A Brahmin (also Brahman; ) (Sanskrit: )
is name used to designate a member of the highest of the four varnas. According to the Manusmṛti, there are four "varnas", or classes: the Kshatriyas (warriors, law enforcers, administrators), Brahmins (scholars, teachers, fire priests), the Vaishyas (agriculturists, cattle raisers, merchants, bankers), and Shudras (service providers). Brahmins were respected by the society for their self-abnegation and for being the custodians of Dharma (as "one who prays; a devout or religious man; a Brāhman who is well versed in Vedic texts; one versed in sacred knowledge"). They were the ultimate authority over interpretation of Vedic and Puranic spiritual texts like the Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita-.
The English word brahmin is an anglicised form of the Sanskrit word a. Brahmins are also called Vipra ("inspired"), or Dvija ("twice-born").
Due to the diversity in regional religious traditions and the Vedic schools (shakhas), which they belong to, Brahmins, in modern usage of the term, are further divided into various sub-castes. Brahmins traditionally are not temple priests and not all Brahmins are fire priests. Today, very few Brahmins are involved in the priestly duties, with Vedic learning, ascetic and humble living and have sought a variety of occupations and jobs, due to the collapse of the ancient Indian societal structure(brought about by the British), which supported them through alms and gifts, in recognition of their teaching, scholarship and wisdom. Many Brahmins have emigrated to other parts of the world, where they have distinguished themselves through their intellectual accomplishments, altruism and simple living.
History
According to mythology,the Brahmin community started from
Brahma creation, husband of
Brahmani, the supreme Hindu Goddess of
knowledge and
education in ancient Indian mythology and adopted in their religion (
Vedic religion of early
Hinduism, now often referred to by Hindus as
Sanatana Dharma). The
Vedas are said to be the primary source of knowledge for Brahmin practices. Most
sampradayas (religious practices) of modern Brahmins claim to take inspiration from the Vedas. According to orthodox Hindu tradition, the Vedas are
and
anādi (beginning-less), and are revealed truths of eternal validity.
The Vedas are considered Śruti ("that which is heard") and are the paramount source on which modern Brahmin tradition claims to be based. Shruti includes not only the four Vedas (the Rigveda, the Yajurveda, the Samaveda and the Atharvaveda), but also their respective Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads.
Brahmins are considered by the European Indologists of the 19th century, to have been part of the Aryan migrants from Iran, eastern Eurasia or central Asia, who, around 2600 BCE, pushed the native population towards the south and east after adopting their primary religion based on worship of pasupathi(later known as Lord Shiva). The Aryans followed a division of labour and specialisation among different groups called castes, granting Brahmins the highest reverence. This, according to the European scholars, is the root of the caste system and what they described as the superstitious religious practices of the Hindus, still surviving to the modern day and age.
In 1931 (the last Indian census to record caste), Brahmins accounted for 9% of the total population. Brahmins were most numerous in Uttar Pradesh, where they constituted just 15% of the recorded population. In Andhra Pradesh, they formed less than 2%; in Tamil Nadu they formed less than 3%. In Kerala, Nambudiri Brahmins make up 0.7% of the population. In West Bengal too the figures stand the same. According to the 2001 census, Brahmins constitute less than 9% of the Indian population.
Genetics
In terms of association with other races, the highest levels of R1a (>50%) are found across the Eurasian Steppe: West Bengal Brahmins (72%), and Uttar Pradesh Brahmins, (67%) , the Ishkashimi (68%), the Tajik population of Khojant (64%), Kyrgyz (63.5%), Sorbs (63.39%), Poles (56.4%), Ukrainians (50%) and Russians (50%) and in the Central India among the saharia tribe of Madhya Pradesh R1a*(22.8%) and R1a1(28.07%). It is also found in relatively high frequencies in several South Indian Dravidian-speaking tribes including the Chenchu and Valmikis of Andhra Pradesh.
R1a has been variously associated with:
the re-colonization of Eurasia during the Late Glacial Maximum.
the expansion of the Kurgan people from the Pontic-Caspian steppe, which is associated with the spread of the Indo-European languages.
Brahmin communities
The Brahmin castes may be broadly divided into two regional groups: Pancha-Gauda Brahmins from Northern India and considered to be North of Vindhya mountains and Pancha-Dravida Brahmins from South of Vindhya mountains as per the shloka. However, this sloka is from Rajatarangini of Kalhana, which was composed only in the 11th century CE.
कर्णाटकाश्च तैलंगा द्राविडा महाराष्ट्रकाः,
गुर्जराश्चेति पञ्चैव द्राविडा विन्ध्यदक्षिणे ||
सारस्वताः कान्यकुब्जा गौडा उत्कलमैथिलाः,
पन्चगौडा इति ख्याता विन्ध्स्योत्तरवासिनः ||
Translation: Karnataka (Kannada), Telugu (Andhra), Dravida (Tamil and Kerala), Maharashtra and Gujarat are Five Southern (Panch Dravida). Saraswata, Kanyakubja, Gauda, Utkala (Orissa), Maithili are Five Northern (Pancha Gauda). This classification occurs in Rajatarangini of Kalhana and earlier in some inscriptions
Pancha-Gauda
Those from
Uttarapatha (
Aryavarta) (
northern and eastern India.)
Approximately ordered according to geographical regions.
Utkal(Odisha)
Utkala Brahmin
The Sanskrit textBrāhmaṇotpatti-Mārtaṇḍa by Pt. Harikrishna Śāstri mentions according to which a king named Utkala invited brahmins from Gangetic Valley for performing a yajna in Jagannath-Puri in
Orissa; when the yajna ended the invited brahmins laid the foundation of the Lord Jagannath there and settled there for serving the Lord in around
Orissa,
Jharkhand,
Medinipur.
The Utkala Brahmins are of three classes 1) Shrautiya(vaidika) 2) Ashrautiya or (Sevayata) and 3)Halua Brahman.Again there are sub-classes in these three classes
Maithil Brahmin (Mithila)
Maithil Brahmins
Pancha-Dravida (Five Southern)
Those from
Dakshinapatha (
Karnataka,
Andhra,
Maharashtra, Dravida(
Tamilnadu,
kerala and
Gujarat).
Andhra Pradesh
Brahmins of Andhra Pradesh are broadly classified into 2 groups:
Vaidiki Brahmins (meaning educated in vedas and performing religious vocations) and
Niyogi (performing only secular vocation). They are further divided into several sub-castes. However, majority of the Brahmins, both Vaidika and Niyogi, perform only secular professions.
Vishwabrahmins (Viśvákarma)
Vaidiki Brahmins are further divided in to Velanadu, Venginadu,
Mulukanadu Brahmins, Kosalanadu etc.
There is another sub-section "Dravida" made up of Tamil Brahmins who had migrated to Andhra Pradesh.
Gujarat
Gurjara Brāhmans: The Brāhmans of Gujarāt, of whom two subcastes are found in the Central Provinces. The first consists of the Khedāwāls, named after Kheda, a village in Gujarāt, who are a strictly orthodox class holding a good position in the caste. And the second are the Nāgar Brāhmans, who have been long settled in Nimār and the adjacent tracts, and act as village priests and astrologers. Their social status is somewhat lower.
Trivedi Mewada Brahmin
Rajgor Brahmin
Bhatt Mewada Brahmin , are from Rajasthan
Chauriyasi Mewada Brahmin
Saurashtra Trivedi Mewad Brahmin
Saurashtra Bhatt Mewada Brahmin
Pushkarna Brahmin
Nagar Brahmin
Audichya Brahmin
Sahastra Audichya Gorwal Brahmin
Modh Brahmin
Girinarayan Brahmin
Shrimali Brahman
Sachora Brahmin
Anavil Brahmin
Sidhra-Rudhra Brahmins
Sree gauda Brahmin
Rajgor Brahmin Basically comes from Rajeshtan .. edited by Jitendra Ravia
Prashnora Brahmin
Kanaujiya or Kanyakumbj Brahmin migrated from kanoj,entered in kutch via sindh along with lohanas have surname Bhatt in kutch,divided as bhuvdiyas,vondhiyas,sandhliyas according to their village temple.others in Gujarat mainly found in jamnagar,morbi,junaghath and rajkot.surnames like Bhatt,Kaileyas,bhaglani,pingal,lakhlani,ghediya etc are common.
Maharashtra
Deshastha Brahmin
Chitpavan Brahmin (Konkanastha)
Karhade Brahmin
Devrukhe Brahmin
Daivajñas or Daivadnyas Brahmin
Sarswat Brahmin
Karnataka
Karnāta Brāhmans: The Brāhmans of the Carnatic, or the Canarese country. The Canarese area comprises the Mysore State, and the British Districts of Canara, Dharwar and Belgaum.
Kannada Brahmins
*Babbur Kamme Brahmins
*Badaganadu Brahmins
*Deshastha Brahmin
*Havyaka Brahmin
*Hasan Iyengars
*Hebbar Iyengars
*Hoysala Karnataka Brahmins
*Karhade Brahmin
*Koota Brahmins
Vishwakarma Brahmins
*Madhva Brahmins
*Mandyam Iyengars
*Mysore Iyengars
*Niyogi Brahmins
*Panchagrama Brahmin
*Sankethi Brahmins
*Shukla Yajurveda Brahmins
*Smartha Brahmins
*Srivaishnava Brahmins
*Sthanika Brahmins
*Ulucha Kamme Brahmins
Mysore Iyers
Ashtagrama iyers
Tuluva Brahmins
*Kandavara Brahmins
*Karhade Brahmins
*Maratha Brahmins
*Padia Brahmins
*Saklapuri Brahmins
*Shivalli Brahmins
*Smartha Shivalli Brahmins
*Sthanika Brahmins
Tamil Nadu
Iyengars (sub-divided into Vadakalai and Thenkalai)
Sathatha Sri Vaishnavas (sathani,chattani,chattata sri vaishnavas)
Iyers (sub-divided further into Vadama, Vathima, Brahacharanam, Ashtasahasram, Gurukkal, Dikshitar, Kaniyalar, Prathamasaki, dravida brahmins)
Vishwabrahmins (Viśvákarma)
Kerala
Namboothiri Brahmins
Kerala Iyers
Embranthiri
Pushpaka Brahmins (Ambalavasis}
Sharada Brahmins
Vishwabrahmins (Viśvákarma)
Nagariks or the Brahmin migrants from north India
Gotras and pravaras
Brahmins classify themselves on the basis of their
patrilineal descent from a notable ancestor. These ancestors are either ancient Indian sages or
kshatriyas (warriors) who chose to become Brahmins. The ten major gotras that trace descent from sages are:
Kanva,
Jamadagni,
Bharadvâja,
koundinya,
Gautama,
Atri,
Vashista,
Atryasa,
Kashyapa,
Agastya gotra. Two gotras that trace descent from kshatriyas are
Mitra and
Vishvamitra gotra.
In general, gotra denotes any person who traces descent in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Pāṇini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as 'apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram' (IV. 1. 162), which means: "the word gotra denotes the progeny (of a sage) beginning with the son's son". When a person says, "I am Kashypasa-gotra", he means that he traces his descent from the ancient sage Kashyapa by unbroken male descent. This enumeration of eight primary gotras seems to have been known to Pāṇini. These gotras are not directly connected to Prajapathy or latter brama. The offspring (apatya) of these Eight are gotras and others than these are called 'gotrâvayava'.
The gotras are arranged in groups, e. g. there are according to the Âsvalâyana-srautasûtra four subdivisions of the Vashista gana, viz. Upamanyu, Parāshara, Kundina and Vashista (other than the first three). Each of these four again has numerous sub-sections, each being called gotra. So the arrangement is first into ganas, then into pakshas, then into individual gotras. The first has survived in the Bhrigu and Āngirasa gana. According to Baudh., the principal eight gotras were divided into pakshas. The pravara of Upamanyu is Vashista, Bharadvasu, Indrapramada; the pravara of the Parâshara gotra is Vashista, Shâktya, Pârâsharya; the pravara of the Kundina gotra is Vashista, Maitrâvaruna, Kaundinya and the pravara of Vashistas other than these three is simply Vashista. It is therefore that some define pravara as the group of sages that distinguishes the founder (lit. the starter) of one gotra from another.
There are two kinds of pravaras, 1) sishya-prasishya-rishi-parampara, and 2) putrparampara. Gotrapravaras can be ekarsheya, dwarsheya, triarsheya, pancharsheya, saptarsheya, and up to 19 rishis. Kashyapasa gotra has at least two distinct pravaras in Andhra Pradesh: one with three sages (triarsheya pravara) and the other with seven sages (saptarsheya pravara). This pravara may be either sishya-prasishya-rishi-parampara or putraparampara. Similarly, Srivatsasa gotra has five sages or is called Pancharsheya and are the descendants of Jamadagni. When it is sishya-prasishya-rishi-parampara marriage is not acceptable if half or more than half of the rishis are same in both bride and bridegroom gotras. If it is putraparampara, marriage is totally unacceptable even if one rishi matches.
Sects and Rishis
Due to the diversity in religious and cultural traditions and practices, and the
Vedic schools which they belong to,
Brahmins are further divided into various subcastes. During the sutra period, roughly between 1000 BCE to 200 BCE, Brahmins became divided into various
Shakhas (branches), based on the adoption of different
Vedas and different rescension
Vedas. Sects for different denominations of the same branch of the Vedas were formed, under the leadership of distinguished teachers among Brahmins.
There are several Brahmin law givers, such as Angirasa, Apasthambha, Atri, Bhrigu, Brihaspati, Boudhayana, Daksha, Gautama, Harita, Katyayana, Likhita, Manu, Parasara, Samvarta, Shankha, Shatatapa, Ushanasa, Vashista, Vishnu, Vyasa, Yajnavalkya and Yama. These twenty-one rishis were the propounders of Smritis. The oldest among these smritis are Apastamba, Baudhayana, Gautama, and Vashista Sutras.
Descendants of the Brahmins
Many
Indians and non-Indians claim descent from the Vedic Rishis of both Brahmin and non-Brahmin descent. For example, the
Dash and
Nagas are said to be the descendants of
Kashyapa Muni.
Vishwakarmas are the descendants of Pancha Rishis or Brahmarishies. According to Yajurveda and Brahmanda purana, they are Sanagha, Sanathana, Abhuvanasa, Prajnasa, and Suparnasa.
The Kani tribe of South India claim to descend from Agastya Muni.
The Gondhali, Kanet, Bhot, Lohar, Dagi, and Hessis claim to be from Renuka Devi.
The Kasi Kapadi Sudras claim to originate from the Brahmin Sukradeva. Their duty was to transfer water to the sacred city of Kashi.
Dadheech Brahmins/dayama Brahmin trace their roots from Dadhichi Rishi.
Many Jat clans claim to descend from Dadhichi Rishi while the Dudi Jats claim to be in the linear of Duda Rishi.
Lord Buddha was a descendant of Angirasa through Gautama. There too were Kshatriyas of other clans to whom members descend from Angirasa, to fulfill a childless king's wish.
The backward-caste Matangs claim to descend from Matang Muni, who became a Brahmin by his karma.
According to one legend, the nomadic tribe of Kerala, the Kakkarissi, are derived from the mouth of Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu, and came out a Brahmin.
historian Udai Narain Roy endorses the suggestion that the imperial Guptas were Brahmins.
Brahmins taking up other duties
Brahmins have taken on many professions - from being priests, ascetics and scholars to warriors and business people, as is attested for example in Kalhana's Rajatarangini. Brahmins with the qualities of Kshatriyas are known as '
Brahmakshatriyas'. An example is the
avatar Parashurama who is considered an
avatar of
Vishnu. Sage Parashurama was a powerful warrior who had defeated the Haiheya kshatriyas twenty one times, was an expert in the use of weapons, and trained others to fight without weapons. After Sage Parshuram destroyed the Kshatriya race, he was excluded by other Brahmin communities and denied to perform any religious ceremonies for him. At the coast of
Arabian sea i.e. the
Western Ghats he decided to create a new Brahmin community where he found dead bodies of people came out floating from the sea. He purified them with
Agni and brought back to life. Then he taught them all the veda's, weapons, religious knowledge and made the Brahmin known as
Chitpavan Konkanastha Brahmins. Chitapavan means Chit + Pavan the Brahmins whose chit/soul was purified,
Konkanastha means belong to
Konkan region. Chitapavan Konkanastha Brahmin's did not have their own land hence were insulted by other rulers & Brahmins. Hence Sage Parshurama asked the Sea Lord to go back and give some land which he denied. Sage Parshurama got angry and made ready the
Brahmastra to destroy the Sea Lord. Sea Lord frightned and asked to forgive him. Sage Parshurama said that as he has made Brahmhaastra on the arrow ready to launch he cannot return the arrow backwards but he will remove the Brahmaastra and wherever the arrow will land till that point sea will leave the Land for his followers
Chitpavan Konkanastha Brahmins. The place from where Sage Parshurama released the arrow is there in Konkan area known as
Lote Parshuram and has a temple of Sage Parshuram. The
Bhumihar Brahmins were established when
Parashurama destroyed the Kshatriya race, and he set up in their place the descendants of Brahmins, who, after a time, having mostly abandoned their priestly functions (although some still perform), took to land-owning. Many Brahmins took up the profession of medicine. They are Vaidya Brahmins called Baidya Brahmins of
Bengal [gupta, dasgupta and senguptas] are descendants of Dhanavantari, the god of medicine and father of Ayurveda.
The Brahmakhatris caste, descendants of the Khatris, however, are a business caste/community of Punjab and belong to the Kshatriya caste.
Perhaps the word Brahma-kshatriya refers to a person belonging to the heritage of both castes. However, among the Royal Rajput households, Brahmins who became the personal teachers and protectors of the royal princes rose to the status of Rajpurohit and taught the princes everything including martial arts. They would also become the keepers of the Royal lineage and its history. They would also be the protectors of the throne in case the regent was orphaned and a minor.
Kshatriyan Brahmin is a term associated with people of both caste's components.
The Pallavas were an example of Brahmakshatriyas as that is what they called themselves. King Lalitaditya Muktapida of Kashmir ruled all of India and even Central Asia.
King Rudravarma of Champa (Vietnam) of 657 A.D. was the son of a Brahmin father. caste, which exist in places like South India. They perform medical work - that is from ancient times have practised the Ayurveda and have been Vaidyas (or doctors) as have been claimed by these people during the British rule when the Govt. expressed the will to promote cast mobilisation , thence from they started bearing the thread also , but neither the Govt. nor the Hindu oligarchs , none expressed any such sanction .
Many Pallis of South India claim to be Brahmins (while others claim to be Agnikula Kshatriyas.) Kulaman Pallis are nicknamed by outsiders as Kulaman Brahmans. Brahmins believe in —Let the entire society be happy and prosperous and —the whole world is one family. Many Brahmins are reformers. Brahmins practice vegetarianism or lacto-vegetarianism which has been a custom since several centuries dating back to B.C. Following this custom is mandatory in Brahmin culture. However, some among the Brahmins inhabiting cold regions of Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Nepal, and coastal areas like Bengal etc., eat fish and other locally available non-vegetarian foods and hence are pesco-vegetarians.
Brahmins have a "choti", a braid that was grown on the back of their heads- the main purpose of this was to help differentiate Brahmins from other Hindu Castes, as well as to show that they possess sacred knowledge, unlike others. As a result of this, modern Bhramins often have no choti, or a seriously shortened one, and go on performing their duties as such, showing an inclined respect towards other people.
Sampradayas
The three
sampradayas (traditions) of Brahmins, especially in
South India are the
Smarta sampradaya, the
Srivaishnava sampradaya and the
Madhva sampradaya.
Smartism
Smartism (or
Smarta Sampradaya,
Smarta Tradition, as it is termed in
Sanskrit) is a liberal or nonsectarian
denomination of the
Hindu religion who accept all the major Hindu deities as forms of the one
Brahman in contrast to
Vaishnavism, for example. The term
Smarta refers to adherents who follow the
Vedas and
Shastras.
Vaishnavism
In south India Srivaishnava sampradayam was propagated by Srimad Ramanjuacharya Which has Given as bhakti marga by azhwar saints.
Shaivism
Saivism (sometimes called
Shivaism) is a belief system where
Lord Shiva is worshipped as the Supreme Lord. It is a derivative faith of the core Vedic tradition.
Saiva sects contains many sub-sects, such as Rudrasaivas, Veerasiavas, Paramasaivas, etc.
Ravana the Ruler of
Lanka in the Hindu Epic
Ramayana was a Devgan Brahmin Grand son of Sage Pulastya & So of Sage Visharva
Miscellaneous sects
There are additional sampradayas as well which are not as widely followed as the rest.
The Mahima Dharma or "Satya Mahima Alekha Dharma" was founded by the Brahmin Mukanda Das of present-day Orissa, popularly know by followers as Mahima Swami according to the Bhima Bhoi text. He was born in the last part of 18th century in Baudh ex-state as a son of Ananta Mishra. He was Brahmin by caste as mentioned in Mahima Vinod of Bhima Bhoi in Vol.11. This sampradaya is similar to Vaishnavism. Although the members of this sect do not worship Lord Vishnu as their Ishta-Deva, they believe that the Srimad Bhagavatam is sacred. The founder of this sect was a Vaishnavite before founding the new order. The Buddha did not believe in caste discrimination but he did endorse a fair division of labour based on merit. Brahmins were not to discriminate against lower castes but were to serve them wholeheartedly. Many sutras believe that the Buddha himself was a Brahmin in a previous life and due to his good merit as a Brahmin, he was re-born as the Buddha. Other experts believe the Buddha descended from Brahmin sage Angiras whose descendants like Dronacharya were Shatra Brahmins or warrior Brahmins that eventually became Kshatriya warriors.
The notion of ritual purity provided a conceptual foundation for the caste system, by identifying occupations and duties associated with impure or taboo objects as being themselves impure. Regulations imposing such a system of ritual purity and taboos are absent from the Buddhist monastic code, and not generally regarded as being part of Buddhist teachings To the contrary, the early Buddhist scriptures defined purity as determined by one's state of mind, and refer to anyone who behaves unethically, of whatever caste, as "rotting within", or "a rubbish heap of impurity".
There are many places in which the Buddha explains his use of the word brahman. At Sutta Nipata 1.7 Vasala Sutta, verse 12, he states: "Not by birth is one an outcast; not by birth is one a brahman. By deed one becomes an outcast, by deed one becomes a brahman."
Jainism
The first convert of
Mahavira, the 24th
Tirthankara of
Jainism was
Indrabhuti (aka Gautamswami) the Brahmin, who headed a group of other Brahmins and converted them to
Jainism. He was from the village Gobbar (also called Govarya) near
Rajgriha. It is said that at the sight of Gautama, the tapsas who were competing with him to reach the top of a hill once, by seeing the winner Gautama at the top, achieved moksha.
Sajjambhava was another born from Rajgriha and was elected the head of the Jain temple. He is famous for his composition of the "Dasavaikalika Sutra."
Acharya Vidyanand is a Brahmin of the Dhigambar Jain sect and compiled in the Sanskrit language, "Ashta Shahastri" with eight thousand verses.
Acharya Shushil Kumar, known better to Jains as "Guruji", was born a Vaidik in the Shakarpur village of the Haryana province. At the age of 15, he took Diksha (became a sanyassin) into the Sthanakvasi, a Swhetambara sub-sect.
There is also a story about a wealthy Brahmin named Dhangiri in the town of Tumbhivan, who, when heard the sermons of the Jain Acharya Sinhgiri, while he regularly listened to but later lost his interest in wealth and decided to take the Diksha.
Umasvati was a composer who was so loved by Jains that he is considered by the Dhigambar sect to be a Dhigambar member and the Svetambara sect to be a Svetambara member.
Sikhism
Many writers of the Guru Granth Sahib are of the
Bhatt surname. The Sikh composed Mathura Bhatt's fourteen verses are seven each in praise of Guru Ram Das and Guru Arjan.
There are also several Mohyals (Brahmin warriors) in the Sikh community.
Brahma Kumaris
All students of
Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University call also themselves "brahmin" even if they are not
caste born. They considener themselves the
topknot souls of humanity and believe all other religions as now
shudra. The
Brahma Kumaris and
Prajapita Brahma Kumaris consider themselves true Brahmins, classifying all other Brahmins as just memorials.
Notes
References
Further reading
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati Rachnawali (Selected works of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati), Prakashan Sansthan, Delhi, 2003.
Baldev Upadhyaya, Kashi Ki Panditya Parampara, Sharda Sansthan, Varanasi, 1985.
M.A. Sherring, Hindu Tribes and Castes as Reproduced in Benaras, Asian Educational Services, New Delhi, First ed 1872, new ed 2008.
Jogendra Nath Bhattacharya, Hindu Castes and Sects, Munshiram Manoharlal, Delhi, first edition 1896, new edition 1995.
E.A.H.Blunt, The Caste System of North India, S.Chand Publishers, 1969.
Christopher Alan Bayly, Rulers, Townsmen, and Bazaars: North Indian Society in the Age of British Expansion, 1770–1870, Cambridge University Press, 1983.
Anand A. Yang, Bazaar India: Markets, Society, and the Colonial State in Bihar, University of California Press, 1999.
Acharya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi Rachnawali, Rajkamal Prakashan, Delhi.
Bibha Jha's PhD thesis Bhumihar Brahmins: A Sociological Study submitted to the Patna University.
M. N. Srinivas, Social Change in Modern India, Orient Longman, Delhi, 1995.
Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi essays.
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External links
Brahman Swarnkar Brahmin soni brahman sunar bamania swarnkar
Topics on Brahmins
About Kerala Iyers, a.k.a Pattars, the brahmins who moved to Kerala centuries ago from Tamil Nadu
List Of Andhra Brahmins And Surnames
A Long List of Brahmin Castes and Sub-castes
Online Shakdweepiya Community
Online Shakdweepiya Community
Shakdweepiya club
Information by Gujarati author
Marriage and Matrimony for Brahmins - www.marryAbrahmin.com
Brahmins Only Marriage blogs and matrimony
Exclusive Matrimony Portal for Aiyer community
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Category:Varnas in Hinduism
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Category:Priestly caste
Category:Categories of Brahmin Cast
![Illustration by Raja Ravi Verma. In illustrations, the goddess often sits on a lotus flower and appears with five heads and five pairs of hands, the heads representing the four vedas and the almighty god.[1]](http://web.archive.org./web/20110823050354im_/http://cdn7.wn.com/pd/0d/02/3ecd1ddbc3ca4c1da4a228a2b9df_grande.jpg "Illustration by Raja Ravi Verma. In illustrations, the goddess often sits on a lotus flower and appears with five heads and five pairs of hands, the heads representing the four vedas and the almighty god.[1]")
![Illustration by Raja Ravi Verma. In illustrations, the goddess often sits on a lotus flower and appears with five heads and five pairs of hands, the heads representing the four vedas and the almighty god.[1]](http://web.archive.org./web/20110823050354im_/http://cdn6.wn.com/pd/0d/02/3ecd1ddbc3ca4c1da4a228a2b9df_thumb.jpg "Illustration by Raja Ravi Verma. In illustrations, the goddess often sits on a lotus flower and appears with five heads and five pairs of hands, the heads representing the four vedas and the almighty god.[1]")
