User:Brahmins

Brahmin (/ˈbrɑːmɪn/; also called Brahmana; from the Sanskrit brāhmaṇa ब्राह्मण) are traditional Hindu societies of India, Nepal and The Far East.

Brahman, Brahmin, and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self. Brahmin (or Brahmana) refers to an individual belonging to the Hindu priest, artists, teachers, technicians class (varna or pillar of the society) and also to an individual belonging to the Brahmin tribe/caste into which an individual is born; while the word Brahma refers to the creative aspect of the universal consciousness or God. Because the priest / Acharya is knowledgeable about Brahma (the God), and is responsible for religious rituals in temples and homes and is a person authorized after rigorous training in vedas (sacred texts of knowledge) and religious rituals to provide advice and impart knowledge of God to members of the society and assist in attainment of moksha, the liberation from life cycle; the priest / Acharya class is called "Brahmin varna." The English word brahmin is an anglicized form of the Sanskrit word Brāhmana.

According to ancient Indian philosophers and scholars, the human society comprises four pillars or classes called varnas or colors. In the ancient Indian texts such as Smritis, vedas, upanishads, puranas, etc., these four "varnas" or classes or pillars of the society are: the priests / Acharya (Brahmins), the rulers and military (Kshatriyas), the merchants and agriculturists(Vaishyas), and the Assistants (Shudras).

Brahmin priests / Acharya were engaged in attaining the highest spiritual knowledge (brahmavidya) of Brahman (God) and adhered to different branches (shakhas) of Vedas. 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 priest 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.

Individuals from the Brahmin castes/tribes have taken on many professions such as priests, ascetics and scholars to warriors and business people, according to 12th century poet Kalhana, in Rajatarangini.[1] According to Valmiki, a hunter and Sanskrit poet, in Ramayana history, Brahmin sage Parashurama is an Avatar (divine incarnate representation) of Lord Vishnu, who takes up arms against kings to deliver justice. Sage Parashurama is portrayed as a powerful warrior who defeated the Haiheya kshatriyas twenty one times, was an expert in martial arts and the use of weapons, and trained others to fight without weapons.[2]

Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, son of a Brahmin sage Parashara and a fisher woman Satyavathi, in his Mahabharata, describes several warriors belonging to Brahmin caste/tribe, such as Dronacharya, Kripacharya, Parashurama etc., who were professors in the schools of martial arts and the art of war. []---[IN PUNJAB''']

SARASWATA BRAHMINS

 * Saraswat Brahmins
 * Kashmiri Pandits
 * Mohyal Brahmins
 * Dhima Brahmins
 * Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins
 * Gouda Saraswat Brahmins
 * Shakdwipi Brahmins

GAUDA

 * Khandelwal Brahmins
 * Kota Brahmins
 * Dadhich Brahmin
 * Gaur Brahmin
 * Sanadhya Brahmins

KANYAKUBJA

 * Kanyakubja Brahmins
 * Saryupareen Brahmins

UTKALA

 * Utkala Brahmins

Gujarat

 * Nagar Brahmins
 * Bardai Brahmins
 * Girinarayan Brahmins
 * Shrimali Brahmins
 * Khedaval Brahmins
 * Anavil Brahmin
 * Awadhich Brahmins

Maharashtra

 * Chitpavan Brahmins (Konkanasth)
 * Deshastha Brahmin
 * Karhade Brahmins
 * Samvedi Brahmins
 * Devrukhe Brahmins

Karnataka

 * Kannada Brahmins
 * Daivajna Brahmins
 * Hoysala Karnataka Brahmins
 * Badaganadu Brahmins
 * Mulukanadu Brahmins
 * Babburu Kamme Brahmins
 * Ulucha Kamme Brahmins
 * Niyogi Brahmins
 * Madhva Brahmins
 * Vaishnava Brahmins
 * Sri Vaishnava or Hebbar Sri Vaishnava or Mysore Iyengars
 * Mysore Iyers
 * Sankethi Brahmins
 * Gauda Saraswat Brahmins
 * Tuluva Brahmins
 * Shivalli Brahmins
 * Sthanika Brahmins
 * Koteshwara Brahmins
 * Padia Brahmins
 * Saklapuri Brahmins
 * Kandavara Brahmins
 * Koota Brahmins
 * Havyaka Brahmins
 * Maratha Brahmins
 * Karadiga Brahmins

Andhra Pradesh

 * Telugu Brahmins
 * Niyogi Brahmins
 * Vaidiki Brahmins

Dravida (Tamil Nadu and Kerala)

 * Iyers
 * Iyengars (of Vadakalai and Thenkalai sects)
 * Namboothiri Brahmins
 * Pushpaka Brahmins (Ambalavasi Brahmins)