Topics on Brahmins

First Online: March 12,2003
Page Last Updated: June 28,2009

Introduction

According Sir S. Radhakrishnan, although used very widely, the term brahmin is not a correct word [1]. In the ancient Hindu texts, the word brahmana is used to indicate "absolute" or the "infinite spirit" of Lord Brahma. In the course of history, as the varna or the caste system developed, the group of priestly people came to be known as brahmanas or brahmins. In this section, the word brahmin is used to refer to the community of people known as brahmins in today's India.

Table of Contents

Boy Becomes Man Pictorial exhibition of the Hindu ordaining ritual known as the Upanayanam or Munji	Brahmin Communities A comprehensive list of Brahmin communities of India documented for anthropological research purposes.
Sages, Sadhus, and Swamis A classification of the holy men of India. Also a fascinating potpourri of pictures	Havyak Brahmins Article on the Havyak Brahmin community includes community's history, prominent leaders and community's contributions.
Thread Changing Festival Who is a Brahmin? The Iyengar Brahmins	Weblogs on Brahmin Culture Become a Pundit, the Easy Way The Gayatri Mantram

List of Pictures

• Brahmin Making the Sacred Thread
• A Brahmin of Gokarn
• The Brahmin Understudies at the Paratgali Monestary
• Brahmins at Study
• Brahmins Bathing in public Tap
• The Honoring of the Brahmins
• Initiation of a Brahmin Boy
• The monkhood of a Brahmin boy
• Portrait of a Traditional Brahmin
• Priest Applies Holy Paste
• Priest of Hosad Temple
• Priests Performing a Sacrifice (homa)
• A South Indian Brahmin
• Tamil Brahmins Gathered for Spiritual Renewal
• Vaishnavite Brahmin
• A Young Brahmin Priest at a Gurukul

References

1. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Charles Moore (Eds.) , A Sourcebook in Indian Philosophy, Princeton University Press, 1957