India is a country with an extremely interesting and ancient culture. In modern Indian society, the influence of that former culture is still tangible. The highest stratum of society in India has long been considered the Brahmins, or, as they are also called, Brahmins. Brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas, sudras - who are they? What weight does one or another Varna have in society? What are brahmanas? Let's consider these questions in more detail.
Indian legend
The 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. The mouth of Purusha turned into a brahmana, his hands into a ksatriya, his hips a vaisya, and his legs a sudra. Since then, the Indians have stubbornly divided people into castes, which largely determine the fate of every resident of this country.
The division of castes in antiquity and their influence on society in modern times
Castes, or certain sections of society, still have a huge impact on the inhabitants of India, despite the fact that in 1950 the law on the division of inhabitants into them was repealed. The manifestation of old laws is still present - and this is noticeable when two people who belong to the same caste meet. About reckoning with this or that layer of society is indicated not only by the behavior of Indians, but also by their surname. For example, the surname Gandhi undoubtedly belongs to a person from the commercial caste from Gujarat, and the brahman is Gupta, Dikshit, Bhattacharya.
Kshatriyas - Warrior Class
In addition to the brahmanas, Indian society is further divided into 3 classes - there are ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras. Kshatriyas is the second caste after the brahmanas, which includes warriors, defenders of the state. The name of this caste means "power", so there is nothing surprising in the fact 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 men, officials, and even estate managers are obtained. It was the brahmanas who have long been advisers to the kshatriyas - this cooperation was mutually beneficial, because the task of the brahmanas was to work with the mind, and the kshatriyas had to act. The philosophy of Hinduism also considers other castes, less status.
Vaisyas - artisans and merchants
Vaisyas are representatives of the third-most varna (according to one version, the word translates as “dependence”, according to another - “people”). It is considered the most numerous, since it is precisely to her that artisans, traders, and moneylenders belong. True, in recent times it has been considered a varna of merchants, because even in ancient times many Christians lost their lands, having begun to be perceived as sudras - the fourth varna, the lowest in status (not counting the Untouchables - a special caste of Indians).
Sudras: servants and laborers
Sudras are people who are subordinate. If the highest varna are considered as representatives of the Brahmana god, the sudras occupy the lowest level, and their duty is to serve the three higher varnas. Once they were divided into clean (the brahmanas could take food from their hands) and unclean. It is believed that this caste was formed later than others, and it consisted of people who had lost land, as well as slaves and tenants. Nowadays, almost the entire population of India can be called sudras . There is also a caste of the Untouchables, which, in fact, do not apply to any varna. It includes fishermen, prostitutes, butchers, street performers and roving artisans. The 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 do not have the right to not only talk to them, but also to touch their clothes. They are also prohibited from visiting government offices and driving in vehicles. And finally, let's talk about the brahmanas, 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 the European spiritual mentor. These people are members of the highest varna. In ancient times, all power was concentrated in the hands of the brahmanas. They were priests, advisers to kings, guardians of ancient manuscripts, teachers and scholars. Among the brahmanas 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 inherited, as a rule, by inheritance, which is not entirely correct, because each caste has individual character traits, as God speaks in Hinduism. For example, the task of the brahmanas is creation and liberation. The classical brahmana does not think about worldly problems; he is immersed in something deeper and more real. The ksatriyas are sure that the main thing for them is fulfillment of duty, for a vaisya is enrichment, for a sudra is carnal pleasure.
Let's turn to the dictionary
The word "brahman" in translation from the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit means "spiritual beginning", symbolizing the highest impersonal being, to whom worldly affairs are alien and uninteresting. Also, this word means prayer.
According to another interpretation, the brahmanas are the holy books, which are comments on the Vedas (the so-called collection of the oldest scriptures in Sanskrit).
Brahman is a philosopher, long since revered priest and even ruler. The Indians associated them with higher beings, the 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 than that of Christians and Muslims. However, at present, many brahmanas in India are fully developed people who do not stop learning and growing intellectually. They try to maintain their status, preserving ancient traditions. But is everything so rosy as it sounds, in fact? Let us consider the smooth transition of brahmanas from antiquity to modernity.
Brahman - who is this? History and Modernity
Brahmins are magi (in Russian). Previously, brahmanas were revered even more than 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 this status live by the laws. Actually, a rite in our time can be passed by anyone and become a brahmana, but it is also important to observe the data during the vow.
Today, by and large, few people come to Brahmanism, because these people represent a more spiritual, rather than physical, embodiment of man.
In modern India, many people of this varna represent the intelligentsia classes and the ruling classes. Nevertheless, the need sometimes makes the Brahmins violate the ancient foundations - to choose work as a servant or small servants. Also among the brahmanas there are peasants. A separate group (jadi) of Brahmins lives only thanks to the alms of tourists.
People born in the brahmana caste have a number of restrictions imposed on them by status.
- A brahmana cannot take food from the hands of representatives of other castes, because they are considered the lower class. In this case, the Brahmin himself can share food with any person.
- Brahman cannot engage in physical labor, as his work is spiritual or intellectual.
- Marriage between a brahmana and a representative of another varna is not possible. However, a brahmin has the right to choose his soulmate from another community of brahmins.
- Some brahmanas do not eat meat.
Foreigners joke that many Indian programmers are brahmanas.
The “particle" of a brahman is the atman. This is an individual entity, a subjective psychic principle. Atman and brahman are different but inseparable things. The Indians are sure that in every person there is a deep essence that can open him the path to happiness. While the brahman is something more unknown, that which is higher than human understanding and awareness, the atman is hidden in every person, each external manifestation is guided by it.
The philosophy of Hinduism, despite the fact that in India there are not so many of its supporters, still has a significant impact on the multilayer system of separation 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 stability in the process of major changes.
In the philosophy of Hinduism, there are several essences of God
- God Brahman is perceived as an impersonal entity. Having reached it, a person acquires a blissful state, which can be called (in Buddhism) nirvana.
- Paratigma is the ubiquitous manifestation of God, which is in every part of the material world.
- Bhagavan is the supreme personality of God, manifested in various forms - Vishna, Krishna, etc.
Moreover, the various movements of Hinduism perceive religion in different ways, which is why God in Hinduism does not have a single image.
Conclusion
In this article, we examined the concept of "brahman", and also examined other castes into which the population of India has been divided for centuries.