Eastern Spirituality

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One of four fundamental colours in Hindu caste (Varna) consisting of scholars, priests and spiritual teachers. Brahmin is a varna in Vedic Hinduism and also a caste of people who are members of it. Members are subdivided into numerous communities known as gotras.

Brahmin priests and teachers (acharya) were engaged in attaining the highest 'spiritual' knowledge (brahmavidya) of Brahman and adhered to different branches (shakhas) of the Vedas. The Brahmin priest is responsible for religious rituals in temples and homes of Hindus and is a person authorized after rigorous training in vedas and 'sacred' rituals, and as a liaison between humans and the God. In general, as family vocations and businesses are inherited, priesthood used to be inherited among Brahmin priestly families, as it requires years of practice of vedas from childhood after proper introduction to student life through a religious initiation called upanayana at the age of about five.

Some Brahmins were also warriors. Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, son of a Brahmin sage Parashara and a fisher woman Satyavathi, in his Mahabharata, describes several warriors belonging to Brahmin castes/tribes, such as Dronacharya, Ashwatthama, Kripacharya, Parashurama etc., who were professors in the schools of martial arts and the art of war.

Example via www.ramdass.org: Boundless Qualities of Mind

Example via www.mindpodnetwork.com: The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Glossary Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z