Questions tagged [brahmins]
For questions about brahmins, as in the caste. Not to be confused with [brahma] or [brahman].
141
questions
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I am a Kalinga Shrauta Brahmin and I know that my family belongs to Gautama Gotra and Kauthuma Shakha of Samaveda. What is my pravara then?
I am from Bhubaneswar, Odisha. I know that my family belongs to Kauthuma Shakha of Samaveda and follows the Latyayana Sutra. However my father doesn't exactly remember the pravara.
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0answers
175 views
Is Manu Smriti anti-brahmin? "A brahmin who drank alcohol must drink red-hot wine until his body is fully burnt", but no such punishment for Shudras?
Manu Smriti 11.90
सुरां पीत्वा द्विजो मोहादग्निवर्णां सुरां पिबेत् ।
तया स काये निर्दग्धे मुच्यते किल्बिषात् ततः ॥ ९० ॥
surāṃ pītvā dvijo mohādagnivarṇāṃ surāṃ pibet |
tayā sa kāye nirdagdhe
mucyate ...
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0answers
53 views
Scriptural refrence for this story
When I was a child, I read a story in my book;
Once upon a time, there was a brahmin who daily used to pray Lord Vishnu in the temple. One day Lord Vishnu decided to test his devotion. He disguised ...
2
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0answers
57 views
Elucidate on tantra Sadhna?
I have heard of different (tantric?) sadhnas like Vetal Sadhna,Pisach Sadhna,Bhuvaneshwari Sadhna,Hamjaad Sadhna etc..where the beings invoked through the said Sadhna will perform certain tasks/...
1
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2answers
244 views
Does Śhāstras say that a Vedic Brāhmiṇa is worse than a Śhruti knowing chāṇḍāla?
As per a comment in this question,
A Vedic Brāhmiṇa is worse than a chāṇḍāla/achût, who knows "real Śhruti".
Here's a screenshot of the comment, just in case:
So, which scriptures ...
6
votes
1answer
129 views
Does Medhatithi contradict Manu Smriti while writing Bhasya? Does this verse of Manu allow a Bramhana to commit all bad acts and escape punishment?
Manu Smriti verse 9.319 says : Similarly even though they betake themselves to all sorts of undesirable acts, yet Brāhmaṇas should be honoured in every way; for they are the greatest divinity.
But ...
4
votes
1answer
390 views
What happens when a Brahmin maiden marries a Kshatriya man?
This question is about a man I know, who is the son of a Kashmiri Pandit mother and a Haryanvi Jatt father and he himself married a Kashmiri brahmin woman
What kind of marriage is this and what ...
1
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0answers
88 views
I'm a Bhumihar Brahmin(18),my father a Kaushik and mother a Bharadwaj by Gotra(Read the body)
I'm 18, as far as I know the Upanayana has to be done when the child is 8, I'm 18, is it too late for me to go through one?
I'm a medical student as of now, and I come from an upper middle class ...
6
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2answers
397 views
Why are Sudras fined very harshly for adultery whereas Dwijas aren't fined much? Also why is killing a Sudra same as killing animal?
A Dwija is expected to be sincere, honest and self satisfied without seeking any external pleasure. Then why are Shastras fining Dwijas very less for Adultery and Sudras a lot? I know Dwijas have huge ...
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2answers
221 views
What is shudra-brahmin?
What is shudra-brahmin / shudra-kshatriya ?
Which is mentioned in Shiva purana
3
votes
1answer
112 views
What is scriptural reference for the concept of Brahma Rakshasa?
As per this wikipedia article Brahma Rakshasha are Sprit with quality of brahmin as well as Rakshasha. Can someone please tell what is
Origin of the concept
Scriptural reference where this concept is ...
2
votes
1answer
102 views
How did ancient Indonesians and other South East Asians become Hindus? [closed]
While Hinduism is a non proselytising religion and Brahmins were neither allowed to cross oceans nor to marry mlecchas ,how did Hindus convert Indonesians to Hinduism ? And how were Varnas Created in ...
6
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1answer
132 views
Is Yamunacharya correct in stating that Brahmins cannot be crowned kings?
Sri Vaishnava scholar Yamunacharya in Agama Pramanya has stated:
Every man has some Vedic rites for which he is not qualified: the Brahmin is not qualified for the royal consecration, the Kshatriya ...
0
votes
1answer
392 views
Does the vow of prostitutes involve sex with a Brāhmaṇa?
The Padma Purāṇa lays out the Dharma of prostitutes. Prostitutes must follow a vow which purifies them of sins. This vow includes worship of Viṣṇu, as well as service of a Brāhmaṇa for 13 months:
...
0
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1answer
66 views
Scriptural verses that assign masculinity and femininity to varnas
So my friend (of the Katyayan gotra) she is saying that kshatriyas are the masculine dominated varna, while braahmins are the androgynous dominated varna, a combination of masculine and feminine ...
3
votes
1answer
111 views
Who are saryuparin brahmins?
Some say that saryuparin is a sub-caste of kanyekubja while some say both are very different.
Is there any origin story? And how are the saryuparins identified?
2
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0answers
27 views
Nakshatras of the Nambudiri Brahmins
Please help to find out:
How exactly do Brahmins Nambudiri define their Nakshatras?
They define the Nakshatra along the Moon's course in equal sectors along the ecliptic, i.e. in conventional signs ...
4
votes
4answers
843 views
What are the correct mantras while giving arghya to Surya?
I only chant om suryay namah but now I want to learn complete mantras while giving arghya to Surya and should we also chant the Gayatri mantra? As a Brahmana (Brahmin) what else should I do beside ...
7
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1answer
713 views
Why do North Indian Brahmins pronounce ‘ṣa’ (ष) as ‘kha’ (ख) while chanting mantras? [duplicate]
Why do North Indian Brahmins pronounce ‘ṣa’ (ष) as ‘kha’ (ख) while chanting mantras? Do they follow a different school (shakha) and is there a rule in any Pratishakhya of that particular school or is ...
2
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1answer
211 views
Why Brahmans cannot touch the blue color
In Alberuni’s India Volume 2, page 132 , about Brahmans , is said :
...the blue color is impure for him, so if it touches his body , he is
obliged to wash himself
Albiruni, writing about 1030 c....
2
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2answers
160 views
Initiation to Start Studying Vedas
I have Learnt that a brahmin who doesn't learn Vedas is considered to be just a namesake brahmin
So considering a brahmin having had his upanayanam and his sacred thread (jandhyam),
Is there any ...
0
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1answer
74 views
What are the ways to attain Mukthi in present 21st century or generation of 2020 year in Kaliyuga [duplicate]
What are the ways to attain Mukthi in present generation of 2020 year of 21st century in Kaliyuga for brahmachari brahmins?
3
votes
1answer
110 views
Performing Puja/Havan for Shudras
In this answer it states that Brahmins should not perform vedic rituals for Shudras.
Question is: does this mean most of the brahmins who are in temple or in priest role are breaking the rules by ...
3
votes
2answers
173 views
Who is 'they' in Gautama Dharmasūtra 23.1?
Gautama Dharmasūtra
Chapter XXIII
1. They shall pour hot spirituous liquor into the mouth of a
Brāhmaṇa who has drunk such liquor; he will be purified after death.
Who shall pour hot ...
5
votes
2answers
437 views
Did Brahmins live on Daana or Bhiksha?
I was having a discussion with a friend and it came up that in earlier times Brahmins lived on Bhiksha. Somehow it didn't sound okay to me because I had read Bhiksha to be practised by Buddhists and ...
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1answer
129 views
which scripture prescribes offering food to Brahmins in the Shraddha ceremony?
Which scripture prescribes this and is it believed that feeding Brahmins on earth effectively feeds the departed ancestors in Pitr Loka?
3
votes
1answer
133 views
Is the story of Parashurama detecting Karna's non-Brahminhood from his tolerance for pain in the Mahabharata?
The story goes that Parashurama was sleeping with his head on Karna's lap. An insect started stinging Karna's thigh until blood was flowing and he bore the pain silently because he didn't want to ...
4
votes
3answers
846 views
What are the quotes, from various scriptures of early Vedic times to early medieval times which define the term Mlecchas as distinct from Brahmins?
MLECCHAS
The Vedics referred to all alien cultures and races that were less civilized in ancient times as 'Mleccha'. The term Mleccha means;
The uncouth and incomprehensible speech of ...
4
votes
1answer
501 views
Does scripture uniformly agree with this citation from Parashara smriti?
Parashara Smriti 8.25 says:
25. Even a Brahmin of a bad character deserves respect;
but not so a Shudra, even though his passions may
have been subdued by him. Who would quit a wicked cow,
...
1
vote
1answer
215 views
Sins and parihara for killing Brahmin [duplicate]
Dasharatha killed a brahmin (unintentionally) and didn't leave his kingdom for forest.
Pandu killed brahmin and left kingdom.
Rama killed Ravana, a brahmin, and didn't do anything as parihara.
...
2
votes
1answer
322 views
Does the Manusmriti have verses discriminating against Brahmins?
Why does the Manusmriti have verses discriminating against Brahmins?
For example:
A twice-born person, having, through folly, drunk wine, shall drink
wine red-hot; he becomes freed from his ...
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0answers
281 views
3
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1answer
196 views
Was it any where mentioned that in ancient ages brAhmins used to maintain celibacy upto 48 years for gaining knowledge?
I have read in one text that in ancient ages/vedic period, brAhmins used to maintain celibacy upto 48 years for gaining knowledge/realisation. And, they did not take refuge to a king for material ...
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0answers
29 views
Are there any rules of appointing a learnt scholar from Non-Brahmin origin as a clergy or priesthood for others?
By Non-Brahmin, I mean all other varnas and not specific to one caste or clan.
Please give references from scriptures, if any.
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1answer
53 views
What to incorporate? [closed]
In my mind, two of the ways to achieve enlightenment are to get rid of sensory pleasures and Sandhyavandanam; what else is required?
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0answers
88 views
Are there any vedic statements saying that one can be called brahmin by behavior [duplicate]
There are some people who keep claiming that one can be called brahmin by karma and give the reference of Yaksha Prashna in which Yudhishtra talks about brahmin-hood and claims that brahamana hood ...
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0answers
150 views
Kalki Avatar ( Kali Yuga ) [closed]
will in near future Democracy end in India and will Kshatriya's again rule Our country coz in Kalki Puran they have told that Shri Kalki will have 2 wives and both wives father will be king
King ...
3
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1answer
4k views
Rules to be followed for wearing the Sacred thread / Janeu
What are the rules that one must observe to wear the Yagnopaveetham ? Would prefer if appropriate text is also quoted.
2
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0answers
112 views
Why do only some Brahmins have a tuft of hair? Is it mandatory to cut the tuft of hair before leaving India?
Why is it that some Brahmins have a tuft of hair and some don't? Is it optional?
Furthermore, the great Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan before leaving to Cambridge University cut his tuft ...
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0answers
75 views
Why did the Brahmins before Uddalak not have the knowledge of the other world while Kshatriyas did?
This story from the Chandogya Upanishad 5.3-10 states something very interesting:
Shvetaketu was distressed and felt very much humiliated at this. So he returned home and asked his father Uddalaka, “...
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0answers
126 views
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 ...
4
votes
2answers
503 views
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, ...
4
votes
1answer
176 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
209 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 ...
5
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1answer
1k 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
143 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)?
3
votes
0answers
150 views
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....
3
votes
3answers
4k views
Are brahmins allowed to drink alcohol?
Do the scriptures mention anything about this? Can brahmins drink alcohol?
6
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1answer
4k 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 ...
5
votes
2answers
1k 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 ...