSA-THRAASADASYA BHADARAYANA DO----DO---------------------------DO------- BHARADWAJA DO---BAARHASPATHYA-BHARADWAJA MOUDGALYA DO---AMBAREESHA-MOUDGALYA MOUDGALYA DO--BHAARMYACHVA-MOUDGALYA MOUDGALYA AATREYA-AARCHANAANASA-BOWRVADIGA MOUNABHARGAVA BHARGAVA-VYDHAHAVYA-SAAVEDASA RAATHEETRA ANGIRASA-VYRUPA-RATHEETRA LOHITA VYSWAMITRA-ASHTAGA-LOHITA VAATHOOLA BAARGAVA-VYDHAHAVYA-SAAVEDASA VAARTHASA VAARTHASA(YEKAARSHYA)(ONE RISHI ONLY) VAASISHTA VAASISHTA-MYTHRAVARUNA-KOUNDINYA VISWAMITRA VYSWAMITRA-DHYVARAADHA-OUDHALA VISHNUVRITTA ANGIRASA-POURUGUTHSA-DHRASADASYA SAANDILYA KASYA-DYVALA-ASITHA {KASYA-AAVATSARA-NYTHRUVA-REBA- SAANDILYA {RYBHA-SOUNDILYA-SANDILYA SAALAAVATHA VYSWAMITRA-DHYVARAATHA-OUTHALA SOUNAGA KAARTHSAMADHA(ONLY ONE RISHI) SRIVATSA BHAARGAVA-CHYAVANA-AAPNAVAANA- {OURVA-JAMADHAGNYA SADAMARSHANA ANGIRASA-DRASADASYA-POURUGUTHSA SANGIRITHI SAADHYA-SAANKRUTHYA-GOWRIVEEDHA DO AANGIRASA-SAANGRUTHYA-GOWRIVEEDHA HARITHA AANGIRASA-AMBAREESHA-YOUVANAACHVA E & OE LOVE TRC On Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 1:09 PM, Anandapadmanaban Subramaniam <anantha1946 wrote: ---------- Forwarded message ----------Krshnamurthi CS <krishee2000Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 12:41 PMFw: Great Discipline of Brahmins in India anantha1946, visundaram,kavithasubramaniam87, kalamegham Ramaswamy <kalameghamr, " Jayaraman R. " <vu2jnCc: sreek_sk, Shreelakshmi Lakshmi <shreelak “Vasudhaika kutumbakam”Great Discipline of Brahmins in IndiaBrahmin is the class of educators, law makers, doctors, scholars andpreachers in Hinduism. It is said to occupy the highest position among the four varnas of Hinduism.The English word brahmin is an anglicised form of the Sanskrit wordBrahmana (Brahman also refers to a sanskrit word Brahma- meaning'knowledge', Brahman (noun form) who possesses the 'knowledge.' Brahmins are also called Vipra " learned " or Dvija " twice-born " .In Buddhist sources written in Pali and Prakrit, including Ashokaninscriptions, Brahmins are commonly called Babhans which is the Pali word for Brahmins.Historically, the rulers acted in close relationship with Brahmins,and relied on them as their advisors. Gradually, the Brahmins became apowerful and influential group in India, attracting accusations of discriminating against 'lower' castes. In modern India, the Brahminshave complained of reverse discrimination.Brahmin communitiesThe Brahmin castes may be broadly divided into two regional groups: Pancha-Gauda Brahmins and Pancha-Dravida Brahmins as per the write upis from Rajatarangini of Kalhana which is composed only in 11th CE andmany communities find their traces from sages mentioned in much olderVedas and puranas. Pancha Gauda BrahminsPancha Gauda (the five classes of Northern India): (1) Saraswat,(2)Kanyakubja, (3)Maithil Brahmins (4) Gauda brahmins (includingSanadhyas)) (5)Utkala Brahmins .Pancha Dravida Brahmins Paara Thrivikraman Namboothiri, Priest of Guruvayoor Temple in Kerala,1960'sPanch Dravida (the five classes of Southern India): 1) Andhra,2) Dravida (Tamil and Kerala), 3) Karnataka, 4) Maharashtra and Konkon, and 5) Gujarat. They originate from north of the (now-extinct)Saraswati River.In Haryana, the Brahmin are classified in mainly Dadhich_Brahmin, GaudBrahmin, Khandelwal Brahmin. But large proportion of Brahmin in Haryana are Gaud(about 90%). Approximately all Brahmin in west U P areadi gaur.In Nepal, the hill Brahmins are classified in mainly Upadhaya Brahmin,Jaisi Brahmin and Kumain Brahmins. Upadhaya Brahmins are supposed to have settled in Nepal long before the other two groups. Majority ofhill Brahmins are supposed to be of Khasa origin.In Punjab, they are classified as Saraswat Brahmins.In Rajasthan, the Brahmins are classified in mainly Dadhich_Brahmin, Gaur Brahmin,Sanadhya brahmins, Rajpurohit / Purohit Brahmins, SriGaur Brahmin, Khandelwal Brahmin, Gujar-Gaur Brahmins. Rajpurohit /Purohit Brahmins are mainly found in Marwar & Godwad region ofRajasthan. Rajpurohit a Title bestowed upon those learned Brahmins, who use to perform the rituals and rites for the rulers of somekingdoms. In the course of their service to the kingdom, according toancient traditions, the king use to award a few villages or land knownas Sasan Jagir within his kingdom to their Rajpurohits. These villages or land were considered to be free from any ruler, and were outsidethe ambit of any form of tax. Shakdwipiya Brahmins are also found atmany places in rajasthan they are the major pujari in many temples ofwestern rajasthan. In Sindh, the saraswat Brahmins from Nasarpur of Sindh province are called Nasarpuri Sindh Saraswat Brahmin. During theIndia and Pakistan partition migrated to India from sindh province.In Uttar Pradesh, from west to east: Sanadhya, Gauda & Tyagi (western UP), Kanyakubja( Central UP), Sarayuparin (Central UttarPradesh,Eastern, NE, & SE UP), Bhumihar (Varanasi and other parts ofeastern U.P.) and Maithil(Varanasi) , the South western UP, i.e.Bundelkhand has thick population of Jujhotia brahmins(branch of Kanyakubja brahmins:ref. Between History & Legend:Power & Status inBundelkhand by Ravindra K Jain). On the Jijhoutia clan of BhumiharBrahmins, William Crooke writes, " A branch of the Kanaujia Brahmins (Kanyakubja Brahmins) who take their name from the country ofJajakshuku, which is mentioned in the Madanpur inscription. " 33Mathure or mathuria Brahmins 'choubeys' are limited to Mathura area. In Gujarat, Brahmins are classified into Eight groups: Anavil Brahmin,Audichya Brahmins, Bardai Brahmins, Girinarayan Brahmins, Khedaval,Nagar Brahmins, Shrimali Brahmins, Sidhra-Rudhra Brahmins and ModhBrahmins. The Modh Brahmins worship Matangi Modheshwari mata (Modhera) and are mostly found in North Gujarat and in the Baroda region.In Maharashtra, Brahmins are classified into five groups: ChitpavanKonkanastha Brahmins, Gaud Saraswat Brahmin Pareek, Deshastha Brahmin,Karhade Brahmin, and Devrukhe. As the name indicates, Kokanastha Brahmin are from Konkan area. Gaud Saraswat Brahmins are from Konkanregion or they may come from Goa or Karnataka, Deshastha Brahmin arefrom plains of Maharashtra, Karhade Brahmins are perhaps from Karhatak(an ancient region in India that included present day south Maharashtra and northern Karnataka) and Devrukhe Brahmins are fromDevrukh near Ratnagiri.In Madhya Pradesh the descendents of Somnath temple priests, NaramdevBrahmin, Who migrated from Gujrat to Madhyapradesh after the Mohd. Ghazni notorious forays in saurashtra and desacration of Somnath, andsedenterized along the coast of Narmada river hence derived their nameie Narmdiya brahmin or Naramdevs. Guru of Adi guru Shankaracharya,shri Govindacharya claimed to belongs to this community who initiated him in the Omkareshwar in the bank of river Narmada. Naramdevs are inhigh concentration in Nimar (Khandwa and Khargone)and Bhuvana region(Harda) of Madhyapradesh. Here, the Brahmins are classified in mainlyShri Gaud, Sanadhya brahmin, Gujar-Gaud Brahmins. Majority of Shri Gaud Brahmins are found in the Malwa region (Indore, Ujjain, Dewas).Eastern MP has dense population of Sarayuparain Brahmins. Hoshangabadand Harda Distt. of MP have a considerable population of Jujhotia (aclan of Bhumihar Brahmins, eg. Swami Sahajanand Saraswati) and Naremdev Brahmins..In Karnataka, Brahmins are mainly classified into Havyaka speakingHavigannada, Babbur Kamme, Hoysala Karnataka speaking kannada,Shivalli and Kota speaking Tulu, Karahada speaking Marathi and have their own tradition and culture.In Orissa, Utkala Brahmins, also known as Oriya or Orissa Brahmins,are a Jati (caste) who live mainly in the Indian state of Orissa & neighbouring states of Chhatishgarh, Northern Andhra Pradesh,West Bengal & Jharkhand. They constitute farthest branch of the Panch-Gaudain the east, south of Maithila(present day Bihar).Utkala Brahmins aremainly classified into Utkala Kulina Brahmins,Utkala AranyakaBrahmins,Utkala Halua Brahmins,Utkala Panda Brahmins. In West Bengal, the Brahmins are classified in Barendra & Rarhicorresponding to the ancient Barendrabhumi( North Bengal) andRarhdesh(South Bengal) making present day Bangladesh & West Bengal. Itis also said that Barendras are traditional Brahmins who practiced the art of medicinal science and surgury rather than the traditionalfunction of being the teacher or the priest, and so many a times theyare not considered true brahmins by the Rarhis, although they aretheir own offshoots. The traditional accounts of the origin of Bengali Brahmins are givenin texts termed Kulagranthas (e.g., Kuladipika), composed around the17th century. They mention a ruler named Adisura who invited fiveBrahmins from Kanyakubja, so that he could conduct a yajña, because he could not find Vedic experts locally. Traditional texts mention thatAdisura was ancestor of Ballal Sena from maternal side and fiveBrahmins had been invited in AD 1077. Historians have located a rulernamed Adisura ruling in north Bihar, but not in Bengal. But Ballal Sena and his predecessors ruled over both Bengal and Mithila (i.e.,North Bihar). It is unlikely that the Brahmins from Kanyakubja mayhave been invited to Mithila for performing a yajña, because Mithilawas a strong base of Brahmins since Vedic age. Another account mentions a king Shyamal Varma who invited five Brahmins fromKanyakubja who became the progenitors of the Vaidika Brahmins. A thirdaccount refers to five Brahmins being the ancestors of VarendraBrahmins as well. From similarity of titles (e.g., upadhyaya), the first account is most probable.Besides these two major community there are also Utkal Brahmins,having migrated from present Orissa and Vaidik Brahmins, havingmigrated from Western and Northern India. In Andhra Pradesh, Brahmins are broadly classified into 3 groups:Vaidika (meaning educated in vedas and performing religiousvocations), Niyogi (performing only secular vocation)and Dravidlu(Inthe Coastal Andhra Pradesh). They are further divided into several sub-castes. However, majority of the Brahmins, both Vaidika andNiyogi, perform only secular professions.In Karnataka, Brahmins are broadly classified into 2 groups: Madhwa(followers of Shri Madhwacharya) and Smartha (followers of Shri Adi Sankaracharya) .. They are further divided into several sub-castes.Other than these groups, there are other brahmin communities viz,Havyaka, Kota, Shivalli, Saraswata etc. Here, Havyaka speakingHavigannada, Babbur Kamme, Hoysala Karnataka speaking kannada, Shivalli and Kota speaking Tulu, Karahada speaking Marathi and havetheir own tradition and culture.In Kerala, Brahmins are classified into three groups: Namboothiris,Pottis and Pushpaka. The major priestly activities are performed by Namboothiris while the other temple related activities known asKazhakam are performed by Pushpaka Brahmins and other Ampalavasis. SriAdi Shankara was born in Kalady, a village in Kerala, to a NamboothiriBrahmin couple, Shivaguru and Aryamba, and lived for thirty-two years. The Namboothiri Brahmins, Potti Brahmins and Pushpaka Brahmins inKerala follow the Philosophies of Sri Adi Sankaracharya. Nagariks arethe common name for north indian immigrant brahmins The Brahmins whomigrated to Kerala from Tamil Nadu are known as Pattar in Kerala. They possess almost same status of Potti Brahmins in Kerala.In Tamil Nadu, Brahmins belong to 2 major groups: Iyer and Iyengar.Iyers comprise of Smartha and Saivite Brahmins and are broadlyclassified into Vadama, Vathima, Brhatcharnam, Ashtasahasram, Sholiyar and Gurukkal. There are mostly followers of Adi Shankaracharya andform about three-fourths of Tamil Nadu's Brahmin population. Iyengarscomprise of Vaishnavite Brahmins and are divided into two sects:Vadakalai and Thenkalai. They are mostly followers of Ramanuja and make up the remaining one-fourth of the Tamil Brahmin population.In Bihar, majority of Brahmins are Kanyakubja Brahmins, BhumiharBrahmins and Maithil Brahmins with a significant population ofSakaldiwiya or Shakdwipi Brahmins. The Bhumihar Brahmins, of whom many, though not all, belong to the Saryupareen Brahmin division ofKanyakubja Brahmins. Therefore, there is a lot of brotherhood amongthese Brahmin sub-castes and Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi and Dr. HazariPrasad Dwivedi have mentioned it in their writings. On the Jijhoutia clan of Bhumihar Brahmins (eg. Swami Sahajanand Saraswati), WilliamCrooke writes, " A branch of the Kanaujia Brahmins (KanyakubjaBrahmins) who take their name from the country of Jajakshuku, which ismentioned in the Madanpur inscription. " In the 19th and 20th national convention of Kanyakubja Brahmins byKanyakubja Mahati Sabha, in 1926 and 1927 respectively, it reiteratedBhumihar Brahmins to be Kanyakubja Brahmins and appealed for unityamong Kanyakubja Brahmins whose different branches included Sanadhya, Pahadi, Jujhoutia, Saryupareen, Chattisgadhi, Bhumihar and differentBengali Brahmins.With the decline of Mughal Empire, in the area of south of Avadh, inthe fertile rive-rain rice growing areas of Benares, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Ghazipur, Ballia and Bihar and on the fringes of Bengal, itwas 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 ofcontinuous 'social spending' which defined a man and his kin assuperior and lordly. In 19th century, many of the Bhumihar Brahminswere zamindars. Of the 67000 Hindus in the Bengal Army in 1842, 28000 were identified as Rajputs and 25000 as Brahmins, a category thatincluded Bhumihar Brahmins. The Brahmin presence in the Bengal Armywas reduced in the late nineteenth century because of their perceivedprimary role as mutineers in the Mutiny of 1857, led by Mangal Pandey. The Kingdom of Kashi belonged to Bhumihar Brahmins and big zamindarislike Bettiah Raj, Hathwa Raj and Tekari Raj belonged to them.GotrasIn general, gotra denotes any person who traces descent in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra forgrammatical purposes as ' apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram', which means'the word gotra denotes the progeny (of a sage) beginning with the son's son. When a person says ' I am Kashypasa-gotra' he means that hetraces his descent from the ancient sage Kashyapa by unbroken maledescent..According to the Baudhâyanas'rauta- sûtra are 8 sages; the progeny of these eight sages is declared to be gotras:1. Visvamitra,2. Jamadagni,3. Bharadvâja,4. Gautama,5. Atri or Krisnatriya,6. Vasishtha,7. Kashyapa and 8. AgastyaThis enumeration of eight primary gotras seems to have been known toPanini. These gotras are not directly connected to Prajapathy orlatter brama. The offspring (apatya) of these eight are gotras and others than these are called ' gotrâvayava '.The gotras are arranged in groups. There are according to theÂsvalâyana-srautasû tra four subdivisions of the Vasishtha gana, viz.Upamanyu, Parashara, Kundina and Vasishtha (other than the first three). Each of these four again has numerous sub-sections, each beingcalled gotra.So the arrangement is first into ganas, then into pakshas, then intoindividual gotras. The first has survived in the Bhrigu and Angirasa gana. According to Baudh., the principal eight gotras were dividedinto pakshas.· The pravara of Upamanyu is Vasishtha, Bharadvasu, Indrapramada;· The pravara of the Parâshara gotra is Vasishtha, Shâktya, Pârâsharya; · The pravara of the Kundina gotra is Vasishtha, Maitrâvaruna,Kaundinya and· The pravara of Vasishthas other than these three is simply Vasishtha..It is therefore that some define pravara as the group of sages that distinguishes the founder (lit. the starter) of one gotra fromanother.PravarasThere are two kinds of pravaras.1) Sishya-prasishya- rishi-parampara, and2) Putrparampara.Gotrapravaras can be ekarsheya, dwarsheya, triarsheya, pancharsheya, saptarsheya, and up to 19 rishis.Kashyapasa gotra has at least two distinct pravaras in Andhra Pradesh:one with three sages (triarsheya pravara) and the other with sevensages (saptarsheya pravara). This pravara may be either sishya-prasishya- rishi-parampara or putraparampara.When it is sishya-prasishya- rishi-parampara marriage is notacceptable if half or more than half of the rishis are same in bothbride and bridegroom gotras. If it is putraparampara, marriage is totally unacceptable even if one rishi matches.Sects and rishisDue to the diversity in religious and cultural traditions andpractices, and the Vedic schools which they belong to, Brahmins arefurther divided into various subcastes. During the sutra period, roughly between 1000 BCE to 200 BCE, Brahminsbecame divided into various Shakhas (branches), based on the adoptionof different Vedas and different rescension Vedas. Sects for different denominations of the same branch of the Vedas were formed, under theleadership of distinguished teachers among Brahmins.There are several Brahmin law givers such as Angirasa, Apasthambha,Atri (also sometimes more realized as Krishnatriya) , Brihaspati, Boudhayana, Daksha, Gautam, Harita, Katyayana, Likhita, Manu,Parasara, Samvarta, Shankha, Shatatapa, Ushanasa, Vashishta, Vishnu,Vyasa, Yajnavalkya and Yama.These twenty-one rishis were the propounders of Smritis. The oldest among these smritis are Apastamba, Baudhayana, Gautama, and VasishtaSutras.Descendants from Brahmins· Many Indians claim descent from the Vedic Rishis of bothBrahmin and non-Brahmin descent. · For example the Dash and Nagas are said to be the descendantsof Kashyapa Muni.· The Rajput gothras which correspond to the name of the Rishismean that they employ(ed) (and protect) Brahmin priest of that gothras.· Visvakarmas are the descendants of Pancha Rishis or Brahmarshies.· According to Yajurveda and brahmanda purana They are Sanagha,Sanathana, Abhuvanasa, Prajnasa, Suparnasa. · The Kani tribe of South India claim to descend from Agastya Muni.· The Gondhali, Kanet, Bhot, Lohar, Dagi, and Hessis claim to befrom Renuka Devi.· The Kasi Kapadi Sudras claim to originate from the Brahmin Sukradeva.. Their duty was to transfer water to the sacred city ofKashi.· Dadheech Brahmins/dayama brahmin trace their roots fromDadhichi Rishi. Many Jats clans claim to descend from Dadhichi Rishi while the Dudi Jats claim to be in the linear of Duda Rishi.· Lord Buddha of course, was a descendant of Angirasa throughGautama. There too were Kshatiryas of other clans to whom membersdescend from Angirasa, to fulfill a childless king's wish. · The backward-caste Matangs claim to descend from Matang Muni,who became a Brahmin by his karma.· The nomadic tribe of Kerala, the Kakkarissi according to onelegend are derived from the mouth of Garuda, the vehicle of Vishnu, and came out Brahmin.Brahmins taking up other duties Brahmins have taken on manyprofessions - from being priests, ascetics and scholars to warriorsand business people, as is attested for example in Kalhana's Rajatarangini.Two of the largest empires in India were established and ruled byBrahmins. When the Kshatriyas failed to conduct their duties, Brahminshave become warriors and eventually restored law and order. Brahmins according to Dharma should assume a ruling position becausethey are the law-makers and preservers of Dharma.. However, wheneverthere have been incidents in the history, where the rulers have failed to live up to Dharma, Brahmins have assume power to restore proper lawand order.First, instance is Chanakya (a brahmin) created the Maurya Empire.Maurya empire was the largest empire in India. Second, the Peshwas (Brahmins) ruled almost all of greater India, starting from Mysore toAfghanistan.Brahmins with the qualities of Kshatriyas are known as'Brahmakshatriyas' . An example is the avatara Parshurama who destroyed the entire Haiheyas 21 times. Not only did Sage Parashuramahave warrior skills but he was so powerful that he could even fightwithout the use of any weapons and trained others to fight withoutweapons. The Bhumihar Brahmins were established when Parashurama destroyed theKshatriya race, and he set up in their place the descendants ofBrahmins, who, after a time, having mostly abandoned their priestlyfunctions (although some still perform), took to land-owning. Today there is a caste, Brahmakhatris, who are a clan of the Khatris.Perhaps the word Brahma-kshatriya refers to a person belonging to theheritage of both castes. However, among the Royal Rajput households, brahmins who became the personal teachers and protectors of the Royalprinces rose to the status of Rajpurohit and taught the princeseverything including martial arts. They would also become the keepersof the Royal lineage and its history. They would also be the protectors of the throne in case the regent was orphaned and a minor.Kshatriyan Brahmin is a term associated with people of both caste's components.The Pallavas were an example of Brahmakshatriyas as that is what they called themselves. King Lalitaditya Muktapida of Kashmir ruled all ofIndia and even Central Asia.King Rudravarma of Champa (Vietnam) of 657 A.D. was the son of a Brahmin father.King Jayavarma I of Kambuja (Kampuchea) of 781 A.D. was a Brahma-kshatriya. Brahmins with the qualities of a Vaisya or merchant are known as'Brahmvyasya' . An example of such persons are people of the Ambasthacaste, which exist in places like South India and Bengal. They perform medical work - they have from ancient times practiced the Ayurveda andhave been Vaidyas (or doctors).Many Pallis of South India claim to be Brahmins (while others claim tobe Agnikula Kshatriyas.) Kulaman Pallis are nicknamed by outsiders as Kulaman Brahmans. Hemu from Rewari ,Haryana was also a Brahmin bybirth.DutiesBrahmanas have six occupational duties, of which three are compulsory— namely, studying the Vedas, worshiping the Deity and giving charity. By teaching, by inducing others to worship the Deity, and by acceptinggifts, the brahma?as receive the necessities of life.Of the six occupational duties of the brahmanas, three are compulsory— namely, worship of the Deity, study of the Vedas and the giving of charity. In exchange, a brahmiin should receive charity, and thisshould be his means of livelihood. A brahmiin cannot take up anyprofessional occupational duty for his livelihood.The sastras especially stress that if one claims to be a brahmana. Brahmins believe in Sarvejanassukhinobh avantu — Let the entiresociety be happy and prosperous and Vasudhaika kutumbakam — the wholeworld is one family. Many Brahmins are reformers.Most Brahmins today practice vegetarianism or lacto-vegetarianism . There are some Brahmins who are non-vegetarians, mainly the Brahminsof cold mountain areas like Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Nepal, andcoastal areas like Bengal, who are fish eaters. However, even the meateating Brahmins shun beef. ..________________________________--VijendranChecked by AVG - www.avg.comVersion: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.53/2155 - Release Date: 06/04/09 17:55:00________________________________Get an email ID as yourname or yourname. ----The people who make a differencein your life are not the ones -with the most credentials,the most money,or the most awards.They are the ones who care for you.Only those who care, make a difference. To make a difference to others,Care for them.== Subramanyam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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