17 Facts About Brahmins

1.

The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests and religious teachers.

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2.

Traditional occupation of Brahmins is that of priesthood at the Hindu temples or at socio-religious ceremonies, and rite of passage rituals such as solemnising a wedding with hymns and prayers.

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3.

Traditionally, the Brahmins are accorded the highest ritual status of the four social classes.

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4.

In practice, Indian texts suggest that some Brahmins historically became agriculturalists, warriors, traders, and had held other occupations in the Indian subcontinent.

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5.

Brahmins were expected to perform all six Vedic duties as opposed to other twice-borns who performed three.

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6.

Historical records from mid 1st millennium CE and later, suggest Brahmins were agriculturalists and warriors in medieval India, quite often instead of as exception.

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7.

The Pali Canon and other Buddhist texts such as the Jataka Tales record the livelihood of Brahmins to have included being farmers, handicraft workers and artisans such as carpentry and architecture.

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8.

Buddhist sources extensively attest, state Greg Bailey and Ian Mabbett, that Brahmins were "supporting themselves not by religious practice, but employment in all manner of secular occupations", in the classical period of India.

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9.

Under Golconda Sultanate Telugu Niyogi Brahmins served in many different roles such as accountants, ministers, revenue administration and in judicial service.

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10.

Similarly, the Tamil Brahmins were quick to take up English education during British colonial rule and dominate government service and law.

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11.

Eric Bellman states that during the Islamic Mughal Empire era Brahmins served as advisers to the Mughals, later to the British Raj.

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12.

Brahmins composed his spiritual message in poems, using widely spoken vernacular language rather than Sanskrit, to make it widely accessible.

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13.

Many 18th and 19th century Brahmins are credited with religious movements that criticised idolatry.

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14.

Some Brahmins formed an influential group in Burmese Buddhist kingdoms in 18th- and 19th-century.

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15.

Brahmins were consulted in the transmission, development and maintenance of law and justice system outside India.

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16.

Brahmins have been part of the Royal tradition of Thailand, particularly for the consecration and to mark annual land fertility rituals of Buddhist kings.

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17.

The tradition asserts that the Thai Brahmins have roots in Hindu holy city of Varanasi and southern state of Tamil Nadu, go by the title Pandita, and the various annual rites and state ceremonies they conduct has been a blend of Buddhist and Hindu rituals.

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