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Questions tagged [brahmins]

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For questions about brahmins, as in the caste. Not to be confused with [brahma] or [brahman].

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Can Brahmins atone for the sin of drinking liquor through other means than suicide?

According to Hinduism, there are 5 mortal sins, or mahapatakas. They are: One who steals gold [of a Brahmana], who drinks Sura [rice or grain based alcohol], who has sex with the Guru's wife and ...
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Can anyone help me find this verse in the Atharva Veda?

I have found this verse quoted many places, but so far have not been able to verify that it is from the Atharva Veda. If anyone can help me I will be very grateful! "A brahmana's house without a ...
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How can a brahmin attain powers in Kaliyuga similar to the Trikala Gnana brahmarshi's or Saptharishi's in other yugas?

How can a brahmin attain powers in Kaliyuga similar to the power of Trikala Gnana brahmarshi's or Saptharishi's in other yugas? Examples: Vasishta, Agasthya, Atri, Gautama, Kashyapa, Bharadvaja, ...
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Which are the sub sects and shakas are Non-Brahmins in Sri Vaishnava community?

Which are the sub sects and shakas are Non-Brahmins in Sri Vaishnava community? What's their role and duties generally perfomed such Sri Vaishnava Non-Brahmins? Why some of the non-Brahmins will ...
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90 views

Any scripture describes five types of Brahmins?

In Dona Brahmana Sutta, a Buddhist scripture, Buddha reminds a Brahmin named Dona about five types of Brahmins as described by Vedic Seers. The blessed one said, "Dona, those ancient sages the ...
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1answer
81 views

Who are the Samaneans?

St. Jerome, in his Against Jovinianus bk. 2 (393 A.D.) c. 14, divides the Gymnosophists of India [into two classes,] the one [of which is] called Brahmans, the other Samaneans [Samanæos], who are ...
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587 views

Why are some brahmins called Dwija or twice born?

I have heard this term Dwija a lot in this site but I am not sure why are some brahmins called Dwija or 'Twice Born'. I know not all but only some special ones are called Dwijas but how are they ...
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123 views

Why do Brahmins have such surnames?

In Uttar Pradesh Brahmins have common surnames as Chaturvedi alias Chaubey, Dwivedi alias Dubey and Trivedi. Are these surnames which have "Vedi" included in them have something to do with the Vedas. ...
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101 views

Is anti-Brahminism a quality of Asuras and Rakshasas?

Is anti-Brahminism a characteristic of Asuras and Rakshasas? Which group of created beings is the most anti-Brahmin (hatred and opposition to Brahminism and Brahminical way of life)?
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Is intelligence an innate quality of Brahmanas?

According to Hindu scriptures, different castes were created differently and therefore have different innate qualities. For example, Kshatriyas are strong according to the Taittiriya Samhita: 7.1....
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946 views

Are brahmins allowed to drink alcohol?

Do the scriptures mention anything about this? Can brahmins drink alcohol?
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253 views

Can a brahmin eat meat according to shastras

I had posted the following in an answer but was urged to post it as a question. I thought brahmins were not supposed to eat meat but I was reading MahAbhArata when I came across the following in ...
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102 views

Why did Drona and Kripa, who were Brahmanas, fight in the Mahabharata war? [duplicate]

Dronacharya and Kripacharya were powerful warriors who fought in the Mahabharata war. However, they were Brahmanas and not Kshatriyas. Why did they decide to fight? Apastamba says: A Brāhmaṇa ...
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Can Kshatriyas teach Brahmanas some Brahma Vidyas?

According to Hindu scripture, only Brahmanas can teach the Vedas and knowledge that directly comes from Vedic texts: Manu 1.88 - For the Brāhmaṇas he ordained teaching, studying, sacrificing and ...
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Marriage within the brahmin shakhas [duplicate]

I did read another question about marriage between different varnas but my question is marriage between two different Brahmin shakhas allowed in the scriptures? For instance two Brahmin communities ...
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What daily practices (achara - anushtana) should a brahmana follow?

Brahamanas (at least orthodox followers) are expected to follow a ton of daily achara & anushtana, for e.g. Anushtana: Get up during brahma muhurta Do Pratah-Sandhya before sun-rise Do Ijyai (...
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69 views

History of Brahmin's diet

What is the history of brahmana diet? Brahmins are generally vegetarians but there are some exceptions to it such as Pancha-Gauda Brahmans, Kashmiri Brahmans, and Oriya Brahmins? So why is there so ...
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How do I convert into Brahmin when I am already a converted Hindu? [duplicate]

My ancestors were Brahmins but they were forced to be Muslims, so I am a born Muslim but I already converted to Hinduism and I'm a pure vegetarian and I have knowledge of Vedas and Mahabharata. So can ...
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66 views

Does this statement about Smartas have scriptural authority?

A book by Agehananda Bharati contains a statement on Smartas: The Smarta-brahmins of the Tamil. Telugu. and Malayalam speaking areas of the Dravidian South of India are no doubt the highest ...
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100 views

Which texts are Brahmins allowed to read?

Does scripture mention texts of Hindu or non-Hindu origin that would be sinful for Brahmins to read or prohibited by their Varna Dharma?
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Should Hindu politicians support Brahmins according to scriptures? [closed]

Should Hindu politicians support Brahmins according to scriptures? Is it a sin if Hindu politicians don't support Brahmins? Please cite verses from scriptures.
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Do the scriptures talk about procedures that a Brahmin has to do before eating food? [duplicate]

What are the procedures that a Brahmin has to follow before having food. I have seen the process of sprinkling water, but what is the whole process? What is the mantra one has to chant at that time?
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126 views

Are grooming/dress rules prescribed for Brahmins?

For example, are Brahmin males required to maintain a Shikha, be freshly bathed and bare-chested while performing rituals or wear dhotis in a certain way?
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Is anti-Brahminism a sin according to scriptures?

Is anti-Brahminism in accordance with Hinduism and its scriptures? Is it a sin or is it glorified?
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143 views

Who was the first śūdra to be born or appear on Earth?

Who was the first śūdra (or the śūdra-couple) to be born? Likewise, who was the first brāhmaṇa, the first kṣatriya and vaiśya to be born? Some might argue, the first śūdra could not have been ...
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Diet directives (meals how many times in a day) for Brahmans in ancient era [duplicate]

I recently heard that in ancient times, rishis, brahmans had a directive to have meals only once in a day. This was primarily because of the sedentary lifestyle involving acts such as yajna, homa, ...
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76 views

At which point in time did Hinduism begin to embrace vegetarianism exactly?

I was watching a BBC documentary where they claimed that early Rig Vedic writers (early Brahmins) practiced "horse sacrifice" and were indeed non vegetarians. So at what point did they decide to ...
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223 views

Are Brahmins who eat fish fallen Brahmins?

Some Brahmins are known to be lovers and avid eaters of fish. Are Brahmins allowed to eat fish?
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Who were the two priests of Asuras (not Shukracharya)?

I came across an interesting story while reading the Shatapatha brahmana regarding Manu's encounters with the priests of Asuras: Manu was in possession of a bull. Into him had entered an Asura-...
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942 views

Why Gayatri mantra is widely recited by non-bramhins nowadays which was once the stronghold of only the brahmins?

Is there any reason for release of Gayatri mantra to non brahmins and even to women? I think such practice is irregular. Who is responsible for deviation from very ancient practice and making it ...
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1answer
257 views

Prohibitions on Brahmins regarding reading Bhagavad Gita

Why Hindu Brahmins were not allowed by other castes,which includes Kayasthas to read BHAGVAD GITA and were (discouraged by Hindu Bramhan Gurus also}during a distinct period of history? Is there any ...
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1answer
168 views

Why Avani Avittam (Upakarma) festival is performed? What's its history?

What's the history of Avani Avittam (Upakarma) festival? What does our scriptures say about it? This is not about Raksha Bandhan but its purely about a festival for male.
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Do any other scriptures mention Brahma Tirtha, bathing where non-Brahmins become Brahmins?

Mahabharat, Vana parva, tirtha-yatra parva https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-mahabharata-third-book/d/doc7362.html. Says: One should next proceed to the excellent tirtha of Brahma. ...
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136 views

Who was the Brahmin's wife in Atharva Veda hymn that was abducted and restored?

The Atharva Veda Book 5 Hymn 17 is curiously titled - The abduction and restoration of a Brāhman's wife. I am sharing a few verses of the same here: These first, the boundless Sea, and Mātarisvan, ...
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286 views

Who are the Rajpurohits?

I read about rajpurohit that they are rajgurus of the king in the kingdom but I'm not sure about this position. So who are the Rajpurohits and were Guru Dronacharya and Kripacharya the Rajpurohits of ...
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182 views

How to find Sutra, Shakha and Pravaras

My name is Lokesh Sharma and my gotra is "Ratna Bhardwaj". I want to determine my Sutra, Shakha and Pravaras. Could someone please help me?
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Are Brahmins allowed to cross the sea (means foreign countries like America,Australia,etc)? [duplicate]

I have heard many of people refusing to cross sea saying that It is wrong.So please I want a Clarification about this and also If any references from Scriptures will be nice and Thanks in advance.
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983 views

What are duties and goals of a Brahmin and how should he behave?

Can anyone say the duties of a Brahmin and how he should behave? What should be his goals? As said in Bhagavat Gita, One should follow his own duties to attain liberation and so. If with any ...
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131 views

Can Brahmin be a teacher on any other topics other than Vedas

I have read that the prescribed duties of brahmin are becomings priests, learning and teaching so I want to clarify this doubt.
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Who should perform shraddha/funeral ceremony of a married women whose husband is still alive

According to shastra (specifically to Brahmin, no offence to others though) who should perform funeral and post death rituals of a married women whose husband in still alive (they call muttaide in ...
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According to guṇa-based varṇa system, at what age can one be certified a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, etc?

According to proponents of guṇa-based varṇa system (i.e., those that do not believe you are born into one specific Hindu varṇa), at what age can a person be certified as a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, etc? ...
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How does Sonadanda's characterization of a Brahmin agree or disagree with other definitions in scripture?

http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/dob/dob-04tx.htm Dialog between Sonadanda the Brahmin and the Buddha: " 11. Now the Blessed One became aware in his own mind of the hesitation in the mind of ...
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610 views

Can a Brahmin shave off his mustache on his daughter's engagement,or marriage?

I just want to know whether a Brahmin can shave off his moustache on the occasion of his daughter's engagement or marriage. Are there any other occasions where Brahmins can be clean shaved?
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536 views

Have there been instances of rivalry between Brahmins and Kshatriyas?

The Wikipedia article on Kshatriyas suggests possible rivalry between the two varnas due to ambiguity in their relative positions in the society. In the period of the Brahmanas (800 BCE to 700 BCE) ...
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Can a kanyakubja brahmin and saryupareen brahmin marry? If not, why so?

Please tell me can a saryupareen and kanyakubja brahmin marry?
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388 views

Who becomes a Brahmin?

I just want to know what makes a Brahmin. Does that depends on the karma? Does that depends on the fate? Does that depends on learning Vedas? Some say that next birth of Brahmin is a cow. Is that ...
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1k views

Was Ravana a vegetarian?

Ravan was half-brahmin and half-demon.His father,the great rishi Vishrava belonged to the Pulastya clan and mother Kaikasi originated from the asura clan.Since he was a brahmin and was the greatest ...
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106 views

How did the Purva Mimamsa school explain Gotras?

If the Purva Mimamsa school believes that the Earth and humans are eternal, then how does it explain ancestral Gotras, such descendants of Bharadwaj, Angirasa, etc?
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How do Purva Mimamsa followers explain the etymology of the caste word “Brahmana”?

Not all Purva Mimamsa followers believed in the existence of Brahman, but they all believed in the Jivatma. They also believed the verses in the Upanishads that speak of Brahman actually refer to the ...
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376 views

Is Shalagram worship forbidden to non-Brahmins?

According to my parents, Shalagrama worship is forbidden to non-Brahmins. Is this true? There is also a possibility that people who are not initiated with the Yajnopavita are forbidden to worship ...

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