There are many aspects to Brahminism:
-Their origin from the face of Brahma - The Creator as written in Hindu scriptures.
-Their role as one of the four castes in the Chaaturvarna system(The division of society into four castes - Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudra).
-Their dedication to the study of the Vedas, Philosophy, Teaching, Astrology and Medical science, spreading the message of Hinduism, being advisers to kings and Governments and so forth.
-The scriptures not saying that this class is superior or that class is inferior
-Heredity becoming a caste marker. This is of much later origin and thousands of castes have proliferated in India.
-The Theory of Aryan Invasion whereby Central Asians were said to have migrated to Northern India and driven the existing people to South
-The countering of the above theory. Not denying that people from central Asia might have come to India, as have several successive waves, this hypothesis says that a highly evolved culture already existed which assimilated the Aryans. This view is supported by archeological findings at Harappa (now in Pakistan)
-Finally the evolving somehow the present Indian societal order whereby caste is solely hereditary, marriages are normally within castes(anything else causing severe heartburns to relatives of bride and groom), Brahmins are the priests in Hindu temples.
-Brahmins also entering other fields of life other than being priests - Scientists, Doctors, Political Leaders, Engineers etc.
The abovementioned points are all highly debated, highly supported, highly opposed, and whatnot.
I want to get away from all this. I am unable to focus on the aspect of Brahminism connected to Temples because I haven't been trained in those. My education and profession are totally different from these.
What I am trying to find is if there is anything in Brahminism, which a common man of today doing some secular job can follow? I know there will be people, who say such a person can never be a Brahmin. But I believe that this is not the case.
I occasionally try to get to this eternal essence of secular Brahminism. Friday, April 05, 2002
