India is a country with an extremely interesting and ancient culture. In modern Indian society, the influence of that former culture is still palpable. Brahmins or, as they are also called, Brahmins, have long been considered the highest stratum of society in India. Brahmins, kshatriyas, vaisyas, sudras - who are they? What weight does this or that varna have in society? Who are the brahmins? Let's take a closer look at these questions.
Indian legend
Indians tell a legend that explains the appearance of four varnas (estates). According to this story, the god Brahma divided people into classes, dismembering the First Man Purusha. Purusha's mouth became a brahmana, his arms became a kshatriya, his thighs became a vaishya, and his legs became a sudra. Since then, Indians have stubbornly divided people into castes, which largely determine the fate of every inhabitant of this country.
The division of castes in antiquity and their impact on society in modern times
Castes, or certain sections of society, still have a huge impact on the people of India, despite the fact that in 1950 the law on the division of the inhabitants into them was repealed. The manifestation of ancient laws is still present - and this is noticeable when two people meet,who belong to the same caste. Not only the behavior of Indians, but also their surnames, speaks of being assigned to one or another stratum of society. For example, the surname Gandhi undoubtedly belongs to a person from the merchant caste from Gujarat, and the brahmin is Gupta, Dixit, Bhattacharya.
Kshatriyas - warrior class
In addition to the Brahmins, Indian society is further divided into 3 classes - there are Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. Kshatriyas are the second caste in terms of status after the Brahmins, which includes warriors, defenders of the state. The name of this caste means "power", so it is not surprising that many Indian rulers belonged to it. Kshatriyas can boast of having special rights - they are forgiven for such manifestations of emotions as anger, passion, etc., they can punish and pardon. The law is above all for them. Also from this caste, excellent military officers, officials, and even managers on estates are obtained. It was the brahmins who have long been advisers to the kshatriyas - this cooperation was mutually beneficial, because the task of the brahmins was to work with the mind, and the kshatriyas had to act. The philosophy of Hinduism also considers other castes, less status.
Vaishyas - artisans and merchants
Vaishyas are representatives of the third varna by status (according to one of the versions, the word is translated as “dependence”, according to another – “people”). It is considered the most numerous, since artisans, merchants, moneylenders belong to it. True, recently it has been considered a boiled merchants, because even inin ancient times, many Christians lost their lands, beginning to be perceived as shudras - the fourth varna, the lowest in status (not counting the Untouchables - a special caste of Indians).
Shudras: servants and laborers
Shudras are people who are in subjection. If the Brahmins are considered the highest varna as representatives of the god, the Shudras occupy the lowest rung, and their duty is to serve the three higher varnas. Once they were divided into clean (Brahmins could take food from their hands) and unclean. It is believed that this caste developed later than others, and it consisted of people who lost their land, as well as slaves and tenants. In our time, almost the entire population of India can be called Shudras. There is also a caste of Untouchables, which, in fact, do not belong to any varna. It includes fishermen, prostitutes, butchers, street performers and itinerant artisans. A separate jadi of the Untouchables is generally unique - it includes transvestites, eunuchs, etc. The Untouchables are almost completely isolated from Indians belonging to other castes - they have no right not only to talk to them, but also to touch their clothes. They are also prohibited from visiting government offices and traveling in public transport. And finally, let's talk about the Brahmins, who, unlike the Untouchables, are considered the most respected caste in India and enjoy special privileges.
Brahman is a representative of the highest caste in India, an analogue of a European spiritual mentor. These people are members of the highest varna. In ancient times in the handsBrahmins concentrated all power. They were priests, advisers to kings, keepers of ancient manuscripts, teachers and scholars. Among the Brahmins there were also monks and judges. Previously, their tasks included raising children and dividing them into varnas - for this, the teacher analyzed the behavior of the child. In our time, varna is usually inherited, which is not entirely correct, because each caste has individual character traits, as God says in Hinduism. For example, the task of the brahmins is creation and liberation. The classical Brahmin does not think about worldly problems, he is immersed in something deeper and more real. Kshatriyas are sure that the main thing for them is the fulfillment of duty, for vaishyas - enrichment, for sudras - carnal pleasures.
Let's look at the dictionary
The word "brahman" in translation from the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit means "spiritual principle", symbolizing the highest impersonal being, who is alien and uninterested in worldly affairs. Also, this word means prayer.
According to another interpretation, the holy books, which are commentaries on the Vedas (as the collection of the oldest scriptures in Sanskrit is called), are called brahmins.
Brahman is a philosopher, a revered priest and even a ruler for a long time. Indians associated them with higher beings, closest to religion, and therefore to God. However, Hinduism is not going through the best of times, since the number of Hindus, according to statistics, is lower there than Christians and Muslims. However, at present many Brahmins in India are peoplecomprehensively developed, never ceasing to learn and grow intellectually. They try to maintain their status by preserving ancient traditions. But is everything as rosy as it sounds, really? Let's look at the smooth transition of the Brahmins from ancient to modern.
Brahman - who is this? History and present
Brahmins are magi (in Russian). Previously, the Brahmins were revered even more than the rulers, because they can be called spiritual mentors who guided the people on the path of religion. Nowadays, they are also respected, despite the fact that not all people with a similar status live by the laws. Actually, in our time, anyone can go through the rite and become a Brahmin, but it is also important to observe the vows given during the event.
In our time, by and large, few people come to Brahmanism, because these people represent a more spiritual, rather than physical embodiment of a person.
In modern India, many people of this varna represent the classes of the intelligentsia and the ruling class. However, need sometimes forces the Brahmins to violate the ancient foundations - to choose work as servants or small employees. Also among the Brahmins there are peasants. A separate group (Jadi) of Brahmins lives only thanks to the alms of tourists.
People born in the Brahmin caste have a number of restrictions imposed on them by their status.
- Brahmin cannot take food from the hands of members of other castes, because they are considered the lowest class. While the brahminhe can share food with any person.
- Brahmin cannot do physical labor as his work is spiritual or intellectual.
- Marriage between a Brahmin and a representative of another Varna is impossible. However, a Brahmin has the right to choose his soul mate from another community of Brahmins.
- Some Brahmins do not eat meat.
Foreigners joke that many Indian programmers are Brahmins.
The "particle" of Brahman is atman. This is an individual essence, a subjective mental principle. Atman and Brahman are different but inseparable things. Indians are sure that every person has a deep essence that can open the way to happiness. While brahman is something more unknown, something that is higher than human understanding and awareness, the atman is hidden in every person, every external manifestation is guided by it.
The philosophy of Hinduism, despite the fact that there are not so many of its supporters in India, still has a significant impact on the multi-layered system of division of varnas. In fact, even when the Indian king Ashoka adopted Buddhism as the state religion, the system remained the same, which indicates its incredible resilience in the process of great changes.
In the philosophy of Hinduism, there are several essences of God
- God Brahmin is perceived as an impersonal entity. Having reached it, a person acquires a blissful state, which can be called (in Buddhism) nirvana.
- Paratigma isthe omnipresent manifestation of God, which is in every part of the material world.
- Bhagawan is the supreme personality of God, manifesting in various forms - Vishnu, Krishna, etc.
Moreover, different branches of Hinduism perceive religion differently, so God in Hinduism does not have a single appearance.
Conclusion
In this article, we analyzed the concept of "Brahmin", and also examined other castes into which the population of India has been divided for centuries.
