Difference between revisions of "Brahmins"

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== Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary <ref name="term_80334" /> ==
 
<p> or BRACHMINS, the highest caste of Hindoos, to whom is confined the priesthood, and, in general, all their ancient learning, which is locked up in their sacred language, called the Sanscrit. The [[Brahmins]] derive that name from Brahma, the Creator; for they maintain the doctrine of three embodied energies, the creative, the preserving, and the destroying; personified under the names of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, all sprung from Brimh; and to each of them is assigned a kind of celestial consort, a female deity, which they describe as a passive energy. </p> <p> Like the philosophers of Greece, they seem to have had an open and a secret doctrine: the latter, a species of Spinozism, considering the great [[Supreme]] as "the soul of the world; <em> " </em> endowed with no other quality than ubiquity; requiring no worship, and exerting no power, but in the production of the three great energies above mentioned. These are so ingeniously diversified as to produce three hundred and thirty millions of gods, or objects of idolatry; so various in character as to suit every man's taste or humour, and to furnish examples of every vice and folly to which humanity is subject. </p> <p> As it respects a future state, two of the principal doctrines of Brachminism are transmigration and absorption. After death, the person is conveyed by the messengers of Yumu, through the air to the place of judgment. After receiving his sentence, he wanders about the earth for twelve months, as an aerial being or ghost; and then takes a body suited to his future condition, whether he ascend to the gods, or suffer in a new body, or be hurled into some hell. This is the doctrine of several "pooranus;" others maintain, that immediately after death and judgment, the person suffers the pains of hell, and removes his sin by suffering; and then returns to the earth in some bodily form. The descriptions which the "pooranus" give of the heavens of the gods are truly in the eastern style; all things, even the beds of the gods, are made of gold and precious stones. All the pleasures of these heavens are exactly what we should expect in a system formed by uninspired and unrenewed men: like the paradise of Mohammed, they are brothels, rather than places of rewards for "the pure in heart." Here all the vicious passions are personified, or rather deified: the quarrels and licentious intrigues of the gods fill these places with perpetual uproar while their impurities are described with the same literality and gross detail, as similar things are talked of among these idolaters on earth. </p> <p> But the highest degree of happiness is absorption. God, as separated from matter, the Hindoos contemplate as a being reposing in his own happiness, destitute of ideas; as infinite placidity; as an unruffled sea of bliss; as being perfectly abstracted, and void of consciousness. They therefore deem it the height of perfection to be like this being. Hence Krishnu, in his discourse to Urjoonu, praises the man "who forsaketh every desire that entereth into his heart; who is happy of himself; who is without affection; who rejoiceth not either in good or evil; who, like the tortoise, can restrain his members from their wonted purpose; to whom pleasure and pain, gold, iron, and stones, are the same." "The learned," adds Krishnu, "behold Brumhu alike in the reverend ‘branhun,' perfected in knowledge; in the ox, and in the elephant; in the dog, and in him who eateth of the flesh of dogs." The person whose very nature, say they, is absorbed in divine meditation; whose life is like a sweet sleep, unconscious and undisturbed; who does not even desire God, and who is thus changed into the image of the ever blessed; obtains absorption into Brumhu. The ceremonies leading to absorption are called by the name of "tupushya," and the persons performing them, a "tupushwee." [[Forsaking]] the world; retiring to a forest; fasting, living on roots, fruits, &c;—remaining in certain postures; exposure to all the inclemencies of the weather, &c; these, and many other austere practices, are prescribed, to subdue the passions, to fix the mind, habituate it to meditation, and fill it with that serenity and indifference to the world which is to prepare it for absorption, and place it beyond the reach of future birth. </p>
Brahmins <ref name="term_27047" />
       
== Webster's Dictionary <ref name="term_95106" /> ==
<p> (pl.) of Brahmin </p>
       
== Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature <ref name="term_26991" /> ==
<p> (the sons of Brahma, the divines) are the priests of India, and form the highest caste; they are considered as having sprung from the head of Brahma, and, as such, considered holy, inviolable, and the only ones worthy of fulfilling the priestly offices. Their distinctive marks are the jagnapavadan or punal, a shoulder-girdle composed of nine threads long enough to go 108 times around the closed hand, and the kudumi, a small bunch of hair which is left at the back of the head when shaving it. On the forehead, breast, and arms they wear the holy sign of Siva, or, in honor of Vishna, the simple sign kuri, 6, on the forehead. They have two rules: the exterior (Yaman) contains five duties: always to speak the truth; not to take the life of any creature; never to steal any thing; to observe the most rigorous chastity; not to marry after the death of their wife. The inner rule (Niyama) also enjoins five duties: to preserve the utmost inward purity; to aim at inward peace; to live in continual penitence and contemplation of the divinity; to acquire the most perfect knowledge of the laws of God, and to make use of that knowledge; continually to think of [[Siva]] as the highest god. Their occupations consist in reading and teaching the Vedas, to officiate in the temples, particularly in offering sacrifices, to give alms, to sit in judgment, and to act as physicians. Their decisions are in every case final, and disobedience to them is most severely punishable; the king himself must show them the greatest respect, even when they follow the humblest callings. </p> <p> The life of the Brahmin is divided into four parts: 1st, Brahmachari, or scholar, when the Brahmin, by the application of the punal, is received into the caste, and studies the Vedas; he binds himself to punctual obedience, continence, purity of heart, and discretion; after twelve years he becomes, 2dly, Grihasthen, when he is appointed priest of a pagoda or of a private family, or else devotes himself to other occupations, principally to agriculture; in the 3d part he becomes Vanaprasthen, from 40 or 50 years of age to 72. The Brahmin must then leave his home and retire to the woods, there to live as a hermit, laying aside all comforts or mental enjoyments; he must fast, and wear a dress of bark or of the skin of the black antelope, and let his hair and nails grow without ever cutting them. He takes only the sacred fire with him, and presides at all festive offerings. In the 4th part the Brahmin becomes [[Bhikshu]] or Sannyasi, and is then to devote himself to the contemplation of God, previous to going back to him after death. He therefore renounces all that belongs to him, and leaves all his goods to his family. His hair is all cut off, his dress consists only of a white cloth, and he receives a brass vessel in which he is to keep some water for the purpose of washing what food he may get; he also receives a stick called dandam, with seven natural knots, to remind him of the seven great saints. He thus lives on alms, bathes three times every day, and covers his forehead and breast with ashes; he is in the highest odor of sanctity, and any one who approaches him must respectfully bow before him. After his death, he is buried sitting in a quantity of salt; his head is broken with a cocoanut, and his brains distributed among those present. (See [[Hinduism]]); (See [[India]]). </p>
<p> (the sons of Brahma, the divines) are the priests of India, and form the highest caste; they are considered as having sprung from the head of Brahma, and, as such, considered holy, inviolable, and the only ones worthy of fulfilling the priestly offices. Their distinctive marks are the jagnapavadan or punal, a shoulder-girdle composed of nine threads long enough to go 108 times around the closed hand, and the kudumi, a small bunch of hair which is left at the back of the head when shaving it. On the forehead, breast, and arms they wear the holy sign of Siva, or, in honor of Vishna, the simple sign kuri, 6, on the forehead. They have two rules: the exterior (Yaman) contains five duties: always to speak the truth; not to take the life of any creature; never to steal any thing; to observe the most rigorous chastity; not to marry after the death of their wife. The inner rule (Niyama) also enjoins five duties: to preserve the utmost inward purity; to aim at inward peace; to live in continual penitence and contemplation of the divinity; to acquire the most perfect knowledge of the laws of God, and to make use of that knowledge; continually to think of [[Siva]] as the highest god. Their occupations consist in reading and teaching the Vedas, to officiate in the temples, particularly in offering sacrifices, to give alms, to sit in judgment, and to act as physicians. Their decisions are in every case final, and disobedience to them is most severely punishable; the king himself must show them the greatest respect, even when they follow the humblest callings. </p> <p> The life of the Brahmin is divided into four parts: 1st, Brahmachari, or scholar, when the Brahmin, by the application of the punal, is received into the caste, and studies the Vedas; he binds himself to punctual obedience, continence, purity of heart, and discretion; after twelve years he becomes, 2dly, Grihasthen, when he is appointed priest of a pagoda or of a private family, or else devotes himself to other occupations, principally to agriculture; in the 3d part he becomes Vanaprasthen, from 40 or 50 years of age to 72. The Brahmin must then leave his home and retire to the woods, there to live as a hermit, laying aside all comforts or mental enjoyments; he must fast, and wear a dress of bark or of the skin of the black antelope, and let his hair and nails grow without ever cutting them. He takes only the sacred fire with him, and presides at all festive offerings. In the 4th part the Brahmin becomes [[Bhikshu]] or Sannyasi, and is then to devote himself to the contemplation of God, previous to going back to him after death. He therefore renounces all that belongs to him, and leaves all his goods to his family. His hair is all cut off, his dress consists only of a white cloth, and he receives a brass vessel in which he is to keep some water for the purpose of washing what food he may get; he also receives a stick called dandam, with seven natural knots, to remind him of the seven great saints. He thus lives on alms, bathes three times every day, and covers his forehead and breast with ashes; he is in the highest odor of sanctity, and any one who approaches him must respectfully bow before him. After his death, he is buried sitting in a quantity of salt; his head is broken with a cocoanut, and his brains distributed among those present. (See [[Hinduism]]); (See [[India]]). </p>
       
 
==References ==
== References ==
<references>
<references>
 
<ref name="term_27047"> [https://bibleportal.com/encyclopedia/cyclopedia-of-biblical-theological-and-ecclesiastical-literature/brahmins+(2) Brahmins from Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature]</ref>
<ref name="term_80334"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/watson-s-biblical-theological-dictionary/brahmins Brahmins from Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary]</ref>
       
<ref name="term_95106"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/webster-s-dictionary/brahmins Brahmins from Webster's Dictionary]</ref>
       
<ref name="term_26991"> [https://bibleportal.com/encyclopedia/cyclopedia-of-biblical-theological-and-ecclesiastical-literature/brahmins Brahmins from Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature]</ref>
       
</references>
</references>

Latest revision as of 09:24, 15 October 2021

Brahmins [1]

(the sons of Brahma, the divines) are the priests of India, and form the highest caste; they are considered as having sprung from the head of Brahma, and, as such, considered holy, inviolable, and the only ones worthy of fulfilling the priestly offices. Their distinctive marks are the jagnapavadan or punal, a shoulder-girdle composed of nine threads long enough to go 108 times around the closed hand, and the kudumi, a small bunch of hair which is left at the back of the head when shaving it. On the forehead, breast, and arms they wear the holy sign of Siva, or, in honor of Vishna, the simple sign kuri, 6, on the forehead. They have two rules: the exterior (Yaman) contains five duties: always to speak the truth; not to take the life of any creature; never to steal any thing; to observe the most rigorous chastity; not to marry after the death of their wife. The inner rule (Niyama) also enjoins five duties: to preserve the utmost inward purity; to aim at inward peace; to live in continual penitence and contemplation of the divinity; to acquire the most perfect knowledge of the laws of God, and to make use of that knowledge; continually to think of Siva as the highest god. Their occupations consist in reading and teaching the Vedas, to officiate in the temples, particularly in offering sacrifices, to give alms, to sit in judgment, and to act as physicians. Their decisions are in every case final, and disobedience to them is most severely punishable; the king himself must show them the greatest respect, even when they follow the humblest callings.

The life of the Brahmin is divided into four parts: 1st, Brahmachari, or scholar, when the Brahmin, by the application of the punal, is received into the caste, and studies the Vedas; he binds himself to punctual obedience, continence, purity of heart, and discretion; after twelve years he becomes, 2dly, Grihasthen, when he is appointed priest of a pagoda or of a private family, or else devotes himself to other occupations, principally to agriculture; in the 3d part he becomes Vanaprasthen, from 40 or 50 years of age to 72. The Brahmin must then leave his home and retire to the woods, there to live as a hermit, laying aside all comforts or mental enjoyments; he must fast, and wear a dress of bark or of the skin of the black antelope, and let his hair and nails grow without ever cutting them. He takes only the sacred fire with him, and presides at all festive offerings. In the 4th part the Brahmin becomes Bhikshu or Sannyasi, and is then to devote himself to the contemplation of God, previous to going back to him after death. He therefore renounces all that belongs to him, and leaves all his goods to his family. His hair is all cut off, his dress consists only of a white cloth, and he receives a brass vessel in which he is to keep some water for the purpose of washing what food he may get; he also receives a stick called dandam, with seven natural knots, to remind him of the seven great saints. He thus lives on alms, bathes three times every day, and covers his forehead and breast with ashes; he is in the highest odor of sanctity, and any one who approaches him must respectfully bow before him. After his death, he is buried sitting in a quantity of salt; his head is broken with a cocoanut, and his brains distributed among those present. (See Hinduism); (See India).

References

  1. ↑ Brahmins from Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
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