Brahmans

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

or Brahmins, one of the four castes of India. Unlike Mohammedism, Christianity, and Buddhism, Brahmanism cannot be traced to a definite founder. According to the tradition of the Hindu priests, Brahma is God himself, the infinite being. Four castes were created by him. The Brahmans, priests or holy men, sprang from the mouth of the deity. They possess all wisdom. The soldiers sprang from the arms of Brahma; the laborers sprang from his thighs; the lowest caste, the serfs, sprang from his feet. The four castes are by no means allowed to intermarry. The holy Brahman, like the Levite, is supposed to do no work but to live on almsgiving, which is enjoined as a sacred duty. He pays no taxes and must not be punished. He eats no flesh, touches no leather or ordinary domestic animal. He must not eat from a plate or other vessel that has been used by one of a lower caste, lest he be defiled. At a certain age he must marry. A priest who remains single is not respectable. Theoretically there are four stages in life: Youth, married life, and two subsequent stages of fasting and much ceremonial tending to perfection. In later times, however, the relations and occupations by castes have become much confused. The Brahman may now engage in commercial pursuits and hold office. It is needless to add that the condition of the Brahmans, who are a branch of the white race, is changing rapidly under British rule. As a matter of fact, they are a conquering people differing in blood from the lower castes who represent conquered races. The Brahmans have an extensive literature. Like their European relatives, they believe in a trinity consisting of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Siva the destroyer. The Brahmans are the dominant caste, and are the religious teachers of 200,000,000 people. See Caste ; Buddha