Brahmin - Revision history

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	[[File:Image taken from page 40 of 'The Land of Temples (India)' (11151912296).jpg\|thumb\|Brahmins worshipping river [[Ganges]], ''The Land of Temples (India)'', 1882]]{{Hinduism}}		[[File:Image taken from page 40 of 'The Land of Temples (India)' (11151912296).jpg\|thumb\|Brahmins worshipping river [[Ganges]], ''The Land of Temples (India)'', 1882]]{{Hinduism}}
	'''Brahmin''' ({{IPAc-en\|ˈ\|b\|r\|ɑː\|m\|ɪ\|n}}; {{langx\|sa\|ब्राह्मण\|brāhmaṇa}}) is a ''[[Varna (Hinduism)\|varna]]'' (theoretical social classes) within [[Hindu]] society. The other three varnas are the ''[[Kshatriya]]'' (rulers and warriors), ''[[Vaishya]]'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''[[Shudra]]'' (labourers).<ref name="Wren2004">{{cite book \| author = Benjamin Lee Wren \| date = 2004 \| title = Teaching World Civilization with Joy and Enthusiasm \| publisher = University Press of America \| pages = 77– \| isbn = 978-0-7618-2747-4 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=XdvfevJAsgMC&pg=PA77\|quote=At the top were the Brahmins(priests), then the Kshatriyas(warriors), then the vaishya(the merchant class which only in India had a place of honor in Asia), next were the sudras(farmers), and finally the pariah(untouchables), or those who did the dirty defiling work}}</ref><ref name="Valpey2019">{{cite book \| author = Kenneth R. Valpey \| date = 2 November 2019 \| title = Cow Care in Hindu Animal Ethics \| publisher = Springer Nature \| pages = 169– \| isbn = 978-3-03-028408-4 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=EJO7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA169\|quote=The four varnas are the brahmins (brahmanas—priests, teachers); kshatriyas (ksatriyas—administrators, rulers); vaishyas (vaisyas—farmers, bankers, business people); and shudras(laborers, artisans)}}</ref><ref name="BullietCrossleyHeadrick2018">{{cite book \| author1 = Richard Bulliet \| author2 = Pamela Crossley \| author3 = Daniel Headrick \| author4 = Steven Hirsch \| author5 = Lyman Johnson \| date = 11 October 2018 \| title = The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History, Volume I \| publisher = Cengage Learning \| pages = 172– \| isbn = 978-0-357-15937-8 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=lJRUEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA172\|quote=Varna are the four major social divisions: the Brahmin priest class, the Kshatriya warrior/ administrator class, the Vaishya merchant/farmer class, and the Shudra laborer class.}}</ref><ref name="Iriye1979">{{cite book \| author = Akira Iriye \| date = 1979 \| title = The World of Asia \| publisher = Forum Press \| isbn = 978-0-88273-500-9 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=tM-CAAAAIAAJ\|quote=The four varna groupings in descending order of their importance came to be Brahmin (priests), Kshatriya (warriors and administrators), Vaishya (cultivators and merchants), and Sudra (peasants and menial laborers)\|page=106}}</ref><ref name="ludo14" /> The traditional occupation of Brahmins is that of priesthood ([[purohit]], [[pandit]], or [[pujari]]) at Hindu temples or at socio-religious ceremonies, and the performing of [[rite of passage]] rituals, such as solemnising a wedding with hymns and prayers.<ref name=lochtefeld125>James Lochtefeld (2002), Brahmin, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A–M, Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-8239-3179-8}}, page 125</ref><ref name="ghurye15">GS Ghurye (1969), Caste and Race in India, Popular Prakashan, {{ISBN\|978-81-7154-205-5}}, pages 15–18</ref>[[File:The Goddess Worshiped by Rishi Chyavana.jpeg\|thumb\|Vedic Brahmin [[Rishi]] worshipping Shakti]]		'''Brahmin''' ({{IPAc-en\|ˈ\|b\|r\|ɑː\|m\|ɪ\|n}}; {{langx\|sa\|ब्राह्मण\|brāhmaṇa}}) is a ''[[Varna (Hinduism)\|varna]]'' (theoretical social classes) within [[Hindu]] society. The other three varnas are the ''[[Kshatriya]]'' (rulers and warriors), ''[[Vaishya]]'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''[[Shudra]]'' (labourers).<ref name="Wren2004">{{cite book \| author = Benjamin Lee Wren \| date = 2004 \| title = Teaching World Civilization with Joy and Enthusiasm \| publisher = University Press of America \| pages = 77– \| isbn = 978-0-7618-2747-4 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=XdvfevJAsgMC&pg=PA77\|quote=At the top were the Brahmins(priests), then the Kshatriyas(warriors), then the vaishya(the merchant class which only in India had a place of honor in Asia), next were the sudras(farmers), and finally the pariah(untouchables), or those who did the dirty defiling work}}</ref><ref name="Valpey2019">{{cite book \| author = Kenneth R. Valpey \| date = 2 November 2019 \| title = Cow Care in Hindu Animal Ethics \| publisher = Springer Nature \| pages = 169– \| isbn = 978-3-03-028408-4 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=EJO7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA169\|quote=The four varnas are the brahmins (brahmanas—priests, teachers); kshatriyas (ksatriyas—administrators, rulers); vaishyas (vaisyas—farmers, bankers, business people); and shudras(laborers, artisans)}}</ref><ref name="BullietCrossleyHeadrick2018">{{cite book \| author1 = Richard Bulliet \| author2 = Pamela Crossley \| author3 = Daniel Headrick \| author4 = Steven Hirsch \| author5 = Lyman Johnson \| date = 11 October 2018 \| title = The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History, Volume I \| publisher = Cengage Learning \| pages = 172– \| isbn = 978-0-357-15937-8 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=lJRUEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA172\|quote=Varna are the four major social divisions: the Brahmin priest class, the Kshatriya warrior/ administrator class, the Vaishya merchant/farmer class, and the Shudra laborer class.}}</ref><ref name="Iriye1979">{{cite book \| author = Akira Iriye \| date = 1979 \| title = The World of Asia \| publisher = Forum Press \| isbn = 978-0-88273-500-9 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=tM-CAAAAIAAJ\|quote=The four varna groupings in descending order of their importance came to be Brahmin (priests), Kshatriya (warriors and administrators), Vaishya (cultivators and merchants), and Sudra (peasants and menial laborers)\|page=106}}</ref><ref name="ludo14" /> The traditional occupation of Brahmins is that of priesthood ([[purohit]], [[pandit]], or [[pujari]]) at Hindu temples or at socio-religious ceremonies, and the performing of [[rite of passage]] rituals, such as solemnising a wedding with hymns and prayers.<ref name=lochtefeld125>James Lochtefeld (2002), Brahmin, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A–M, Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-8239-3179-8}}, page 125</ref><ref name=ghurye15/>

			Traditionally, Brahmins are accorded the supreme ritual status of the four social classes,<ref name=doniger141/> and they also served as spiritual teachers ([[guru]] or [[acharya]]). In practice, Indian texts suggest that some Brahmins historically also became agriculturalists, warriors, traders, and had also held other occupations in the Indian subcontinent.<ref name=ghurye15>GS Ghurye (1969), Caste and Race in India, Popular Prakashan, {{ISBN\|978-81-7154-205-5}}, pages 15–18</ref><ref name=doniger141>{{cite book \| last=Doniger \| first=Wendy \| title=Merriam-Webster's encyclopedia of world religions \| publisher=Merriam-Webster \| location=Springfield, MA, US \| year=1999 \| isbn=978-0-87779-044-0 \| pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780877790440/page/141 141–142, 186] \| url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780877790440/page/141 }}</ref><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111">David Shulman (1989), The King and the Clown, Princeton University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-691-00834-9}}, page 111</ref> Within the ''[[Jāti\|jati]]'' (caste) system, Brahmins similarly occupy the highest position, though that is complicated by strict stratification even among Brahmins and historical attempts by other castes and sub-castes to challenge Brahminical dominance.<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Bayly \|first=Susan \|title=Caste, Society and Politics in India from the Eighteenth Century to the Modern Age \|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] \|year=1999 \|isbn=9780511006845}}</ref>
			[[File:The Goddess Worshiped by Rishi Chyavana.jpeg\|thumb\|Vedic Brahmin [[Rishi]] worshipping Shakti]]

	==Origin and history ==		==Origin and history ==
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	[[Image:Ram Mohan Roy.JPG\|thumb\|upright\|[[Ram Mohan Roy\|Raja Ram Mohan Roy]], a Brahmin, who founded [[Brahmo Samaj]]]]		[[Image:Ram Mohan Roy.JPG\|thumb\|upright\|[[Ram Mohan Roy\|Raja Ram Mohan Roy]], a Brahmin, who founded [[Brahmo Samaj]]]]

	Many of the prominent thinkers and earliest champions of the [[Bhakti movement]] were Brahmins, a movement that encouraged a direct relationship of an individual with a personal god.<ref>Sheldon Pollock (2009), The Language of the Gods in the World of Men, University of California Press, {{ISBN\|978-0520260030}}, pages 423–431</ref><ref name=bhakti2/> Among the many Brahmins who nurtured the Bhakti movement were [[Ramanuja]], [[Nimbarka]], [[Vallabha Acharya\|Vallabha]] and [[Madhvacharya]] of Vaishnavism,<ref name=bhakti2>{{cite book\|author=Oliver Leaman\|title=Eastern Philosophy: Key Readings\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vK-GAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA251\|year=2002\|publisher=Routledge\|isbn=978-1-134-68919-4\|page=251}};<br />{{cite book\|author=S. M. Srinivasa Chari\|title=Vaiṣṇavism: Its Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Discipline\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=evmiLInyxBMC \|year=1994\|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass \|isbn=978-81-208-1098-3\|pages=32–33}}</ref> [[Ramananda]], another devotional poet [[Sant (religion)\|sant]].<ref name=ronald>Ronald McGregor (1984), Hindi literature from its beginnings to the nineteenth century, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, {{ISBN\|978-3-447-02413-6}}, pages 42–44</ref><ref name=william>William Pinch (1996), ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=B7cwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA53 Peasants and Monks in British India]'', University of California Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-520-20061-6}}, pages 53–89</ref> Born in a Brahmin family,<ref name=ronald/><ref name="lorenzen">[[David Lorenzen]], Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History, {{ISBN\|978-81-902272-6-1}}, pages 104–106</ref> Ramananda welcomed everyone to spiritual pursuits without discriminating anyone by gender, class, caste or religion (such as Muslims).<ref name=lorenzen/><ref name=larsonvair>Gerald James Larson (1995), India's Agony Over Religion, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-7914-2412-4}}, page 116</ref><ref name=julia>Julia Leslie (1996), Myth and Mythmaking: Continuous Evolution in Indian Tradition, Routledge, {{ISBN\|978-0-7007-0303-6}}, pages 117–119</ref> He composed his spiritual message in poems, using widely spoken vernacular language rather than Sanskrit, to make it widely accessible. The Hindu tradition recognises him as the founder of the Hindu [[Ramanandi Sampradaya]],<ref name=schomer>Schomer and McLeod (1987), The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-0277-3}}, pages 4–6</ref> the largest [[Sannyasa\|monastic]] renunciant community in Asia in modern times.<ref name=selva>Selva Raj and William Harman (2007), Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-7914-6708-4}}, pages 165–166</ref><ref name=lochtefeld553>James G Lochtefeld (2002), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z, Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-8239-3180-4}}, pages 553–554</ref>		Many of the prominent thinkers and earliest champions of the [[Bhakti movement]] were Brahmins, a movement that encouraged a direct relationship of an individual with a personal god.<ref>Sheldon Pollock (2009), The Language of the Gods in the World of Men, University of California Press, {{ISBN\|978-0520260030}}, pages 423–431</ref><ref name=bhakti2/> Among the many Brahmins who nurtured the Bhakti movement were [[Ramanuja]], [[Nimbarka]], [[Vallabha Acharya\|Vallabha]] and [[Madhvacharya]] of Vaishnavism,<ref name=bhakti2>{{cite book\|author=Oliver Leaman\|title=Eastern Philosophy: Key Readings\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vK-GAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA251\|year=2002\|publisher=Routledge\|isbn=978-1-134-68919-4\|page=251}};<br />{{cite book\|author=S. M. Srinivasa Chari\|title=Vaiṣṇavism: Its Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Discipline\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=evmiLInyxBMC \|year=1994\|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass \|isbn=978-81-208-1098-3\|pages=32–33}}</ref> [[Ramananda]], another devotional poet [[Sant (religion)\|sant]].<ref name=ronald>Ronald McGregor (1984), Hindi literature from its beginnings to the nineteenth century, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, {{ISBN\|978-3-447-02413-6}}, pages 42–44</ref><ref name=william>William Pinch (1996), ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=B7cwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA53 Peasants and Monks in British India]'', University of California Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-520-20061-6}}, pages 53–89</ref> Born in a Brahmin family,<ref name=ronald/><ref name=lorenzen>[[David Lorenzen]], Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History, {{ISBN\|978-81-902272-6-1}}, pages 104–106</ref> Ramananda welcomed everyone to spiritual pursuits without discriminating anyone by gender, class, caste or religion (such as Muslims).<ref name=lorenzen/><ref name=larsonvair>Gerald James Larson (1995), India's Agony Over Religion, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-7914-2412-4}}, page 116</ref><ref name=julia>Julia Leslie (1996), Myth and Mythmaking: Continuous Evolution in Indian Tradition, Routledge, {{ISBN\|978-0-7007-0303-6}}, pages 117–119</ref> He composed his spiritual message in poems, using widely spoken vernacular language rather than Sanskrit, to make it widely accessible. The Hindu tradition recognises him as the founder of the Hindu [[Ramanandi Sampradaya]],<ref name=schomer>Schomer and McLeod (1987), The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-0277-3}}, pages 4–6</ref> the largest [[Sannyasa\|monastic]] renunciant community in Asia in modern times.<ref name=selva>Selva Raj and William Harman (2007), Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-7914-6708-4}}, pages 165–166</ref><ref name=lochtefeld553>James G Lochtefeld (2002), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z, Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-8239-3180-4}}, pages 553–554</ref>

	Other medieval era Brahmins who led spiritual movements without social or gender discrimination included [[Andal]] (9th-century female poet), [[Basava]] (12th-century Lingayatism), [[Dnyaneshwar]] (13th-century Bhakti poet), [[Vallabha Acharya]] (16th-century Vaishnava poet), [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] (14th-century Vaishnava saint) were among others.<ref>John Stratton Hawley (2015), A Storm of Songs: India and the Idea of the Bhakti Movement, Harvard University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-674-18746-7}}, pages 304–310</ref><ref>Rachel McDermott (2001), Singing to the Goddess: Poems to Kālī and Umā from Bengal, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-19-513434-6}}, pages 8–9</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">[http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/may2005/engpdf/mahima_dharma_bhima_bhoi_biswanathbaba.pdf "Mahima Dharma, Bhima Bhoi and Biswanathbaba"] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926224314/http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/may2005/engpdf/mahima_dharma_bhima_bhoi_biswanathbaba.pdf \|date=26 September 2007 }}, An Orissa movement by Brahmin Mukunda Das (2005)</ref>		Other medieval era Brahmins who led spiritual movements without social or gender discrimination included [[Andal]] (9th-century female poet), [[Basava]] (12th-century Lingayatism), [[Dnyaneshwar]] (13th-century Bhakti poet), [[Vallabha Acharya]] (16th-century Vaishnava poet), [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] (14th-century Vaishnava saint) were among others.<ref>John Stratton Hawley (2015), A Storm of Songs: India and the Idea of the Bhakti Movement, Harvard University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-674-18746-7}}, pages 304–310</ref><ref>Rachel McDermott (2001), Singing to the Goddess: Poems to Kālī and Umā from Bengal, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-19-513434-6}}, pages 8–9</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">[http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/may2005/engpdf/mahima_dharma_bhima_bhoi_biswanathbaba.pdf "Mahima Dharma, Bhima Bhoi and Biswanathbaba"] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926224314/http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/may2005/engpdf/mahima_dharma_bhima_bhoi_biswanathbaba.pdf \|date=26 September 2007 }}, An Orissa movement by Brahmin Mukunda Das (2005)</ref>
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	[[File:Shri Gaudapadacharya Statue.jpg\|thumb\|x216px\|right\|[[Gaudapadacharya]], a proponent of Advaita Vedanta, was born into a Brahmin family. His disciple, Adi Shankara, is credited with unifying and establishing the main currents of thought in Hinduism.<ref>Johannes de Kruijf and Ajaya Sahoo (2014), Indian Transnationalism Online: New Perspectives on Diaspora, {{ISBN\|978-1-4724-1913-2}}, page 105, Quote: "In other words, according to Adi Shankara's argument, the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta stood over and above all other forms of Hinduism and encapsulated them. This then united Hinduism; (...) Another of Adi Shankara's important undertakings which contributed to the unification of Hinduism was his founding of a number of monastic centers."</ref><ref>''Shankara'', Student's Encyclopædia Britannica – India (2000), Volume 4, Encyclopædia Britannica (UK) Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-85229-760-5}}, page 379, Quote: "Shankaracharya, philosopher and theologian, most renowned exponent of the Advaita Vedanta school of philosophy, from whose doctrines the main currents of modern Indian thought are derived."<br />David Crystal (2004), The Penguin Encyclopedia, Penguin Books, page 1353, Quote: "[Shankara] is the most famous exponent of Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy and the source of the main currents of modern Hindu thought."</ref><ref>Christophe Jaffrelot (1998), The Hindu Nationalist Movement in India, Columbia University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-231-10335-0}}, page 2, Quote: "The main current of Hinduism – if not the only one – which became formalized in a way that approximates to an ecclesiastical structure was that of Shankara".</ref>]]		[[File:Shri Gaudapadacharya Statue.jpg\|thumb\|x216px\|right\|[[Gaudapadacharya]], a proponent of Advaita Vedanta, was born into a Brahmin family. His disciple, Adi Shankara, is credited with unifying and establishing the main currents of thought in Hinduism.<ref>Johannes de Kruijf and Ajaya Sahoo (2014), Indian Transnationalism Online: New Perspectives on Diaspora, {{ISBN\|978-1-4724-1913-2}}, page 105, Quote: "In other words, according to Adi Shankara's argument, the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta stood over and above all other forms of Hinduism and encapsulated them. This then united Hinduism; (...) Another of Adi Shankara's important undertakings which contributed to the unification of Hinduism was his founding of a number of monastic centers."</ref><ref>''Shankara'', Student's Encyclopædia Britannica – India (2000), Volume 4, Encyclopædia Britannica (UK) Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-85229-760-5}}, page 379, Quote: "Shankaracharya, philosopher and theologian, most renowned exponent of the Advaita Vedanta school of philosophy, from whose doctrines the main currents of modern Indian thought are derived."<br />David Crystal (2004), The Penguin Encyclopedia, Penguin Books, page 1353, Quote: "[Shankara] is the most famous exponent of Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy and the source of the main currents of modern Hindu thought."</ref><ref>Christophe Jaffrelot (1998), The Hindu Nationalist Movement in India, Columbia University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-231-10335-0}}, page 2, Quote: "The main current of Hinduism – if not the only one – which became formalized in a way that approximates to an ecclesiastical structure was that of Shankara".</ref>]]

	Historical records, state scholars, suggest that Brahmin varna was not limited to a particular status or priest and the teaching profession.<ref name="ghurye15"/><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111"~~>David Shulman (1989), The King and the Clown, Princeton University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-691-00834-9}}, page 111<~~/~~ref~~><ref name=baileymabbett114/> [[Chanakya]], a Brahmin born in 375 BCE, was an ancient Indian polymath who was active as a teacher, author, strategist, philosopher, economist, jurist, and royal advisor, who assisted the first Mauryan emperor [[Chandragupta Maurya]] in his rise to power and is widely credited for having played an important role in the establishment of the [[Maurya Empire]].<ref>{{cite book \|first=Thomas R. \|last=Trautmann \|author-link=Thomas Trautmann \|title=Kauṭilya and the Arthaśāstra: a statistical investigation of the authorship and evolution of the text \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v3iDAAAAMAAJ \|year=1971 \|publisher=Brill \|pages=11–13}}</ref> Historical records from mid 1st millennium CE and later, suggest Brahmins were agriculturalists and warriors in medieval India, quite often instead of as exception.<ref name="ghurye15"/><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111"/> Donkin and other scholars state that [[Hoysala Empire]] records frequently mention Brahmin merchants who "carried on trade in horses, elephants and pearls" and transported goods throughout medieval India before the 14th-century.<ref>RA Donkin (1998), Beyond Price: Pearls and Pearl-fishing, American Philosophical Society, {{ISBN\|978-0-87169-224-5}}, page 166</ref><ref>SC Malik (1986), Determinants of Social Status in India, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-0073-1}}, page 121</ref>		Historical records, state scholars, suggest that Brahmin varna was not limited to a particular status or priest and the teaching profession.<ref name="ghurye15"/><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111"/><ref name=baileymabbett114/> [[Chanakya]], a Brahmin born in 375 BCE, was an ancient Indian polymath who was active as a teacher, author, strategist, philosopher, economist, jurist, and royal advisor, who assisted the first Mauryan emperor [[Chandragupta Maurya]] in his rise to power and is widely credited for having played an important role in the establishment of the [[Maurya Empire]].<ref>{{cite book \|first=Thomas R. \|last=Trautmann \|author-link=Thomas Trautmann \|title=Kauṭilya and the Arthaśāstra: a statistical investigation of the authorship and evolution of the text \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v3iDAAAAMAAJ \|year=1971 \|publisher=Brill \|pages=11–13}}</ref> Historical records from mid 1st millennium CE and later, suggest Brahmins were agriculturalists and warriors in medieval India, quite often instead of as exception.<ref name="ghurye15"/><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111"/> Donkin and other scholars state that [[Hoysala Empire]] records frequently mention Brahmin merchants who "carried on trade in horses, elephants and pearls" and transported goods throughout medieval India before the 14th-century.<ref>RA Donkin (1998), Beyond Price: Pearls and Pearl-fishing, American Philosophical Society, {{ISBN\|978-0-87169-224-5}}, page 166</ref><ref>SC Malik (1986), Determinants of Social Status in India, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-0073-1}}, page 121</ref>

	The [[Pāli Canon]] depicts Brahmins as the most prestigious and elite non-Buddhist figures.<ref name="baileymabbett114"/> They mention them parading their learning. The Pali Canon and other [[Buddhist texts]] such as the ''Jataka Tales'' also record the livelihood of Brahmins to have included being farmers, handicraft workers and artisans such as carpentry and architecture.<ref name=baileymabbett114/><ref>Stella Kramrisch (1994), Exploring India's Sacred Art, Editor: Stella Miller, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-1208-6}}, pages 60–64</ref> Buddhist sources extensively attest, state Greg Bailey and Ian Mabbett, that Brahmins were "supporting themselves not by religious practice, but employment in all manner of secular occupations", in the classical period of India.<ref name=baileymabbett114>Greg Bailey and Ian Mabbett (2006), The Sociology of Early Buddhism, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-521-02521-8}}, pages 113–115 with footnotes</ref> Some of the Brahmin occupations mentioned in the Buddhist texts such as ''[[Jataka tales\|Jatakas]]'' and ''[[Sutta Nipata]]'' are very lowly.<ref name=baileymabbett114/> The ''[[Dharmaśāstra\|Dharmasutras]]'' too mention Brahmin farmers.<ref name="baileymabbett114"/><ref>{{cite journal \| last=RITSCHL \| first=Eva \| title=Brahmanische Bauern. Zur Theorie und Praxis der brahmanischen Ständeordnung im alten Indien \| journal=Altorientalische Forschungen \| publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH \| volume=7 \| issue=JG \| year=1980 \| doi=10.1524/aofo.1980.7.jg.177 \| pages=177–187 \| s2cid=201725661 \|language=de\|issn=0232-8461 }}</ref>		The [[Pāli Canon]] depicts Brahmins as the most prestigious and elite non-Buddhist figures.<ref name="baileymabbett114"/> They mention them parading their learning. The Pali Canon and other [[Buddhist texts]] such as the ''Jataka Tales'' also record the livelihood of Brahmins to have included being farmers, handicraft workers and artisans such as carpentry and architecture.<ref name=baileymabbett114/><ref>Stella Kramrisch (1994), Exploring India's Sacred Art, Editor: Stella Miller, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-1208-6}}, pages 60–64</ref> Buddhist sources extensively attest, state Greg Bailey and Ian Mabbett, that Brahmins were "supporting themselves not by religious practice, but employment in all manner of secular occupations", in the classical period of India.<ref name=baileymabbett114>Greg Bailey and Ian Mabbett (2006), The Sociology of Early Buddhism, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-521-02521-8}}, pages 113–115 with footnotes</ref> Some of the Brahmin occupations mentioned in the Buddhist texts such as ''[[Jataka tales\|Jatakas]]'' and ''[[Sutta Nipata]]'' are very lowly.<ref name=baileymabbett114/> The ''[[Dharmaśāstra\|Dharmasutras]]'' too mention Brahmin farmers.<ref name="baileymabbett114"/><ref>{{cite journal \| last=RITSCHL \| first=Eva \| title=Brahmanische Bauern. Zur Theorie und Praxis der brahmanischen Ständeordnung im alten Indien \| journal=Altorientalische Forschungen \| publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH \| volume=7 \| issue=JG \| year=1980 \| doi=10.1524/aofo.1980.7.jg.177 \| pages=177–187 \| s2cid=201725661 \|language=de\|issn=0232-8461 }}</ref>

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	[[File:Image taken from page 40 of 'The Land of Temples (India)' (11151912296).jpg\|thumb\|Brahmins worshipping river [[Ganges]], ''The Land of Temples (India)'', 1882]]{{Hinduism}}		[[File:Image taken from page 40 of 'The Land of Temples (India)' (11151912296).jpg\|thumb\|Brahmins worshipping river [[Ganges]], ''The Land of Temples (India)'', 1882]]{{Hinduism}}
	'''Brahmin''' ({{IPAc-en\|ˈ\|b\|r\|ɑː\|m\|ɪ\|n}}; {{langx\|sa\|ब्राह्मण\|brāhmaṇa}}) is a ''[[Varna (Hinduism)\|varna]]'' (theoretical social classes) within [[Hindu]] society. The other three varnas are the ''[[Kshatriya]]'' (rulers and warriors), ''[[Vaishya]]'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''[[Shudra]]'' (labourers).<ref name="Wren2004">{{cite book \| author = Benjamin Lee Wren \| date = 2004 \| title = Teaching World Civilization with Joy and Enthusiasm \| publisher = University Press of America \| pages = 77– \| isbn = 978-0-7618-2747-4 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=XdvfevJAsgMC&pg=PA77\|quote=At the top were the Brahmins(priests), then the Kshatriyas(warriors), then the vaishya(the merchant class which only in India had a place of honor in Asia), next were the sudras(farmers), and finally the pariah(untouchables), or those who did the dirty defiling work}}</ref><ref name="Valpey2019">{{cite book \| author = Kenneth R. Valpey \| date = 2 November 2019 \| title = Cow Care in Hindu Animal Ethics \| publisher = Springer Nature \| pages = 169– \| isbn = 978-3-03-028408-4 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=EJO7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA169\|quote=The four varnas are the brahmins (brahmanas—priests, teachers); kshatriyas (ksatriyas—administrators, rulers); vaishyas (vaisyas—farmers, bankers, business people); and shudras(laborers, artisans)}}</ref><ref name="BullietCrossleyHeadrick2018">{{cite book \| author1 = Richard Bulliet \| author2 = Pamela Crossley \| author3 = Daniel Headrick \| author4 = Steven Hirsch \| author5 = Lyman Johnson \| date = 11 October 2018 \| title = The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History, Volume I \| publisher = Cengage Learning \| pages = 172– \| isbn = 978-0-357-15937-8 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=lJRUEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA172\|quote=Varna are the four major social divisions: the Brahmin priest class, the Kshatriya warrior/ administrator class, the Vaishya merchant/farmer class, and the Shudra laborer class.}}</ref><ref name="Iriye1979">{{cite book \| author = Akira Iriye \| date = 1979 \| title = The World of Asia \| publisher = Forum Press \| isbn = 978-0-88273-500-9 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=tM-CAAAAIAAJ\|quote=The four varna groupings in descending order of their importance came to be Brahmin (priests), Kshatriya (warriors and administrators), Vaishya (cultivators and merchants), and Sudra (peasants and menial laborers)\|page=106}}</ref><ref name="ludo14" /> The traditional occupation of Brahmins is that of priesthood ([[purohit]], [[pandit]], or [[pujari]]) at Hindu temples or at socio-religious ceremonies, and the performing of [[rite of passage]] rituals, such as solemnising a wedding with hymns and prayers.<ref name=lochtefeld125>James Lochtefeld (2002), Brahmin, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A–M, Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-8239-3179-8}}, page 125</ref><ref name=ghurye15/>		'''Brahmin''' ({{IPAc-en\|ˈ\|b\|r\|ɑː\|m\|ɪ\|n}}; {{langx\|sa\|ब्राह्मण\|brāhmaṇa}}) is a ''[[Varna (Hinduism)\|varna]]'' (theoretical social classes) within [[Hindu]] society. The other three varnas are the ''[[Kshatriya]]'' (rulers and warriors), ''[[Vaishya]]'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''[[Shudra]]'' (labourers).<ref name="Wren2004">{{cite book \| author = Benjamin Lee Wren \| date = 2004 \| title = Teaching World Civilization with Joy and Enthusiasm \| publisher = University Press of America \| pages = 77– \| isbn = 978-0-7618-2747-4 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=XdvfevJAsgMC&pg=PA77\|quote=At the top were the Brahmins(priests), then the Kshatriyas(warriors), then the vaishya(the merchant class which only in India had a place of honor in Asia), next were the sudras(farmers), and finally the pariah(untouchables), or those who did the dirty defiling work}}</ref><ref name="Valpey2019">{{cite book \| author = Kenneth R. Valpey \| date = 2 November 2019 \| title = Cow Care in Hindu Animal Ethics \| publisher = Springer Nature \| pages = 169– \| isbn = 978-3-03-028408-4 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=EJO7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA169\|quote=The four varnas are the brahmins (brahmanas—priests, teachers); kshatriyas (ksatriyas—administrators, rulers); vaishyas (vaisyas—farmers, bankers, business people); and shudras(laborers, artisans)}}</ref><ref name="BullietCrossleyHeadrick2018">{{cite book \| author1 = Richard Bulliet \| author2 = Pamela Crossley \| author3 = Daniel Headrick \| author4 = Steven Hirsch \| author5 = Lyman Johnson \| date = 11 October 2018 \| title = The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History, Volume I \| publisher = Cengage Learning \| pages = 172– \| isbn = 978-0-357-15937-8 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=lJRUEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA172\|quote=Varna are the four major social divisions: the Brahmin priest class, the Kshatriya warrior/ administrator class, the Vaishya merchant/farmer class, and the Shudra laborer class.}}</ref><ref name="Iriye1979">{{cite book \| author = Akira Iriye \| date = 1979 \| title = The World of Asia \| publisher = Forum Press \| isbn = 978-0-88273-500-9 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=tM-CAAAAIAAJ\|quote=The four varna groupings in descending order of their importance came to be Brahmin (priests), Kshatriya (warriors and administrators), Vaishya (cultivators and merchants), and Sudra (peasants and menial laborers)\|page=106}}</ref><ref name="ludo14" /> The traditional occupation of Brahmins is that of priesthood ([[purohit]], [[pandit]], or [[pujari]]) at Hindu temples or at socio-religious ceremonies, and the performing of [[rite of passage]] rituals, such as solemnising a wedding with hymns and prayers.<ref name=lochtefeld125>James Lochtefeld (2002), Brahmin, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A–M, Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-8239-3179-8}}, page 125</ref><ref name="ghurye15">GS Ghurye (1969), Caste and Race in India, Popular Prakashan, {{ISBN\|978-81-7154-205-5}}, pages 15–18</ref>[[File:The Goddess Worshiped by Rishi Chyavana.jpeg\|thumb\|Vedic Brahmin [[Rishi]] worshipping Shakti]]

	Traditionally, Brahmins are accorded the supreme ritual status of the four social classes,<ref name=doniger141/> and they also served as spiritual teachers ([[guru]] or [[acharya]]). In practice, Indian texts suggest that some Brahmins historically also became agriculturalists, warriors, traders, and had also held other occupations in the Indian subcontinent.<ref name=ghurye15>GS Ghurye (1969), Caste and Race in India, Popular Prakashan, {{ISBN\|978-81-7154-205-5}}, pages 15–18</ref><ref name=doniger141>{{cite book \| last=Doniger \| first=Wendy \| title=Merriam-Webster's encyclopedia of world religions \| publisher=Merriam-Webster \| location=Springfield, MA, US \| year=1999 \| isbn=978-0-87779-044-0 \| pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780877790440/page/141 141–142, 186] \| url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780877790440/page/141 }}</ref><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111">David Shulman (1989), The King and the Clown, Princeton University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-691-00834-9}}, page 111</ref> Within the ''[[Jāti\|jati]]'' (caste) system, Brahmins similarly occupy the highest position, though that is complicated by strict stratification even among Brahmins and historical attempts by other castes and sub-castes to challenge Brahminical dominance.<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Bayly \|first=Susan \|title=Caste, Society and Politics in India from the Eighteenth Century to the Modern Age \|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] \|year=1999 \|isbn=9780511006845}}</ref>
	[[File:The Goddess Worshiped by Rishi Chyavana.jpeg\|thumb\|Vedic Brahmin [[Rishi]] worshipping Shakti]]

	==Origin and history ==		==Origin and history ==
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	[[Image:Ram Mohan Roy.JPG\|thumb\|upright\|[[Ram Mohan Roy\|Raja Ram Mohan Roy]], a Brahmin, who founded [[Brahmo Samaj]]]]		[[Image:Ram Mohan Roy.JPG\|thumb\|upright\|[[Ram Mohan Roy\|Raja Ram Mohan Roy]], a Brahmin, who founded [[Brahmo Samaj]]]]

	Many of the prominent thinkers and earliest champions of the [[Bhakti movement]] were Brahmins, a movement that encouraged a direct relationship of an individual with a personal god.<ref>Sheldon Pollock (2009), The Language of the Gods in the World of Men, University of California Press, {{ISBN\|978-0520260030}}, pages 423–431</ref><ref name=bhakti2/> Among the many Brahmins who nurtured the Bhakti movement were [[Ramanuja]], [[Nimbarka]], [[Vallabha Acharya\|Vallabha]] and [[Madhvacharya]] of Vaishnavism,<ref name=bhakti2>{{cite book\|author=Oliver Leaman\|title=Eastern Philosophy: Key Readings\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vK-GAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA251\|year=2002\|publisher=Routledge\|isbn=978-1-134-68919-4\|page=251}};<br />{{cite book\|author=S. M. Srinivasa Chari\|title=Vaiṣṇavism: Its Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Discipline\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=evmiLInyxBMC \|year=1994\|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass \|isbn=978-81-208-1098-3\|pages=32–33}}</ref> [[Ramananda]], another devotional poet [[Sant (religion)\|sant]].<ref name=ronald>Ronald McGregor (1984), Hindi literature from its beginnings to the nineteenth century, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, {{ISBN\|978-3-447-02413-6}}, pages 42–44</ref><ref name=william>William Pinch (1996), ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=B7cwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA53 Peasants and Monks in British India]'', University of California Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-520-20061-6}}, pages 53–89</ref> Born in a Brahmin family,<ref name=ronald/><ref name=lorenzen>[[David Lorenzen]], Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History, {{ISBN\|978-81-902272-6-1}}, pages 104–106</ref> Ramananda welcomed everyone to spiritual pursuits without discriminating anyone by gender, class, caste or religion (such as Muslims).<ref name=lorenzen/><ref name=larsonvair>Gerald James Larson (1995), India's Agony Over Religion, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-7914-2412-4}}, page 116</ref><ref name=julia>Julia Leslie (1996), Myth and Mythmaking: Continuous Evolution in Indian Tradition, Routledge, {{ISBN\|978-0-7007-0303-6}}, pages 117–119</ref> He composed his spiritual message in poems, using widely spoken vernacular language rather than Sanskrit, to make it widely accessible. The Hindu tradition recognises him as the founder of the Hindu [[Ramanandi Sampradaya]],<ref name=schomer>Schomer and McLeod (1987), The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-0277-3}}, pages 4–6</ref> the largest [[Sannyasa\|monastic]] renunciant community in Asia in modern times.<ref name=selva>Selva Raj and William Harman (2007), Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-7914-6708-4}}, pages 165–166</ref><ref name=lochtefeld553>James G Lochtefeld (2002), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z, Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-8239-3180-4}}, pages 553–554</ref>		Many of the prominent thinkers and earliest champions of the [[Bhakti movement]] were Brahmins, a movement that encouraged a direct relationship of an individual with a personal god.<ref>Sheldon Pollock (2009), The Language of the Gods in the World of Men, University of California Press, {{ISBN\|978-0520260030}}, pages 423–431</ref><ref name=bhakti2/> Among the many Brahmins who nurtured the Bhakti movement were [[Ramanuja]], [[Nimbarka]], [[Vallabha Acharya\|Vallabha]] and [[Madhvacharya]] of Vaishnavism,<ref name=bhakti2>{{cite book\|author=Oliver Leaman\|title=Eastern Philosophy: Key Readings\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vK-GAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA251\|year=2002\|publisher=Routledge\|isbn=978-1-134-68919-4\|page=251}};<br />{{cite book\|author=S. M. Srinivasa Chari\|title=Vaiṣṇavism: Its Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Discipline\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=evmiLInyxBMC \|year=1994\|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass \|isbn=978-81-208-1098-3\|pages=32–33}}</ref> [[Ramananda]], another devotional poet [[Sant (religion)\|sant]].<ref name=ronald>Ronald McGregor (1984), Hindi literature from its beginnings to the nineteenth century, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, {{ISBN\|978-3-447-02413-6}}, pages 42–44</ref><ref name=william>William Pinch (1996), ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=B7cwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA53 Peasants and Monks in British India]'', University of California Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-520-20061-6}}, pages 53–89</ref> Born in a Brahmin family,<ref name=ronald/><ref name="lorenzen">[[David Lorenzen]], Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History, {{ISBN\|978-81-902272-6-1}}, pages 104–106</ref> Ramananda welcomed everyone to spiritual pursuits without discriminating anyone by gender, class, caste or religion (such as Muslims).<ref name=lorenzen/><ref name=larsonvair>Gerald James Larson (1995), India's Agony Over Religion, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-7914-2412-4}}, page 116</ref><ref name=julia>Julia Leslie (1996), Myth and Mythmaking: Continuous Evolution in Indian Tradition, Routledge, {{ISBN\|978-0-7007-0303-6}}, pages 117–119</ref> He composed his spiritual message in poems, using widely spoken vernacular language rather than Sanskrit, to make it widely accessible. The Hindu tradition recognises him as the founder of the Hindu [[Ramanandi Sampradaya]],<ref name=schomer>Schomer and McLeod (1987), The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-0277-3}}, pages 4–6</ref> the largest [[Sannyasa\|monastic]] renunciant community in Asia in modern times.<ref name=selva>Selva Raj and William Harman (2007), Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-7914-6708-4}}, pages 165–166</ref><ref name=lochtefeld553>James G Lochtefeld (2002), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z, Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-8239-3180-4}}, pages 553–554</ref>

	Other medieval era Brahmins who led spiritual movements without social or gender discrimination included [[Andal]] (9th-century female poet), [[Basava]] (12th-century Lingayatism), [[Dnyaneshwar]] (13th-century Bhakti poet), [[Vallabha Acharya]] (16th-century Vaishnava poet), [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] (14th-century Vaishnava saint) were among others.<ref>John Stratton Hawley (2015), A Storm of Songs: India and the Idea of the Bhakti Movement, Harvard University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-674-18746-7}}, pages 304–310</ref><ref>Rachel McDermott (2001), Singing to the Goddess: Poems to Kālī and Umā from Bengal, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-19-513434-6}}, pages 8–9</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">[http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/may2005/engpdf/mahima_dharma_bhima_bhoi_biswanathbaba.pdf "Mahima Dharma, Bhima Bhoi and Biswanathbaba"] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926224314/http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/may2005/engpdf/mahima_dharma_bhima_bhoi_biswanathbaba.pdf \|date=26 September 2007 }}, An Orissa movement by Brahmin Mukunda Das (2005)</ref>		Other medieval era Brahmins who led spiritual movements without social or gender discrimination included [[Andal]] (9th-century female poet), [[Basava]] (12th-century Lingayatism), [[Dnyaneshwar]] (13th-century Bhakti poet), [[Vallabha Acharya]] (16th-century Vaishnava poet), [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] (14th-century Vaishnava saint) were among others.<ref>John Stratton Hawley (2015), A Storm of Songs: India and the Idea of the Bhakti Movement, Harvard University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-674-18746-7}}, pages 304–310</ref><ref>Rachel McDermott (2001), Singing to the Goddess: Poems to Kālī and Umā from Bengal, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-19-513434-6}}, pages 8–9</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">[http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/may2005/engpdf/mahima_dharma_bhima_bhoi_biswanathbaba.pdf "Mahima Dharma, Bhima Bhoi and Biswanathbaba"] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926224314/http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/may2005/engpdf/mahima_dharma_bhima_bhoi_biswanathbaba.pdf \|date=26 September 2007 }}, An Orissa movement by Brahmin Mukunda Das (2005)</ref>
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	[[File:Shri Gaudapadacharya Statue.jpg\|thumb\|x216px\|right\|[[Gaudapadacharya]], a proponent of Advaita Vedanta, was born into a Brahmin family. His disciple, Adi Shankara, is credited with unifying and establishing the main currents of thought in Hinduism.<ref>Johannes de Kruijf and Ajaya Sahoo (2014), Indian Transnationalism Online: New Perspectives on Diaspora, {{ISBN\|978-1-4724-1913-2}}, page 105, Quote: "In other words, according to Adi Shankara's argument, the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta stood over and above all other forms of Hinduism and encapsulated them. This then united Hinduism; (...) Another of Adi Shankara's important undertakings which contributed to the unification of Hinduism was his founding of a number of monastic centers."</ref><ref>''Shankara'', Student's Encyclopædia Britannica – India (2000), Volume 4, Encyclopædia Britannica (UK) Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-85229-760-5}}, page 379, Quote: "Shankaracharya, philosopher and theologian, most renowned exponent of the Advaita Vedanta school of philosophy, from whose doctrines the main currents of modern Indian thought are derived."<br />David Crystal (2004), The Penguin Encyclopedia, Penguin Books, page 1353, Quote: "[Shankara] is the most famous exponent of Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy and the source of the main currents of modern Hindu thought."</ref><ref>Christophe Jaffrelot (1998), The Hindu Nationalist Movement in India, Columbia University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-231-10335-0}}, page 2, Quote: "The main current of Hinduism – if not the only one – which became formalized in a way that approximates to an ecclesiastical structure was that of Shankara".</ref>]]		[[File:Shri Gaudapadacharya Statue.jpg\|thumb\|x216px\|right\|[[Gaudapadacharya]], a proponent of Advaita Vedanta, was born into a Brahmin family. His disciple, Adi Shankara, is credited with unifying and establishing the main currents of thought in Hinduism.<ref>Johannes de Kruijf and Ajaya Sahoo (2014), Indian Transnationalism Online: New Perspectives on Diaspora, {{ISBN\|978-1-4724-1913-2}}, page 105, Quote: "In other words, according to Adi Shankara's argument, the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta stood over and above all other forms of Hinduism and encapsulated them. This then united Hinduism; (...) Another of Adi Shankara's important undertakings which contributed to the unification of Hinduism was his founding of a number of monastic centers."</ref><ref>''Shankara'', Student's Encyclopædia Britannica – India (2000), Volume 4, Encyclopædia Britannica (UK) Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-85229-760-5}}, page 379, Quote: "Shankaracharya, philosopher and theologian, most renowned exponent of the Advaita Vedanta school of philosophy, from whose doctrines the main currents of modern Indian thought are derived."<br />David Crystal (2004), The Penguin Encyclopedia, Penguin Books, page 1353, Quote: "[Shankara] is the most famous exponent of Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy and the source of the main currents of modern Hindu thought."</ref><ref>Christophe Jaffrelot (1998), The Hindu Nationalist Movement in India, Columbia University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-231-10335-0}}, page 2, Quote: "The main current of Hinduism – if not the only one – which became formalized in a way that approximates to an ecclesiastical structure was that of Shankara".</ref>]]

	Historical records, state scholars, suggest that Brahmin varna was not limited to a particular status or priest and the teaching profession.<ref name="ghurye15"/><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111"/><ref name=baileymabbett114/> [[Chanakya]], a Brahmin born in 375 BCE, was an ancient Indian polymath who was active as a teacher, author, strategist, philosopher, economist, jurist, and royal advisor, who assisted the first Mauryan emperor [[Chandragupta Maurya]] in his rise to power and is widely credited for having played an important role in the establishment of the [[Maurya Empire]].<ref>{{cite book \|first=Thomas R. \|last=Trautmann \|author-link=Thomas Trautmann \|title=Kauṭilya and the Arthaśāstra: a statistical investigation of the authorship and evolution of the text \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v3iDAAAAMAAJ \|year=1971 \|publisher=Brill \|pages=11–13}}</ref> Historical records from mid 1st millennium CE and later, suggest Brahmins were agriculturalists and warriors in medieval India, quite often instead of as exception.<ref name="ghurye15"/><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111"/> Donkin and other scholars state that [[Hoysala Empire]] records frequently mention Brahmin merchants who "carried on trade in horses, elephants and pearls" and transported goods throughout medieval India before the 14th-century.<ref>RA Donkin (1998), Beyond Price: Pearls and Pearl-fishing, American Philosophical Society, {{ISBN\|978-0-87169-224-5}}, page 166</ref><ref>SC Malik (1986), Determinants of Social Status in India, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-0073-1}}, page 121</ref>		Historical records, state scholars, suggest that Brahmin varna was not limited to a particular status or priest and the teaching profession.<ref name="ghurye15"/><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111">David Shulman (1989), The King and the Clown, Princeton University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-691-00834-9}}, page 111</ref><ref name=baileymabbett114/> [[Chanakya]], a Brahmin born in 375 BCE, was an ancient Indian polymath who was active as a teacher, author, strategist, philosopher, economist, jurist, and royal advisor, who assisted the first Mauryan emperor [[Chandragupta Maurya]] in his rise to power and is widely credited for having played an important role in the establishment of the [[Maurya Empire]].<ref>{{cite book \|first=Thomas R. \|last=Trautmann \|author-link=Thomas Trautmann \|title=Kauṭilya and the Arthaśāstra: a statistical investigation of the authorship and evolution of the text \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v3iDAAAAMAAJ \|year=1971 \|publisher=Brill \|pages=11–13}}</ref> Historical records from mid 1st millennium CE and later, suggest Brahmins were agriculturalists and warriors in medieval India, quite often instead of as exception.<ref name="ghurye15"/><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111"/> Donkin and other scholars state that [[Hoysala Empire]] records frequently mention Brahmin merchants who "carried on trade in horses, elephants and pearls" and transported goods throughout medieval India before the 14th-century.<ref>RA Donkin (1998), Beyond Price: Pearls and Pearl-fishing, American Philosophical Society, {{ISBN\|978-0-87169-224-5}}, page 166</ref><ref>SC Malik (1986), Determinants of Social Status in India, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-0073-1}}, page 121</ref>

	The [[Pāli Canon]] depicts Brahmins as the most prestigious and elite non-Buddhist figures.<ref name="baileymabbett114"/> They mention them parading their learning. The Pali Canon and other [[Buddhist texts]] such as the ''Jataka Tales'' also record the livelihood of Brahmins to have included being farmers, handicraft workers and artisans such as carpentry and architecture.<ref name=baileymabbett114/><ref>Stella Kramrisch (1994), Exploring India's Sacred Art, Editor: Stella Miller, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-1208-6}}, pages 60–64</ref> Buddhist sources extensively attest, state Greg Bailey and Ian Mabbett, that Brahmins were "supporting themselves not by religious practice, but employment in all manner of secular occupations", in the classical period of India.<ref name=baileymabbett114>Greg Bailey and Ian Mabbett (2006), The Sociology of Early Buddhism, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-521-02521-8}}, pages 113–115 with footnotes</ref> Some of the Brahmin occupations mentioned in the Buddhist texts such as ''[[Jataka tales\|Jatakas]]'' and ''[[Sutta Nipata]]'' are very lowly.<ref name=baileymabbett114/> The ''[[Dharmaśāstra\|Dharmasutras]]'' too mention Brahmin farmers.<ref name="baileymabbett114"/><ref>{{cite journal \| last=RITSCHL \| first=Eva \| title=Brahmanische Bauern. Zur Theorie und Praxis der brahmanischen Ständeordnung im alten Indien \| journal=Altorientalische Forschungen \| publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH \| volume=7 \| issue=JG \| year=1980 \| doi=10.1524/aofo.1980.7.jg.177 \| pages=177–187 \| s2cid=201725661 \|language=de\|issn=0232-8461 }}</ref>		The [[Pāli Canon]] depicts Brahmins as the most prestigious and elite non-Buddhist figures.<ref name="baileymabbett114"/> They mention them parading their learning. The Pali Canon and other [[Buddhist texts]] such as the ''Jataka Tales'' also record the livelihood of Brahmins to have included being farmers, handicraft workers and artisans such as carpentry and architecture.<ref name=baileymabbett114/><ref>Stella Kramrisch (1994), Exploring India's Sacred Art, Editor: Stella Miller, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-1208-6}}, pages 60–64</ref> Buddhist sources extensively attest, state Greg Bailey and Ian Mabbett, that Brahmins were "supporting themselves not by religious practice, but employment in all manner of secular occupations", in the classical period of India.<ref name=baileymabbett114>Greg Bailey and Ian Mabbett (2006), The Sociology of Early Buddhism, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-521-02521-8}}, pages 113–115 with footnotes</ref> Some of the Brahmin occupations mentioned in the Buddhist texts such as ''[[Jataka tales\|Jatakas]]'' and ''[[Sutta Nipata]]'' are very lowly.<ref name=baileymabbett114/> The ''[[Dharmaśāstra\|Dharmasutras]]'' too mention Brahmin farmers.<ref name="baileymabbett114"/><ref>{{cite journal \| last=RITSCHL \| first=Eva \| title=Brahmanische Bauern. Zur Theorie und Praxis der brahmanischen Ständeordnung im alten Indien \| journal=Altorientalische Forschungen \| publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH \| volume=7 \| issue=JG \| year=1980 \| doi=10.1524/aofo.1980.7.jg.177 \| pages=177–187 \| s2cid=201725661 \|language=de\|issn=0232-8461 }}</ref>

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	==External links==		==External links==
			{{Commons category\|Brahmins}}
			{{Wikiquote}}
	* [https://archive.org/stream/brahminspariahsa00londrich#page/n3/mode/2up Brahmins and Pariah], An appeal and record of colonial era conflict in Bengal		* [https://archive.org/stream/brahminspariahsa00londrich#page/n3/mode/2up Brahmins and Pariah], An appeal and record of colonial era conflict in Bengal
	* [https://archive.org/stream/wisdombrahminad00rcgoog#page/n14/mode/2up The wisdom of the Brahmin], Friedrich Ruckert (translated from German by Charles Brooks)		* [https://archive.org/stream/wisdombrahminad00rcgoog#page/n14/mode/2up The wisdom of the Brahmin], Friedrich Ruckert (translated from German by Charles Brooks)

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	[[File:Image taken from page 40 of 'The Land of Temples (India)' (11151912296).jpg\|thumb\|Brahmins worshipping river [[Ganges]], ''The Land of Temples (India)'', 1882]]{{Hinduism}}		[[File:Image taken from page 40 of 'The Land of Temples (India)' (11151912296).jpg\|thumb\|Brahmins worshipping river [[Ganges]], ''The Land of Temples (India)'', 1882]]{{Hinduism}}
	'''Brahmin''' ({{IPAc-en\|ˈ\|b\|r\|ɑː\|m\|ɪ\|n}}; {{langx\|sa\|ब्राह्मण\|brāhmaṇa}}) is a ''[[Varna (Hinduism)\|varna]]'' (theoretical social classes) within [[Hindu]] society. The other three varnas are the ''[[Kshatriya]]'' (rulers and warriors), ''[[Vaishya]]'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''[[Shudra]]'' (labourers).<ref name="Wren2004">{{cite book \| author = Benjamin Lee Wren \| date = 2004 \| title = Teaching World Civilization with Joy and Enthusiasm \| publisher = University Press of America \| pages = 77– \| isbn = 978-0-7618-2747-4 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=XdvfevJAsgMC&pg=PA77\|quote=At the top were the Brahmins(priests), then the Kshatriyas(warriors), then the vaishya(the merchant class which only in India had a place of honor in Asia), next were the sudras(farmers), and finally the pariah(untouchables), or those who did the dirty defiling work}}</ref><ref name="Valpey2019">{{cite book \| author = Kenneth R. Valpey \| date = 2 November 2019 \| title = Cow Care in Hindu Animal Ethics \| publisher = Springer Nature \| pages = 169– \| isbn = 978-3-03-028408-4 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=EJO7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA169\|quote=The four varnas are the brahmins (brahmanas—priests, teachers); kshatriyas (ksatriyas—administrators, rulers); vaishyas (vaisyas—farmers, bankers, business people); and shudras(laborers, artisans)}}</ref><ref name="BullietCrossleyHeadrick2018">{{cite book \| author1 = Richard Bulliet \| author2 = Pamela Crossley \| author3 = Daniel Headrick \| author4 = Steven Hirsch \| author5 = Lyman Johnson \| date = 11 October 2018 \| title = The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History, Volume I \| publisher = Cengage Learning \| pages = 172– \| isbn = 978-0-357-15937-8 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=lJRUEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA172\|quote=Varna are the four major social divisions: the Brahmin priest class, the Kshatriya warrior/ administrator class, the Vaishya merchant/farmer class, and the Shudra laborer class.}}</ref><ref name="Iriye1979">{{cite book \| author = Akira Iriye \| date = 1979 \| title = The World of Asia \| publisher = Forum Press \| isbn = 978-0-88273-500-9 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=tM-CAAAAIAAJ\|quote=The four varna groupings in descending order of their importance came to be Brahmin (priests), Kshatriya (warriors and administrators), Vaishya (cultivators and merchants), and Sudra (peasants and menial laborers)\|page=106}}</ref><ref name="ludo14" /> The traditional occupation of Brahmins is that of priesthood ([[purohit]], [[pandit]], or [[pujari]]) at Hindu temples or at socio-religious ceremonies, and the performing of [[rite of passage]] rituals, such as solemnising a wedding with hymns and prayers.<ref name=lochtefeld125>James Lochtefeld (2002), Brahmin, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A–M, Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-8239-3179-8}}, page 125</ref><ref name="ghurye15">GS Ghurye (1969), Caste and Race in India, Popular Prakashan, {{ISBN\|978-81-7154-205-5}}, pages 15–18</ref>[[File:The Goddess Worshiped by Rishi Chyavana.jpeg\|thumb\|Vedic Brahmin [[Rishi]] worshipping Shakti]]		'''Brahmin''' ({{IPAc-en\|ˈ\|b\|r\|ɑː\|m\|ɪ\|n}}; {{langx\|sa\|ब्राह्मण\|brāhmaṇa}}) is a ''[[Varna (Hinduism)\|varna]]'' (theoretical social classes) within [[Hindu]] society. The other three varnas are the ''[[Kshatriya]]'' (rulers and warriors), ''[[Vaishya]]'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''[[Shudra]]'' (labourers).<ref name="Wren2004">{{cite book \| author = Benjamin Lee Wren \| date = 2004 \| title = Teaching World Civilization with Joy and Enthusiasm \| publisher = University Press of America \| pages = 77– \| isbn = 978-0-7618-2747-4 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=XdvfevJAsgMC&pg=PA77\|quote=At the top were the Brahmins(priests), then the Kshatriyas(warriors), then the vaishya(the merchant class which only in India had a place of honor in Asia), next were the sudras(farmers), and finally the pariah(untouchables), or those who did the dirty defiling work}}</ref><ref name="Valpey2019">{{cite book \| author = Kenneth R. Valpey \| date = 2 November 2019 \| title = Cow Care in Hindu Animal Ethics \| publisher = Springer Nature \| pages = 169– \| isbn = 978-3-03-028408-4 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=EJO7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA169\|quote=The four varnas are the brahmins (brahmanas—priests, teachers); kshatriyas (ksatriyas—administrators, rulers); vaishyas (vaisyas—farmers, bankers, business people); and shudras(laborers, artisans)}}</ref><ref name="BullietCrossleyHeadrick2018">{{cite book \| author1 = Richard Bulliet \| author2 = Pamela Crossley \| author3 = Daniel Headrick \| author4 = Steven Hirsch \| author5 = Lyman Johnson \| date = 11 October 2018 \| title = The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History, Volume I \| publisher = Cengage Learning \| pages = 172– \| isbn = 978-0-357-15937-8 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=lJRUEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA172\|quote=Varna are the four major social divisions: the Brahmin priest class, the Kshatriya warrior/ administrator class, the Vaishya merchant/farmer class, and the Shudra laborer class.}}</ref><ref name="Iriye1979">{{cite book \| author = Akira Iriye \| date = 1979 \| title = The World of Asia \| publisher = Forum Press \| isbn = 978-0-88273-500-9 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=tM-CAAAAIAAJ\|quote=The four varna groupings in descending order of their importance came to be Brahmin (priests), Kshatriya (warriors and administrators), Vaishya (cultivators and merchants), and Sudra (peasants and menial laborers)\|page=106}}</ref><ref name="ludo14" /> The traditional occupation of Brahmins is that of priesthood ([[purohit]], [[pandit]], or [[pujari]]) at Hindu temples or at socio-religious ceremonies, and the performing of [[rite of passage]] rituals, such as solemnising a wedding with hymns and prayers.<ref name=lochtefeld125>James Lochtefeld (2002), Brahmin, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A–M, Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-8239-3179-8}}, page 125</ref><ref name=ghurye15/>

			Traditionally, Brahmins are accorded the supreme ritual status of the four social classes,<ref name=doniger141/> and they also served as spiritual teachers ([[guru]] or [[acharya]]). In practice, Indian texts suggest that some Brahmins historically also became agriculturalists, warriors, traders, and had also held other occupations in the Indian subcontinent.<ref name=ghurye15>GS Ghurye (1969), Caste and Race in India, Popular Prakashan, {{ISBN\|978-81-7154-205-5}}, pages 15–18</ref><ref name=doniger141>{{cite book \| last=Doniger \| first=Wendy \| title=Merriam-Webster's encyclopedia of world religions \| publisher=Merriam-Webster \| location=Springfield, MA, US \| year=1999 \| isbn=978-0-87779-044-0 \| pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780877790440/page/141 141–142, 186] \| url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780877790440/page/141 }}</ref><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111">David Shulman (1989), The King and the Clown, Princeton University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-691-00834-9}}, page 111</ref> Within the ''[[Jāti\|jati]]'' (caste) system, Brahmins similarly occupy the highest position, though that is complicated by strict stratification even among Brahmins and historical attempts by other castes and sub-castes to challenge Brahminical dominance.<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Bayly \|first=Susan \|title=Caste, Society and Politics in India from the Eighteenth Century to the Modern Age \|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] \|year=1999 \|isbn=9780511006845}}</ref>
			[[File:The Goddess Worshiped by Rishi Chyavana.jpeg\|thumb\|Vedic Brahmin [[Rishi]] worshipping Shakti]]

	==Origin and history ==		==Origin and history ==
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	[[Image:Ram Mohan Roy.JPG\|thumb\|upright\|[[Ram Mohan Roy\|Raja Ram Mohan Roy]], a Brahmin, who founded [[Brahmo Samaj]]]]		[[Image:Ram Mohan Roy.JPG\|thumb\|upright\|[[Ram Mohan Roy\|Raja Ram Mohan Roy]], a Brahmin, who founded [[Brahmo Samaj]]]]

	Many of the prominent thinkers and earliest champions of the [[Bhakti movement]] were Brahmins, a movement that encouraged a direct relationship of an individual with a personal god.<ref>Sheldon Pollock (2009), The Language of the Gods in the World of Men, University of California Press, {{ISBN\|978-0520260030}}, pages 423–431</ref><ref name=bhakti2/> Among the many Brahmins who nurtured the Bhakti movement were [[Ramanuja]], [[Nimbarka]], [[Vallabha Acharya\|Vallabha]] and [[Madhvacharya]] of Vaishnavism,<ref name=bhakti2>{{cite book\|author=Oliver Leaman\|title=Eastern Philosophy: Key Readings\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vK-GAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA251\|year=2002\|publisher=Routledge\|isbn=978-1-134-68919-4\|page=251}};<br />{{cite book\|author=S. M. Srinivasa Chari\|title=Vaiṣṇavism: Its Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Discipline\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=evmiLInyxBMC \|year=1994\|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass \|isbn=978-81-208-1098-3\|pages=32–33}}</ref> [[Ramananda]], another devotional poet [[Sant (religion)\|sant]].<ref name=ronald>Ronald McGregor (1984), Hindi literature from its beginnings to the nineteenth century, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, {{ISBN\|978-3-447-02413-6}}, pages 42–44</ref><ref name=william>William Pinch (1996), ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=B7cwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA53 Peasants and Monks in British India]'', University of California Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-520-20061-6}}, pages 53–89</ref> Born in a Brahmin family,<ref name=ronald/><ref name="lorenzen">[[David Lorenzen]], Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History, {{ISBN\|978-81-902272-6-1}}, pages 104–106</ref> Ramananda welcomed everyone to spiritual pursuits without discriminating anyone by gender, class, caste or religion (such as Muslims).<ref name=lorenzen/><ref name=larsonvair>Gerald James Larson (1995), India's Agony Over Religion, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-7914-2412-4}}, page 116</ref><ref name=julia>Julia Leslie (1996), Myth and Mythmaking: Continuous Evolution in Indian Tradition, Routledge, {{ISBN\|978-0-7007-0303-6}}, pages 117–119</ref> He composed his spiritual message in poems, using widely spoken vernacular language rather than Sanskrit, to make it widely accessible. The Hindu tradition recognises him as the founder of the Hindu [[Ramanandi Sampradaya]],<ref name=schomer>Schomer and McLeod (1987), The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-0277-3}}, pages 4–6</ref> the largest [[Sannyasa\|monastic]] renunciant community in Asia in modern times.<ref name=selva>Selva Raj and William Harman (2007), Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-7914-6708-4}}, pages 165–166</ref><ref name=lochtefeld553>James G Lochtefeld (2002), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z, Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-8239-3180-4}}, pages 553–554</ref>		Many of the prominent thinkers and earliest champions of the [[Bhakti movement]] were Brahmins, a movement that encouraged a direct relationship of an individual with a personal god.<ref>Sheldon Pollock (2009), The Language of the Gods in the World of Men, University of California Press, {{ISBN\|978-0520260030}}, pages 423–431</ref><ref name=bhakti2/> Among the many Brahmins who nurtured the Bhakti movement were [[Ramanuja]], [[Nimbarka]], [[Vallabha Acharya\|Vallabha]] and [[Madhvacharya]] of Vaishnavism,<ref name=bhakti2>{{cite book\|author=Oliver Leaman\|title=Eastern Philosophy: Key Readings\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vK-GAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA251\|year=2002\|publisher=Routledge\|isbn=978-1-134-68919-4\|page=251}};<br />{{cite book\|author=S. M. Srinivasa Chari\|title=Vaiṣṇavism: Its Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Discipline\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=evmiLInyxBMC \|year=1994\|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass \|isbn=978-81-208-1098-3\|pages=32–33}}</ref> [[Ramananda]], another devotional poet [[Sant (religion)\|sant]].<ref name=ronald>Ronald McGregor (1984), Hindi literature from its beginnings to the nineteenth century, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, {{ISBN\|978-3-447-02413-6}}, pages 42–44</ref><ref name=william>William Pinch (1996), ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=B7cwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA53 Peasants and Monks in British India]'', University of California Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-520-20061-6}}, pages 53–89</ref> Born in a Brahmin family,<ref name=ronald/><ref name=lorenzen>[[David Lorenzen]], Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History, {{ISBN\|978-81-902272-6-1}}, pages 104–106</ref> Ramananda welcomed everyone to spiritual pursuits without discriminating anyone by gender, class, caste or religion (such as Muslims).<ref name=lorenzen/><ref name=larsonvair>Gerald James Larson (1995), India's Agony Over Religion, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-7914-2412-4}}, page 116</ref><ref name=julia>Julia Leslie (1996), Myth and Mythmaking: Continuous Evolution in Indian Tradition, Routledge, {{ISBN\|978-0-7007-0303-6}}, pages 117–119</ref> He composed his spiritual message in poems, using widely spoken vernacular language rather than Sanskrit, to make it widely accessible. The Hindu tradition recognises him as the founder of the Hindu [[Ramanandi Sampradaya]],<ref name=schomer>Schomer and McLeod (1987), The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-0277-3}}, pages 4–6</ref> the largest [[Sannyasa\|monastic]] renunciant community in Asia in modern times.<ref name=selva>Selva Raj and William Harman (2007), Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-7914-6708-4}}, pages 165–166</ref><ref name=lochtefeld553>James G Lochtefeld (2002), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z, Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-8239-3180-4}}, pages 553–554</ref>

	Other medieval era Brahmins who led spiritual movements without social or gender discrimination included [[Andal]] (9th-century female poet), [[Basava]] (12th-century Lingayatism), [[Dnyaneshwar]] (13th-century Bhakti poet), [[Vallabha Acharya]] (16th-century Vaishnava poet), [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] (14th-century Vaishnava saint) were among others.<ref>John Stratton Hawley (2015), A Storm of Songs: India and the Idea of the Bhakti Movement, Harvard University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-674-18746-7}}, pages 304–310</ref><ref>Rachel McDermott (2001), Singing to the Goddess: Poems to Kālī and Umā from Bengal, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-19-513434-6}}, pages 8–9</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">[http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/may2005/engpdf/mahima_dharma_bhima_bhoi_biswanathbaba.pdf "Mahima Dharma, Bhima Bhoi and Biswanathbaba"] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926224314/http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/may2005/engpdf/mahima_dharma_bhima_bhoi_biswanathbaba.pdf \|date=26 September 2007 }}, An Orissa movement by Brahmin Mukunda Das (2005)</ref>		Other medieval era Brahmins who led spiritual movements without social or gender discrimination included [[Andal]] (9th-century female poet), [[Basava]] (12th-century Lingayatism), [[Dnyaneshwar]] (13th-century Bhakti poet), [[Vallabha Acharya]] (16th-century Vaishnava poet), [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] (14th-century Vaishnava saint) were among others.<ref>John Stratton Hawley (2015), A Storm of Songs: India and the Idea of the Bhakti Movement, Harvard University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-674-18746-7}}, pages 304–310</ref><ref>Rachel McDermott (2001), Singing to the Goddess: Poems to Kālī and Umā from Bengal, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-19-513434-6}}, pages 8–9</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">[http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/may2005/engpdf/mahima_dharma_bhima_bhoi_biswanathbaba.pdf "Mahima Dharma, Bhima Bhoi and Biswanathbaba"] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926224314/http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/may2005/engpdf/mahima_dharma_bhima_bhoi_biswanathbaba.pdf \|date=26 September 2007 }}, An Orissa movement by Brahmin Mukunda Das (2005)</ref>
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	[[File:Shri Gaudapadacharya Statue.jpg\|thumb\|x216px\|right\|[[Gaudapadacharya]], a proponent of Advaita Vedanta, was born into a Brahmin family. His disciple, Adi Shankara, is credited with unifying and establishing the main currents of thought in Hinduism.<ref>Johannes de Kruijf and Ajaya Sahoo (2014), Indian Transnationalism Online: New Perspectives on Diaspora, {{ISBN\|978-1-4724-1913-2}}, page 105, Quote: "In other words, according to Adi Shankara's argument, the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta stood over and above all other forms of Hinduism and encapsulated them. This then united Hinduism; (...) Another of Adi Shankara's important undertakings which contributed to the unification of Hinduism was his founding of a number of monastic centers."</ref><ref>''Shankara'', Student's Encyclopædia Britannica – India (2000), Volume 4, Encyclopædia Britannica (UK) Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-85229-760-5}}, page 379, Quote: "Shankaracharya, philosopher and theologian, most renowned exponent of the Advaita Vedanta school of philosophy, from whose doctrines the main currents of modern Indian thought are derived."<br />David Crystal (2004), The Penguin Encyclopedia, Penguin Books, page 1353, Quote: "[Shankara] is the most famous exponent of Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy and the source of the main currents of modern Hindu thought."</ref><ref>Christophe Jaffrelot (1998), The Hindu Nationalist Movement in India, Columbia University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-231-10335-0}}, page 2, Quote: "The main current of Hinduism – if not the only one – which became formalized in a way that approximates to an ecclesiastical structure was that of Shankara".</ref>]]		[[File:Shri Gaudapadacharya Statue.jpg\|thumb\|x216px\|right\|[[Gaudapadacharya]], a proponent of Advaita Vedanta, was born into a Brahmin family. His disciple, Adi Shankara, is credited with unifying and establishing the main currents of thought in Hinduism.<ref>Johannes de Kruijf and Ajaya Sahoo (2014), Indian Transnationalism Online: New Perspectives on Diaspora, {{ISBN\|978-1-4724-1913-2}}, page 105, Quote: "In other words, according to Adi Shankara's argument, the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta stood over and above all other forms of Hinduism and encapsulated them. This then united Hinduism; (...) Another of Adi Shankara's important undertakings which contributed to the unification of Hinduism was his founding of a number of monastic centers."</ref><ref>''Shankara'', Student's Encyclopædia Britannica – India (2000), Volume 4, Encyclopædia Britannica (UK) Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-85229-760-5}}, page 379, Quote: "Shankaracharya, philosopher and theologian, most renowned exponent of the Advaita Vedanta school of philosophy, from whose doctrines the main currents of modern Indian thought are derived."<br />David Crystal (2004), The Penguin Encyclopedia, Penguin Books, page 1353, Quote: "[Shankara] is the most famous exponent of Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy and the source of the main currents of modern Hindu thought."</ref><ref>Christophe Jaffrelot (1998), The Hindu Nationalist Movement in India, Columbia University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-231-10335-0}}, page 2, Quote: "The main current of Hinduism – if not the only one – which became formalized in a way that approximates to an ecclesiastical structure was that of Shankara".</ref>]]

	Historical records, state scholars, suggest that Brahmin varna was not limited to a particular status or priest and the teaching profession.<ref name="ghurye15"/><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111"~~>David Shulman (1989), The King and the Clown, Princeton University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-691-00834-9}}, page 111<~~/~~ref~~><ref name=baileymabbett114/> [[Chanakya]], a Brahmin born in 375 BCE, was an ancient Indian polymath who was active as a teacher, author, strategist, philosopher, economist, jurist, and royal advisor, who assisted the first Mauryan emperor [[Chandragupta Maurya]] in his rise to power and is widely credited for having played an important role in the establishment of the [[Maurya Empire]].<ref>{{cite book \|first=Thomas R. \|last=Trautmann \|author-link=Thomas Trautmann \|title=Kauṭilya and the Arthaśāstra: a statistical investigation of the authorship and evolution of the text \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v3iDAAAAMAAJ \|year=1971 \|publisher=Brill \|pages=11–13}}</ref> Historical records from mid 1st millennium CE and later, suggest Brahmins were agriculturalists and warriors in medieval India, quite often instead of as exception.<ref name="ghurye15"/><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111"/> Donkin and other scholars state that [[Hoysala Empire]] records frequently mention Brahmin merchants who "carried on trade in horses, elephants and pearls" and transported goods throughout medieval India before the 14th-century.<ref>RA Donkin (1998), Beyond Price: Pearls and Pearl-fishing, American Philosophical Society, {{ISBN\|978-0-87169-224-5}}, page 166</ref><ref>SC Malik (1986), Determinants of Social Status in India, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-0073-1}}, page 121</ref>		Historical records, state scholars, suggest that Brahmin varna was not limited to a particular status or priest and the teaching profession.<ref name="ghurye15"/><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111"/><ref name=baileymabbett114/> [[Chanakya]], a Brahmin born in 375 BCE, was an ancient Indian polymath who was active as a teacher, author, strategist, philosopher, economist, jurist, and royal advisor, who assisted the first Mauryan emperor [[Chandragupta Maurya]] in his rise to power and is widely credited for having played an important role in the establishment of the [[Maurya Empire]].<ref>{{cite book \|first=Thomas R. \|last=Trautmann \|author-link=Thomas Trautmann \|title=Kauṭilya and the Arthaśāstra: a statistical investigation of the authorship and evolution of the text \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v3iDAAAAMAAJ \|year=1971 \|publisher=Brill \|pages=11–13}}</ref> Historical records from mid 1st millennium CE and later, suggest Brahmins were agriculturalists and warriors in medieval India, quite often instead of as exception.<ref name="ghurye15"/><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111"/> Donkin and other scholars state that [[Hoysala Empire]] records frequently mention Brahmin merchants who "carried on trade in horses, elephants and pearls" and transported goods throughout medieval India before the 14th-century.<ref>RA Donkin (1998), Beyond Price: Pearls and Pearl-fishing, American Philosophical Society, {{ISBN\|978-0-87169-224-5}}, page 166</ref><ref>SC Malik (1986), Determinants of Social Status in India, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-0073-1}}, page 121</ref>

	The [[Pāli Canon]] depicts Brahmins as the most prestigious and elite non-Buddhist figures.<ref name="baileymabbett114"/> They mention them parading their learning. The Pali Canon and other [[Buddhist texts]] such as the ''Jataka Tales'' also record the livelihood of Brahmins to have included being farmers, handicraft workers and artisans such as carpentry and architecture.<ref name=baileymabbett114/><ref>Stella Kramrisch (1994), Exploring India's Sacred Art, Editor: Stella Miller, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-1208-6}}, pages 60–64</ref> Buddhist sources extensively attest, state Greg Bailey and Ian Mabbett, that Brahmins were "supporting themselves not by religious practice, but employment in all manner of secular occupations", in the classical period of India.<ref name=baileymabbett114>Greg Bailey and Ian Mabbett (2006), The Sociology of Early Buddhism, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-521-02521-8}}, pages 113–115 with footnotes</ref> Some of the Brahmin occupations mentioned in the Buddhist texts such as ''[[Jataka tales\|Jatakas]]'' and ''[[Sutta Nipata]]'' are very lowly.<ref name=baileymabbett114/> The ''[[Dharmaśāstra\|Dharmasutras]]'' too mention Brahmin farmers.<ref name="baileymabbett114"/><ref>{{cite journal \| last=RITSCHL \| first=Eva \| title=Brahmanische Bauern. Zur Theorie und Praxis der brahmanischen Ständeordnung im alten Indien \| journal=Altorientalische Forschungen \| publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH \| volume=7 \| issue=JG \| year=1980 \| doi=10.1524/aofo.1980.7.jg.177 \| pages=177–187 \| s2cid=201725661 \|language=de\|issn=0232-8461 }}</ref>		The [[Pāli Canon]] depicts Brahmins as the most prestigious and elite non-Buddhist figures.<ref name="baileymabbett114"/> They mention them parading their learning. The Pali Canon and other [[Buddhist texts]] such as the ''Jataka Tales'' also record the livelihood of Brahmins to have included being farmers, handicraft workers and artisans such as carpentry and architecture.<ref name=baileymabbett114/><ref>Stella Kramrisch (1994), Exploring India's Sacred Art, Editor: Stella Miller, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-1208-6}}, pages 60–64</ref> Buddhist sources extensively attest, state Greg Bailey and Ian Mabbett, that Brahmins were "supporting themselves not by religious practice, but employment in all manner of secular occupations", in the classical period of India.<ref name=baileymabbett114>Greg Bailey and Ian Mabbett (2006), The Sociology of Early Buddhism, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-521-02521-8}}, pages 113–115 with footnotes</ref> Some of the Brahmin occupations mentioned in the Buddhist texts such as ''[[Jataka tales\|Jatakas]]'' and ''[[Sutta Nipata]]'' are very lowly.<ref name=baileymabbett114/> The ''[[Dharmaśāstra\|Dharmasutras]]'' too mention Brahmin farmers.<ref name="baileymabbett114"/><ref>{{cite journal \| last=RITSCHL \| first=Eva \| title=Brahmanische Bauern. Zur Theorie und Praxis der brahmanischen Ständeordnung im alten Indien \| journal=Altorientalische Forschungen \| publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH \| volume=7 \| issue=JG \| year=1980 \| doi=10.1524/aofo.1980.7.jg.177 \| pages=177–187 \| s2cid=201725661 \|language=de\|issn=0232-8461 }}</ref>

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:42, 9 October 2026
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	{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2024}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2024}}
	[[File:Image taken from page 40 of 'The Land of Temples (India)' (11151912296).jpg\|thumb\|Brahmins worshipping river [[Ganges]], ''The Land of Temples (India)'', 1882]]{{Hinduism}}		[[File:Image taken from page 40 of 'The Land of Temples (India)' (11151912296).jpg\|thumb\|Brahmins worshipping river [[Ganges]], ''The Land of Temples (India)'', 1882]]{{Hinduism}}
	'''Brahmin''' ({{IPAc-en\|ˈ\|b\|r\|ɑː\|m\|ɪ\|n}}; {{langx\|sa\|ब्राह्मण\|brāhmaṇa}}) is a ''[[Varna (Hinduism)\|varna]]'' (theoretical social classes) within [[Hindu]] society. The other three varnas are the ''[[Kshatriya]]'' (rulers and warriors), ''[[Vaishya]]'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''[[Shudra]]'' (labourers).<ref name="Wren2004">{{cite book \| author = Benjamin Lee Wren \| date = 2004 \| title = Teaching World Civilization with Joy and Enthusiasm \| publisher = University Press of America \| pages = 77– \| isbn = 978-0-7618-2747-4 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=XdvfevJAsgMC&pg=PA77\|quote=At the top were the Brahmins(priests), then the Kshatriyas(warriors), then the vaishya(the merchant class which only in India had a place of honor in Asia), next were the sudras(farmers), and finally the pariah(untouchables), or those who did the dirty defiling work}}</ref><ref name="Valpey2019">{{cite book \| author = Kenneth R. Valpey \| date = 2 November 2019 \| title = Cow Care in Hindu Animal Ethics \| publisher = Springer Nature \| pages = 169– \| isbn = 978-3-03-028408-4 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=EJO7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA169\|quote=The four varnas are the brahmins (brahmanas—priests, teachers); kshatriyas (ksatriyas—administrators, rulers); vaishyas (vaisyas—farmers, bankers, business people); and shudras(laborers, artisans)}}</ref><ref name="BullietCrossleyHeadrick2018">{{cite book \| author1 = Richard Bulliet \| author2 = Pamela Crossley \| author3 = Daniel Headrick \| author4 = Steven Hirsch \| author5 = Lyman Johnson \| date = 11 October 2018 \| title = The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History, Volume I \| publisher = Cengage Learning \| pages = 172– \| isbn = 978-0-357-15937-8 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=lJRUEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA172\|quote=Varna are the four major social divisions: the Brahmin priest class, the Kshatriya warrior/ administrator class, the Vaishya merchant/farmer class, and the Shudra laborer class.}}</ref><ref name="Iriye1979">{{cite book \| author = Akira Iriye \| date = 1979 \| title = The World of Asia \| publisher = Forum Press \| isbn = 978-0-88273-500-9 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=tM-CAAAAIAAJ\|quote=The four varna groupings in descending order of their importance came to be Brahmin (priests), Kshatriya (warriors and administrators), Vaishya (cultivators and merchants), and Sudra (peasants and menial laborers)\|page=106}}</ref><ref name="ludo14" /> The traditional occupation of Brahmins is that of priesthood ([[purohit]], [[pandit]], or [[pujari]]) at Hindu temples or at socio-religious ceremonies, and the performing of [[rite of passage]] rituals, such as solemnising a wedding with hymns and prayers.<ref name=lochtefeld125>James Lochtefeld (2002), Brahmin, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A–M, Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-8239-3179-8}}, page 125</ref><ref name=ghurye15/>		'''Brahmin''' ({{IPAc-en\|ˈ\|b\|r\|ɑː\|m\|ɪ\|n}}; {{langx\|sa\|ब्राह्मण\|brāhmaṇa}}) is a ''[[Varna (Hinduism)\|varna]]'' (theoretical social classes) within [[Hindu]] society. The other three varnas are the ''[[Kshatriya]]'' (rulers and warriors), ''[[Vaishya]]'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''[[Shudra]]'' (labourers).<ref name="Wren2004">{{cite book \| author = Benjamin Lee Wren \| date = 2004 \| title = Teaching World Civilization with Joy and Enthusiasm \| publisher = University Press of America \| pages = 77– \| isbn = 978-0-7618-2747-4 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=XdvfevJAsgMC&pg=PA77\|quote=At the top were the Brahmins(priests), then the Kshatriyas(warriors), then the vaishya(the merchant class which only in India had a place of honor in Asia), next were the sudras(farmers), and finally the pariah(untouchables), or those who did the dirty defiling work}}</ref><ref name="Valpey2019">{{cite book \| author = Kenneth R. Valpey \| date = 2 November 2019 \| title = Cow Care in Hindu Animal Ethics \| publisher = Springer Nature \| pages = 169– \| isbn = 978-3-03-028408-4 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=EJO7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA169\|quote=The four varnas are the brahmins (brahmanas—priests, teachers); kshatriyas (ksatriyas—administrators, rulers); vaishyas (vaisyas—farmers, bankers, business people); and shudras(laborers, artisans)}}</ref><ref name="BullietCrossleyHeadrick2018">{{cite book \| author1 = Richard Bulliet \| author2 = Pamela Crossley \| author3 = Daniel Headrick \| author4 = Steven Hirsch \| author5 = Lyman Johnson \| date = 11 October 2018 \| title = The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History, Volume I \| publisher = Cengage Learning \| pages = 172– \| isbn = 978-0-357-15937-8 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=lJRUEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA172\|quote=Varna are the four major social divisions: the Brahmin priest class, the Kshatriya warrior/ administrator class, the Vaishya merchant/farmer class, and the Shudra laborer class.}}</ref><ref name="Iriye1979">{{cite book \| author = Akira Iriye \| date = 1979 \| title = The World of Asia \| publisher = Forum Press \| isbn = 978-0-88273-500-9 \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=tM-CAAAAIAAJ\|quote=The four varna groupings in descending order of their importance came to be Brahmin (priests), Kshatriya (warriors and administrators), Vaishya (cultivators and merchants), and Sudra (peasants and menial laborers)\|page=106}}</ref><ref name="ludo14" /> The traditional occupation of Brahmins is that of priesthood ([[purohit]], [[pandit]], or [[pujari]]) at Hindu temples or at socio-religious ceremonies, and the performing of [[rite of passage]] rituals, such as solemnising a wedding with hymns and prayers.<ref name=lochtefeld125>James Lochtefeld (2002), Brahmin, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A–M, Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-8239-3179-8}}, page 125</ref><ref name="ghurye15">GS Ghurye (1969), Caste and Race in India, Popular Prakashan, {{ISBN\|978-81-7154-205-5}}, pages 15–18</ref>[[File:The Goddess Worshiped by Rishi Chyavana.jpeg\|thumb\|Vedic Brahmin [[Rishi]] worshipping Shakti]]

	Traditionally, Brahmins are accorded the supreme ritual status of the four social classes,<ref name=doniger141/> and they also served as spiritual teachers ([[guru]] or [[acharya]]). In practice, Indian texts suggest that some Brahmins historically also became agriculturalists, warriors, traders, and had also held other occupations in the Indian subcontinent.<ref name=ghurye15>GS Ghurye (1969), Caste and Race in India, Popular Prakashan, {{ISBN\|978-81-7154-205-5}}, pages 15–18</ref><ref name=doniger141>{{cite book \| last=Doniger \| first=Wendy \| title=Merriam-Webster's encyclopedia of world religions \| publisher=Merriam-Webster \| location=Springfield, MA, US \| year=1999 \| isbn=978-0-87779-044-0 \| pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780877790440/page/141 141–142, 186] \| url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780877790440/page/141 }}</ref><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111">David Shulman (1989), The King and the Clown, Princeton University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-691-00834-9}}, page 111</ref> Within the ''[[Jāti\|jati]]'' (caste) system, Brahmins similarly occupy the highest position, though that is complicated by strict stratification even among Brahmins and historical attempts by other castes and sub-castes to challenge Brahminical dominance.<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Bayly \|first=Susan \|title=Caste, Society and Politics in India from the Eighteenth Century to the Modern Age \|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] \|year=1999 \|isbn=9780511006845}}</ref>
	[[File:The Goddess Worshiped by Rishi Chyavana.jpeg\|thumb\|Vedic Brahmin [[Rishi]] worshipping Shakti]]

	==Origin and history ==		==Origin and history ==
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	[[Image:Ram Mohan Roy.JPG\|thumb\|upright\|[[Ram Mohan Roy\|Raja Ram Mohan Roy]], a Brahmin, who founded [[Brahmo Samaj]]]]		[[Image:Ram Mohan Roy.JPG\|thumb\|upright\|[[Ram Mohan Roy\|Raja Ram Mohan Roy]], a Brahmin, who founded [[Brahmo Samaj]]]]

	Many of the prominent thinkers and earliest champions of the [[Bhakti movement]] were Brahmins, a movement that encouraged a direct relationship of an individual with a personal god.<ref>Sheldon Pollock (2009), The Language of the Gods in the World of Men, University of California Press, {{ISBN\|978-0520260030}}, pages 423–431</ref><ref name=bhakti2/> Among the many Brahmins who nurtured the Bhakti movement were [[Ramanuja]], [[Nimbarka]], [[Vallabha Acharya\|Vallabha]] and [[Madhvacharya]] of Vaishnavism,<ref name=bhakti2>{{cite book\|author=Oliver Leaman\|title=Eastern Philosophy: Key Readings\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vK-GAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA251\|year=2002\|publisher=Routledge\|isbn=978-1-134-68919-4\|page=251}};<br />{{cite book\|author=S. M. Srinivasa Chari\|title=Vaiṣṇavism: Its Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Discipline\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=evmiLInyxBMC \|year=1994\|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass \|isbn=978-81-208-1098-3\|pages=32–33}}</ref> [[Ramananda]], another devotional poet [[Sant (religion)\|sant]].<ref name=ronald>Ronald McGregor (1984), Hindi literature from its beginnings to the nineteenth century, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, {{ISBN\|978-3-447-02413-6}}, pages 42–44</ref><ref name=william>William Pinch (1996), ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=B7cwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA53 Peasants and Monks in British India]'', University of California Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-520-20061-6}}, pages 53–89</ref> Born in a Brahmin family,<ref name=ronald/><ref name=lorenzen>[[David Lorenzen]], Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History, {{ISBN\|978-81-902272-6-1}}, pages 104–106</ref> Ramananda welcomed everyone to spiritual pursuits without discriminating anyone by gender, class, caste or religion (such as Muslims).<ref name=lorenzen/><ref name=larsonvair>Gerald James Larson (1995), India's Agony Over Religion, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-7914-2412-4}}, page 116</ref><ref name=julia>Julia Leslie (1996), Myth and Mythmaking: Continuous Evolution in Indian Tradition, Routledge, {{ISBN\|978-0-7007-0303-6}}, pages 117–119</ref> He composed his spiritual message in poems, using widely spoken vernacular language rather than Sanskrit, to make it widely accessible. The Hindu tradition recognises him as the founder of the Hindu [[Ramanandi Sampradaya]],<ref name=schomer>Schomer and McLeod (1987), The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-0277-3}}, pages 4–6</ref> the largest [[Sannyasa\|monastic]] renunciant community in Asia in modern times.<ref name=selva>Selva Raj and William Harman (2007), Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-7914-6708-4}}, pages 165–166</ref><ref name=lochtefeld553>James G Lochtefeld (2002), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z, Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-8239-3180-4}}, pages 553–554</ref>		Many of the prominent thinkers and earliest champions of the [[Bhakti movement]] were Brahmins, a movement that encouraged a direct relationship of an individual with a personal god.<ref>Sheldon Pollock (2009), The Language of the Gods in the World of Men, University of California Press, {{ISBN\|978-0520260030}}, pages 423–431</ref><ref name=bhakti2/> Among the many Brahmins who nurtured the Bhakti movement were [[Ramanuja]], [[Nimbarka]], [[Vallabha Acharya\|Vallabha]] and [[Madhvacharya]] of Vaishnavism,<ref name=bhakti2>{{cite book\|author=Oliver Leaman\|title=Eastern Philosophy: Key Readings\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vK-GAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA251\|year=2002\|publisher=Routledge\|isbn=978-1-134-68919-4\|page=251}};<br />{{cite book\|author=S. M. Srinivasa Chari\|title=Vaiṣṇavism: Its Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Discipline\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=evmiLInyxBMC \|year=1994\|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass \|isbn=978-81-208-1098-3\|pages=32–33}}</ref> [[Ramananda]], another devotional poet [[Sant (religion)\|sant]].<ref name=ronald>Ronald McGregor (1984), Hindi literature from its beginnings to the nineteenth century, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, {{ISBN\|978-3-447-02413-6}}, pages 42–44</ref><ref name=william>William Pinch (1996), ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=B7cwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA53 Peasants and Monks in British India]'', University of California Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-520-20061-6}}, pages 53–89</ref> Born in a Brahmin family,<ref name=ronald/><ref name="lorenzen">[[David Lorenzen]], Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History, {{ISBN\|978-81-902272-6-1}}, pages 104–106</ref> Ramananda welcomed everyone to spiritual pursuits without discriminating anyone by gender, class, caste or religion (such as Muslims).<ref name=lorenzen/><ref name=larsonvair>Gerald James Larson (1995), India's Agony Over Religion, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-7914-2412-4}}, page 116</ref><ref name=julia>Julia Leslie (1996), Myth and Mythmaking: Continuous Evolution in Indian Tradition, Routledge, {{ISBN\|978-0-7007-0303-6}}, pages 117–119</ref> He composed his spiritual message in poems, using widely spoken vernacular language rather than Sanskrit, to make it widely accessible. The Hindu tradition recognises him as the founder of the Hindu [[Ramanandi Sampradaya]],<ref name=schomer>Schomer and McLeod (1987), The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-0277-3}}, pages 4–6</ref> the largest [[Sannyasa\|monastic]] renunciant community in Asia in modern times.<ref name=selva>Selva Raj and William Harman (2007), Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-7914-6708-4}}, pages 165–166</ref><ref name=lochtefeld553>James G Lochtefeld (2002), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z, Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-8239-3180-4}}, pages 553–554</ref>

	Other medieval era Brahmins who led spiritual movements without social or gender discrimination included [[Andal]] (9th-century female poet), [[Basava]] (12th-century Lingayatism), [[Dnyaneshwar]] (13th-century Bhakti poet), [[Vallabha Acharya]] (16th-century Vaishnava poet), [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] (14th-century Vaishnava saint) were among others.<ref>John Stratton Hawley (2015), A Storm of Songs: India and the Idea of the Bhakti Movement, Harvard University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-674-18746-7}}, pages 304–310</ref><ref>Rachel McDermott (2001), Singing to the Goddess: Poems to Kālī and Umā from Bengal, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-19-513434-6}}, pages 8–9</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">[http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/may2005/engpdf/mahima_dharma_bhima_bhoi_biswanathbaba.pdf "Mahima Dharma, Bhima Bhoi and Biswanathbaba"] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926224314/http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/may2005/engpdf/mahima_dharma_bhima_bhoi_biswanathbaba.pdf \|date=26 September 2007 }}, An Orissa movement by Brahmin Mukunda Das (2005)</ref>		Other medieval era Brahmins who led spiritual movements without social or gender discrimination included [[Andal]] (9th-century female poet), [[Basava]] (12th-century Lingayatism), [[Dnyaneshwar]] (13th-century Bhakti poet), [[Vallabha Acharya]] (16th-century Vaishnava poet), [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] (14th-century Vaishnava saint) were among others.<ref>John Stratton Hawley (2015), A Storm of Songs: India and the Idea of the Bhakti Movement, Harvard University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-674-18746-7}}, pages 304–310</ref><ref>Rachel McDermott (2001), Singing to the Goddess: Poems to Kālī and Umā from Bengal, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-19-513434-6}}, pages 8–9</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">[http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/may2005/engpdf/mahima_dharma_bhima_bhoi_biswanathbaba.pdf "Mahima Dharma, Bhima Bhoi and Biswanathbaba"] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926224314/http://www.orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/may2005/engpdf/mahima_dharma_bhima_bhoi_biswanathbaba.pdf \|date=26 September 2007 }}, An Orissa movement by Brahmin Mukunda Das (2005)</ref>
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	[[File:Shri Gaudapadacharya Statue.jpg\|thumb\|x216px\|right\|[[Gaudapadacharya]], a proponent of Advaita Vedanta, was born into a Brahmin family. His disciple, Adi Shankara, is credited with unifying and establishing the main currents of thought in Hinduism.<ref>Johannes de Kruijf and Ajaya Sahoo (2014), Indian Transnationalism Online: New Perspectives on Diaspora, {{ISBN\|978-1-4724-1913-2}}, page 105, Quote: "In other words, according to Adi Shankara's argument, the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta stood over and above all other forms of Hinduism and encapsulated them. This then united Hinduism; (...) Another of Adi Shankara's important undertakings which contributed to the unification of Hinduism was his founding of a number of monastic centers."</ref><ref>''Shankara'', Student's Encyclopædia Britannica – India (2000), Volume 4, Encyclopædia Britannica (UK) Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-85229-760-5}}, page 379, Quote: "Shankaracharya, philosopher and theologian, most renowned exponent of the Advaita Vedanta school of philosophy, from whose doctrines the main currents of modern Indian thought are derived."<br />David Crystal (2004), The Penguin Encyclopedia, Penguin Books, page 1353, Quote: "[Shankara] is the most famous exponent of Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy and the source of the main currents of modern Hindu thought."</ref><ref>Christophe Jaffrelot (1998), The Hindu Nationalist Movement in India, Columbia University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-231-10335-0}}, page 2, Quote: "The main current of Hinduism – if not the only one – which became formalized in a way that approximates to an ecclesiastical structure was that of Shankara".</ref>]]		[[File:Shri Gaudapadacharya Statue.jpg\|thumb\|x216px\|right\|[[Gaudapadacharya]], a proponent of Advaita Vedanta, was born into a Brahmin family. His disciple, Adi Shankara, is credited with unifying and establishing the main currents of thought in Hinduism.<ref>Johannes de Kruijf and Ajaya Sahoo (2014), Indian Transnationalism Online: New Perspectives on Diaspora, {{ISBN\|978-1-4724-1913-2}}, page 105, Quote: "In other words, according to Adi Shankara's argument, the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta stood over and above all other forms of Hinduism and encapsulated them. This then united Hinduism; (...) Another of Adi Shankara's important undertakings which contributed to the unification of Hinduism was his founding of a number of monastic centers."</ref><ref>''Shankara'', Student's Encyclopædia Britannica – India (2000), Volume 4, Encyclopædia Britannica (UK) Publishing, {{ISBN\|978-0-85229-760-5}}, page 379, Quote: "Shankaracharya, philosopher and theologian, most renowned exponent of the Advaita Vedanta school of philosophy, from whose doctrines the main currents of modern Indian thought are derived."<br />David Crystal (2004), The Penguin Encyclopedia, Penguin Books, page 1353, Quote: "[Shankara] is the most famous exponent of Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy and the source of the main currents of modern Hindu thought."</ref><ref>Christophe Jaffrelot (1998), The Hindu Nationalist Movement in India, Columbia University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-231-10335-0}}, page 2, Quote: "The main current of Hinduism – if not the only one – which became formalized in a way that approximates to an ecclesiastical structure was that of Shankara".</ref>]]

	Historical records, state scholars, suggest that Brahmin varna was not limited to a particular status or priest and the teaching profession.<ref name="ghurye15"/><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111"/><ref name=baileymabbett114/> [[Chanakya]], a Brahmin born in 375 BCE, was an ancient Indian polymath who was active as a teacher, author, strategist, philosopher, economist, jurist, and royal advisor, who assisted the first Mauryan emperor [[Chandragupta Maurya]] in his rise to power and is widely credited for having played an important role in the establishment of the [[Maurya Empire]].<ref>{{cite book \|first=Thomas R. \|last=Trautmann \|author-link=Thomas Trautmann \|title=Kauṭilya and the Arthaśāstra: a statistical investigation of the authorship and evolution of the text \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v3iDAAAAMAAJ \|year=1971 \|publisher=Brill \|pages=11–13}}</ref> Historical records from mid 1st millennium CE and later, suggest Brahmins were agriculturalists and warriors in medieval India, quite often instead of as exception.<ref name="ghurye15"/><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111"/> Donkin and other scholars state that [[Hoysala Empire]] records frequently mention Brahmin merchants who "carried on trade in horses, elephants and pearls" and transported goods throughout medieval India before the 14th-century.<ref>RA Donkin (1998), Beyond Price: Pearls and Pearl-fishing, American Philosophical Society, {{ISBN\|978-0-87169-224-5}}, page 166</ref><ref>SC Malik (1986), Determinants of Social Status in India, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-0073-1}}, page 121</ref>		Historical records, state scholars, suggest that Brahmin varna was not limited to a particular status or priest and the teaching profession.<ref name="ghurye15"/><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111">David Shulman (1989), The King and the Clown, Princeton University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-691-00834-9}}, page 111</ref><ref name=baileymabbett114/> [[Chanakya]], a Brahmin born in 375 BCE, was an ancient Indian polymath who was active as a teacher, author, strategist, philosopher, economist, jurist, and royal advisor, who assisted the first Mauryan emperor [[Chandragupta Maurya]] in his rise to power and is widely credited for having played an important role in the establishment of the [[Maurya Empire]].<ref>{{cite book \|first=Thomas R. \|last=Trautmann \|author-link=Thomas Trautmann \|title=Kauṭilya and the Arthaśāstra: a statistical investigation of the authorship and evolution of the text \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v3iDAAAAMAAJ \|year=1971 \|publisher=Brill \|pages=11–13}}</ref> Historical records from mid 1st millennium CE and later, suggest Brahmins were agriculturalists and warriors in medieval India, quite often instead of as exception.<ref name="ghurye15"/><ref name="David Shulman 1989 page 111"/> Donkin and other scholars state that [[Hoysala Empire]] records frequently mention Brahmin merchants who "carried on trade in horses, elephants and pearls" and transported goods throughout medieval India before the 14th-century.<ref>RA Donkin (1998), Beyond Price: Pearls and Pearl-fishing, American Philosophical Society, {{ISBN\|978-0-87169-224-5}}, page 166</ref><ref>SC Malik (1986), Determinants of Social Status in India, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-0073-1}}, page 121</ref>

	The [[Pāli Canon]] depicts Brahmins as the most prestigious and elite non-Buddhist figures.<ref name="baileymabbett114"/> They mention them parading their learning. The Pali Canon and other [[Buddhist texts]] such as the ''Jataka Tales'' also record the livelihood of Brahmins to have included being farmers, handicraft workers and artisans such as carpentry and architecture.<ref name=baileymabbett114/><ref>Stella Kramrisch (1994), Exploring India's Sacred Art, Editor: Stella Miller, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-1208-6}}, pages 60–64</ref> Buddhist sources extensively attest, state Greg Bailey and Ian Mabbett, that Brahmins were "supporting themselves not by religious practice, but employment in all manner of secular occupations", in the classical period of India.<ref name=baileymabbett114>Greg Bailey and Ian Mabbett (2006), The Sociology of Early Buddhism, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-521-02521-8}}, pages 113–115 with footnotes</ref> Some of the Brahmin occupations mentioned in the Buddhist texts such as ''[[Jataka tales\|Jatakas]]'' and ''[[Sutta Nipata]]'' are very lowly.<ref name=baileymabbett114/> The ''[[Dharmaśāstra\|Dharmasutras]]'' too mention Brahmin farmers.<ref name="baileymabbett114"/><ref>{{cite journal \| last=RITSCHL \| first=Eva \| title=Brahmanische Bauern. Zur Theorie und Praxis der brahmanischen Ständeordnung im alten Indien \| journal=Altorientalische Forschungen \| publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH \| volume=7 \| issue=JG \| year=1980 \| doi=10.1524/aofo.1980.7.jg.177 \| pages=177–187 \| s2cid=201725661 \|language=de\|issn=0232-8461 }}</ref>		The [[Pāli Canon]] depicts Brahmins as the most prestigious and elite non-Buddhist figures.<ref name="baileymabbett114"/> They mention them parading their learning. The Pali Canon and other [[Buddhist texts]] such as the ''Jataka Tales'' also record the livelihood of Brahmins to have included being farmers, handicraft workers and artisans such as carpentry and architecture.<ref name=baileymabbett114/><ref>Stella Kramrisch (1994), Exploring India's Sacred Art, Editor: Stella Miller, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN\|978-81-208-1208-6}}, pages 60–64</ref> Buddhist sources extensively attest, state Greg Bailey and Ian Mabbett, that Brahmins were "supporting themselves not by religious practice, but employment in all manner of secular occupations", in the classical period of India.<ref name=baileymabbett114>Greg Bailey and Ian Mabbett (2006), The Sociology of Early Buddhism, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN\|978-0-521-02521-8}}, pages 113–115 with footnotes</ref> Some of the Brahmin occupations mentioned in the Buddhist texts such as ''[[Jataka tales\|Jatakas]]'' and ''[[Sutta Nipata]]'' are very lowly.<ref name=baileymabbett114/> The ''[[Dharmaśāstra\|Dharmasutras]]'' too mention Brahmin farmers.<ref name="baileymabbett114"/><ref>{{cite journal \| last=RITSCHL \| first=Eva \| title=Brahmanische Bauern. Zur Theorie und Praxis der brahmanischen Ständeordnung im alten Indien \| journal=Altorientalische Forschungen \| publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH \| volume=7 \| issue=JG \| year=1980 \| doi=10.1524/aofo.1980.7.jg.177 \| pages=177–187 \| s2cid=201725661 \|language=de\|issn=0232-8461 }}</ref>

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