Bairagi Brahmin (caste): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Caste in India}} 
{{Short description|Caste in India}}
{{About|the Bairagi caste| Hindustani classical raga|Bairagi (raga)|||}}
{{Distinguish|text = the [[Celibate Ascetics (Vairagi)]]}}
{{Distinguish|text = the [[Celibate Ascetics (Vairagi)]]}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox caste
{{Infobox caste
| caste_name          = Bairagi
| caste_name          = Vaishnav Brahmin
| image               = Goswami shri tulsi das ji.jpg
| image=       Swami Ramanandacharya.jpg
| caption            = A Portrait of Bairagi Mahant<br />(Tilak of [[Ramanandi Sampradaya]] on
| caption            = [[Ramananda]]
his body)
| region              =  
| region              =  
| state              =
| state              =
| populated_states    ='''India'''<br>[[Uttar Pradesh]] • [[Bihar]] • [[Jharkhand]] • [[Madhya Pradesh]] • [[Himachal Pradesh]] • [[Uttarakhand]] • [[Rajasthan]] • [[Punjab]] • [[Maharastra]] • [[Gujarat]] • [[Chhattisgarh]] • [[Odisha]] • [[West Bengal]] • [[Haryana]]  
| populated_states    ='''India'''<br>[[Uttar Pradesh]] • [[Gujarat]] • [[Rajasthan]] • [[Haryana]] • [[Bihar]] • [[Jharkhand]] • [[Madhya Pradesh]] • [[Himachal Pradesh]] • [[Uttarakhand]] • [[Rajasthan]] • [[Punjab]] • [[Maharastra]] • [[Chhattisgarh]] • [[Odisha]] • [[West Bengal]] • [[Haryana]] • [[Tamil Nadu]] • [[Tripura]]
<br>'''Nepal'''<br>[[Madhesh Province|Madhesh]]  
<br>'''Nepal'''<br>[[Madhesh Province|Madhesh]]  
| languages          = [[Hindi]] • [[Awadhi language|Awadhi]] • [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] • [[Braj Bhasha]] • [[Maithili language|Maithili]] • [[Magahi language|Magahi]] • [[Angika]] • [[Bajjika]] • [[Nagpuri language|Nagpuri]] • [[Bagheli language|Bagheli]] • [[Bundeli language|Bundeli]] • [[Kannauji language|Kannauji]] • [[Kauravi dialect|Kauravi]] • [[Haryanvi]] •  
| languages          = [[Hindi]] • [[Awadhi language|Awadhi]] • [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] • [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] • [[Assamese language|Assamese]] • [[Braj Bhasha]] • [[Maithili language|Maithili]] • [[Magahi language|Magahi]] • [[Angika]] • [[Bajjika]] • [[Nagpuri language|Nagpuri]] • [[Bagheli language|Bagheli]] • [[Bundeli language|Bundeli]] • [[Kannauji language|Kannauji]] • [[Kauravi dialect|Kauravi]] • [[Haryanvi]] • [[Bagri language|Bagri]]•
[[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] • [[Rajasthani language|Rajasthani]] • [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] • [[Chhattisgarhi language|Chhattisgarhi]] • [[Odia language|Odia]] • [[Bengali language|Bengali]] • [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
[[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] • [[Rajasthani language|Rajasthani]] • [[Chhattisgarhi language|Chhattisgarhi]] • [[Odia language|Odia]] • [[Bengali language|Bengali]] • [[Marathi language|Marathi]] • [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| religions          =[[File:Om symbol.svg|15px|]] [[Hinduism]]
| religions          =[[File:Om symbol.svg|15px|]] [[Hinduism]]
| varna              =  
| varna              = Brahmin
| guru                =[[Ramananda]] • [[Tulsidas]] • [[Ramanuja]]
| guru                =[[Ramananda]] • [[Tulsidas]] • [[Nabha Dass]] • [[Ramanuja]] • [[Krishnadas Payahari]]
| country            = [[India]] • [[Nepal]]
| country            = [[India]] • [[Nepal]]
||feudal_title= [[Mahant]]/[[Swami]]/Bawa
||feudal_title= [[Mahant]]/[[Swami]]/Bawa
|caste_name_in_local=[[Swami]] • [[Vaishnav]] • [[Mahant]]
|caste_name_in_local=[[Swami]] • [[Vaishnav]] • [[Mahant]]
|status=Monasterial Community
|status=Monasterial Community
|kula_daivat=[[Rama]] • [[Krishna]]  • (Avatars of [[Vishnu]]) • [[Hanuman]]
|kula_daivat=[[Rama]] • [[Krishna]]  • [[Satyanarayana Puja|Satyanarayana]] • (Avatars of [[Vishnu]]) • [[Hanuman]]
|kula_devi=[[Sita]] • [[Radha]]• [[Tulasi in Hinduism|Tulsi]] • (Avtars of [[Lakshmi]])  
|kula_devi=[[Sita]] • [[Radha]] • [[Rukmini]] • [[Tulasi in Hinduism|Tulsi]] • [[Bhumi (goddess)|Bhudevi]] • (Avatars of [[Lakshmi]])  
|color=[[Bhagwa]]
|color=[[Saffron (color)|Saffron]], red, yellow, or white
|historical_grouping=[[Brahmin]]
|historical_grouping=[[Brahmin]]
|classification=[[Ramanandi Sampradaya]]
|classification=[[Ramanandi Sampradaya]] • [[Nimbarka Sampradaya]] • [[Rudra Sampradaya|Vishnuswami Sampradaya]] • [[Brahma Sampradaya|Madhvacharya Sampradaya]]<ref name="Pinch 1996 https://archive.org/details/peasantsmonksinb0000pinc/page/27 27">{{cite book |title=Peasants and monks in British India |first=William R. |last=Pinch |publisher=University of California Press |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-520-20061-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/peasantsmonksinb0000pinc |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/peasantsmonksinb0000pinc/page/27 27]}}</ref>
|nishan=Kapidhwaj ([[Hanuman]] on [[Flag]])  
|nishan=Kapidhwaj ([[Hanuman]] on [[Flag]])  
|jati=
|jati=
|original_kingdom=}}
|original_kingdom=}}


'''Bairagi Brahmin ''' is a [[Hindu]] [[caste system in India|caste]]. They are also called by different names that are [[Swami]], Bairagi, [[Mahant]], [[Vaishnav]], [[Vairagi]], [[Ramanandi Sampradaya|Ramanandi]], Shami, Vaishnav , [[Pujari]]. They are Vaishnav, and wear the [[sacred thread]]. They belong to the [[Ramanandi Sampradaya|Ramanandi Sampradaye]]. A majority of Bairagi Brahmin is found in West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Bihar and the eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh. Bairagi are considered as part of the upper castes of Bengal – [[Brahmin]], [[Rajput]], [[Kshatriya|Chatri]], Grahacarya and [[Baidya]].<ref>Nirmal Kumar Bose, [https://www.jstor.org/stable/538569?read-now=1&refreqid=excelsior%3Aca9958bc27117d4fff1fe622b317a09d&seq=3#page_scan_tab_contents Some Aspects of Caste in Bengal], p.399, Vol. 71, No. 281, Traditional India: Structure and Change, American Folklore Society</ref>  
'''Bairagi Brahmin''' or '''Vaishnav Bairagi''' or '''Vaishnav Brahmin''' is a [[Hindu]] [[caste]]. They are [[Hindu priest]]s. They are sedentary rasik (temple dwelling or temple priest) [[Brahmin]] members of the [[Vaishnava]] [[sampradaya]]s, especially the [[Ramanandi Sampradaya]].<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0019464612474165 | doi=10.1177/0019464612474165 | title=Toward a history of devotional Vaishnavism in the West Himalayas: Kullu and the Ramanandis, c. 1500–1800 | date=2013 | last1=Moran | first1=Arik | journal=The Indian Economic & Social History Review | volume=50 | pages=1–25 | url-access=subscription }}</ref> According to [[Kumar Suresh Singh|K.S. Singh]], the community uses different [[surname]]s/[[titles]] in different [[states and union territories of India]]; these are: [[Swamy (surname)|Swami]], Bairagi, [[Mahant (disambiguation)#People with the surname|Mahanta]], [[Maraj|Maharaj]], Vaishnav, Bawa, [[Pandit (surname)|Pandit]], [[Purohit]], [[Goswami]], [[Sharma]], [[Das (surname)|Das]], [[Adhikari]], [[Brahmachari (disambiguation)#People|Brahmachari]].<ref name="hello">{{citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bfAMAQAAMAAJ&dq=Bairagi+Pandit&pg=PA1088|title=PEOPLE OF INDIA, National Series Volume VIII, Communities, Segments, Synonyms, Surnames and Titles : Anthropological Survey of India|author=K.S. Singh|year=1996|page=1089|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=0-19-563357-1}}</ref> They are Vaishnav, and wear the [[sacred thread]]. A majority{{Vague|reason=Meaning that most of Bairagi Brahmin live there?
or, that Bairagi Brahmin form the majority in these states?|date=September 2025}} of Bairagi Brahmin is found in [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Bihar]], [[Jharkhand]], [[West Bengal]], [[Assam]], and [[Odisha]]. Vaishnavas are considered to be part of the 'upper castes' of India.<ref>Nirmal Kumar Bose, [https://www.jstor.org/stable/538569?read-now=1&refreqid=excelsior%3Aca9958bc27117d4fff1fe622b317a09d&seq=3#page_scan_tab_contents Some Aspects of Caste in Bengal], p. 399, Vol. 71, No. 281, Traditional India: Structure and Change, American Folklore Society</ref>


Bairagi Brahmin belong to the [[Brahmin]] varna. Senugupta describes them as a High caste group.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Senugupta|first=Parna|title=Pedagogy for Religion: Missionary Education and the Fashioning of Hindus and Muslims in Bengal|publisher=University of California Press|year=2011|pages=104, 112}}</ref> William Pinch believes that the Bairagi branch of Vaishnavas is the result of the [[Galtaji|Galta]] conference of 17th Century.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Choubey|first=Devendra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E9ry1df8VA4C&dq=bairagi+william+pinch&pg=PA282|title=Sahitya Ka Naya Soundaryashastra|publisher=Kitabghar Prakashan|isbn=978-81-89859-11-4|pages=282|language=hi}}</ref>
==Vaishnav Sect and Vaishnav Brahmin Caste==
===Vaishnav Sect===
Members of [[vaishnava]] [[sampradayas]] are called Bairagi or Vairagi. And these members are divided into three categories – renunciant ('''Virakt'''), [[warrior]] ('''Naga''') and temple-dwelling (temple priest) ascetics. The most of renunciant and warrior are unmarried ascetics. Anyone can be member of these communities.<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0019464612474165 | doi=10.1177/0019464612474165 | title=Toward a history of devotional Vaishnavism in the West Himalayas: Kullu and the Ramanandis, c. 1500–1800 | date=2013 | last1=Moran | first1=Arik | journal=The Indian Economic & Social History Review | volume=50 | pages=1–25 | url-access=subscription }}</ref> But there are evidences of different meetings of vaishnava mahants who have decided that member of anyone caste could not be member of the community.


According to Mayer, the Bairagis were one of a few [[sect]]arian castes which accepted admissions from higher castes. He states that they Bairagis had a worldly and [[celibate]] branches of the caste. He states they were considered of equal status with [[Brahmins]], [[Rajputs]], and [[Jat]]s.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mayer|first=Adrian C.|title=Caste and Kinship in Central India|publisher=Routledge|year=1960|pages=28–29. 36–39}}</ref>
"Decision was taken by all the vaishnava [[mahants]] that no one would be member of the community except [[Brahmin]] and [[Kshatriya]]. And other castes excluded from the community." – [[Galtaji|Galta]] [[Temple]] Meeting, 1713.<ref name="Pinch 1996 https://archive.org/details/peasantsmonksinb0000pinc/page/27 27">{{cite book |title=Peasants and monks in British India |first=William R. |last=Pinch |publisher=University of California Press |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-520-20061-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/peasantsmonksinb0000pinc |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/peasantsmonksinb0000pinc/page/27 27]}}</ref>


==Dynasties==
Another case was of [[Sawai Jai Singh|Maharaja Jai Singh II]], [[king]] of [[Kingdom of Amber|Jaipur State]] held a meeting with all Vaishnavas mahants.


===Nandgaon===
"Decision was taken that other castes would not be part of bairagis except [[Brahmin]] and [[Kshatriya]]." – Meeting of [[Sawai Jai Singh|Maharaja Jai Singh II]] with Ramanandi mahants and other vaishnava to maintain strict [[caste]] rules, 1720.<ref>{{cite book |title=Peasants and monks in British India |first=William R. |last=Pinch |publisher=University of California Press |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-520-20061-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/peasantsmonksinb0000pinc |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/peasantsmonksinb0000pinc/page/28 28]}}</ref>
The first ruler [[Mahant Raja Ghasi Das|Mahant Ghasi Das]] of [[Nandgaon State]], was recognized as a feudal chief by the British government in 1865 and was granted a [[sanad of adoption]]. Later the British conferred the title of ''raja'' on the ruling mahant.<ref name=history1>{{cite book|title=Chhattisgarh ki Riyaste/Princely stastes aur Jamindariyaa|year=2011|publisher=Vaibhav Prakashan|location=Raipur|isbn=978-81-89244-96-5}}</ref><ref name=history2>{{cite book|title=Chhattisgarh ki Janjaatiyaa/Tribes aur Jatiyaa/Castes|year=2011|publisher=Mansi publication|location=Delhi|isbn=978-81-89559-32-8}}</ref>
 
===Chhuikhadan===
Maharaja Jai Singh II obtained pledges from Ramanandi mahants and other vaishnava to maintain strict [[caste]] rules.
The chiefs of [[Chhuikhadan State]] were originally under the [[Bhonsle]]s of Nagpur, the first Chief being Mahant Rup Das in 1750. However, after defeat of [[Marathas]], they were recognized by British as feudatory chiefs in 1865 conferring the title and sanad to Mahant Laxman Das.<ref>Princely states of India: a guide to chronology and rulers by David P. Henige - 2004  - Page 48</ref>
 
Senugupta describes them as a High caste group.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Senugupta|first=Parna|title=Pedagogy for Religion: Missionary Education and the Fashioning of Hindus and Muslims in Bengal|publisher=University of California Press|year=2011|pages=104, 112}}</ref> According to [[Horace Arthur Rose|H.A. Rose]], in the [[Punjab]] and [[Haryana]], most of Bairagis were recruited from [[Jats]].<ref name="hey">{{citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LPsvytmN3mUC&dq=Brahmin+Bairagi&pg=PA36|title=A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province A.-K · Volume 2|author=Horace Arthur Rose|year=1997|page=36|publisher=Nirmal Publishers and Distributors|isbn=9788185297699}}</ref> Bairagi Sect in  bengal is mainly formed  by [[Pod (caste)|Poundra]], [[Karan (caste)|Kayastha]], [[Rajbongshi people|Rajbanshi]] Castes in [[Gaudiya Sampradaya]].
 
Vaishnavas were liberals but in the practice [[Brahmin]] Vaishnavas (Vaishnava Brahmins) took [[food]] only from another [[Brahmins]].<ref name="hey"/>
 
William Pinch believes that the Bairagi branch of Vaishnavas is the result of the [[Bhakti Movement]] in 1000th CE.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Choubey|first=Devendra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E9ry1df8VA4C&dq=bairagi+william+pinch&pg=PA282|title=Sahitya Ka Naya Soundaryashastra|publisher=Kitabghar Prakashan|isbn=978-81-89859-11-4|pages=282|language=hi}}</ref>
 
===Bairagi Brahmin Caste===
 
'''Bairagi Brahmin''' caste is formed of sedentary rasik (temple dwelling or temple priest) [[Brahmin]] members of the [[vaishnava]] [[sampradaya]]s especially the [[Ramanandi Sampradaya]]. They are the members of [[vaishnava]] [[sampradayas]]. They are married and they have families. And rights of [[priesthood]] pass to their [[Lineal descendant|descendants]]. It is found that Bairagi [[Brahmins]] are priest in the most of villages and cities.<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0019464612474165 | doi=10.1177/0019464612474165 | title=Toward a history of devotional Vaishnavism in the West Himalayas: Kullu and the Ramanandis, c. 1500–1800 | date=2013 | last1=Moran | first1=Arik | journal=The Indian Economic & Social History Review | volume=50 | pages=1–25 | url-access=subscription }}</ref>
 
According to Mayer, Status of Bairagis is equal with other [[Brahmins]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mayer|first=Adrian C.|title=Caste and Kinship in Central India|publisher=Routledge|year=1960|pages=28–29. 36–39}}</ref>
 
==Structure of Bairagi Brahmins==
Bairagi brahmins are divided into four [[Sampradaya]]s - often referred to collectively as the 'Chatur-Sampradaya'. 1. [[Rudra Sampradaya]] ([[Vishnuswami]]), 2. [[Sri Sampradaya]] ([[Ramanandi Sampradaya|Ramanandi]]), 3. [[Nimbarka Sampradaya]] and 4. [[Brahma Sampradaya]] ([[Madhvacharya]]).<ref name="Pinch 1996 https://archive.org/details/peasantsmonksinb0000pinc/page/27 27">{{cite book |title=Peasants and monks in British India |first=William R. |last=Pinch |publisher=University of California Press |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-520-20061-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/peasantsmonksinb0000pinc |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/peasantsmonksinb0000pinc/page/27 27]}}</ref>


==Akharas==
==Akharas==
There are three prominent Bairagi [[Vaishnavism|(Vaishnav)]] [[Akhara]]s:<ref name=relDis1>[South Asian Religions on Display: Religious Processions in South Asia and in the Diaspora, Knut A. Jacobsen, ISBN hardback 978-0-415-4373-3, ISBN ebook ISBN hardback 978-0-203-93059-5]</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Jāyasavāla|first=Akhileśa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DT9uAAAAMAAJ&q=ramanandacharya+bairagi|title=18vīṃ śatābdī meṃ Avadha ke samāja evaṃ saṃskr̥ti ke katipaya paksha: śodha prabandha|date=1991|publisher=Śāradā Pustaka Bhavana|language=hi}}</ref>
There are three prominent Bairagi [[Vaishnavism|(Vaishnav)]] [[Akhara]]s:<ref name=relDis1>{{cite book | editor-last=Jacobsen | editor-first=Knut A. | title=South Asian Religions on Display: Religious Processions in South Asia and in the Diaspora | publisher=Psychology Press | publication-place=London | date=2008 | isbn=978-0-415-43736-3 | page=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Jāyasavāla|first=Akhileśa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DT9uAAAAMAAJ&q=ramanandacharya+bairagi|title=18vīṃ śatābdī meṃ Avadha ke samāja evaṃ saṃskr̥ti ke katipaya paksha: śodha prabandha|date=1991|publisher=Śāradā Pustaka Bhavana|language=hi}}</ref>
* [[Digambara#Digambar akhara|Digambar Akhara]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=बाकी अखाड़ों से अलग कैसे है 'दिगंबर अखाड़ा'?|url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/knowledge/everything-you-need-to-know-about-shree-digambar-akhada-1625366.html|access-date=2021-06-14|website=News18 India|date=19 December 2018}}</ref>
* [[Digambara#Digambar akhara|Digambar Akhara]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=बाकी अखाड़ों से अलग कैसे है 'दिगंबर अखाड़ा'?|url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/knowledge/everything-you-need-to-know-about-shree-digambar-akhada-1625366.html|access-date=2021-06-14|website=News18 India|date=19 December 2018}}</ref>
* [[Nirmohi Akhara]]
* [[Nirmohi Akhara]]
Line 52: Line 68:


==Mahabharat==
==Mahabharat==
The [[Mahabharata]] says that once, after [[Babruvahana]] dug a dry pond, a Bairagi Brahmin reached the centre of pond and instantly water came out of the pond with a thunderous noise.<ref name="hi">{{citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Jk6oE4sh18C&dq=bairagi+brahmin&pg=PA100|title=India and Nepal : Sacred Centres and Anthropological Researches|author=Makhan Jha|year=1998|page=100|isbn=81-7533-081-3}}</ref>
The [[Mahabharata]] says that once, after [[Babruvahana]] dug a dry pond, a Bairagi Brahmin reached the centre of pond and instantly water came out of the pond with a thunderous noise.<ref name="hi">{{citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Jk6oE4sh18C&dq=bairagi+brahmin&pg=PA100|title=India and Nepal : Sacred Centres and Anthropological Researches|author=Makhan Jha|year=1998|page=100|publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. |isbn=81-7533-081-3}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Indian castes]]
[[Category:Indian castes]]
[[Category:Brahmin communities of Bihar]]
[[Category:Brahmin communities of Bihar]]
[[Category:Brahmin communities of Delhi]]
[[Category:Brahmin communities of Delhi]]
[[Category:Brahmin communities of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Brahmin communities of Uttar Pradesh]]

Latest revision as of 11:58, 21 February 2026


Not to be confused with the Celibate Ascetics (Vairagi).
Vaishnav Brahmin
Swami • Vaishnav • Mahant
Ramananda
ClassificationRamanandi Sampradaya • Nimbarka Sampradaya • Vishnuswami Sampradaya • Madhvacharya Sampradaya[1]
Kuladevta (male)Rama • Krishna • Satyanarayana • (Avatars of Vishnu) • Hanuman
Kuladevi (female)Sita • Radha • Rukmini • Tulsi • Bhudevi • (Avatars of Lakshmi)
GuruRamananda • Tulsidas • Nabha Dass • Ramanuja • Krishnadas Payahari
NishanKapidhwaj (Hanuman on Flag)
Religions Hinduism
LanguagesHindi • Awadhi • Gujarati • Bhojpuri • Assamese • Braj Bhasha • Maithili • Magahi • Angika • Bajjika • Nagpuri • Bagheli • Bundeli • Kannauji • Kauravi • Haryanvi • Bagri• Punjabi • Rajasthani • Chhattisgarhi • Odia • Bengali • Marathi • Tamil
CountryIndia • Nepal
Populated statesIndia
Uttar Pradesh • Gujarat • Rajasthan • Haryana • Bihar • Jharkhand • Madhya Pradesh • Himachal Pradesh • Uttarakhand • Rajasthan • Punjab • Maharastra • Chhattisgarh • Odisha • West Bengal • Haryana • Tamil Nadu • Tripura
Nepal
Madhesh
Feudal titleMahant/Swami/Bawa
ColorSaffron, red, yellow, or white
Historical groupingBrahmin
StatusMonasterial Community

Bairagi Brahmin or Vaishnav Bairagi or Vaishnav Brahmin is a Hindu caste. They are Hindu priests. They are sedentary rasik (temple dwelling or temple priest) Brahmin members of the Vaishnava sampradayas, especially the Ramanandi Sampradaya.[2] According to K.S. Singh, the community uses different surnames/titles in different states and union territories of India; these are: Swami, Bairagi, Mahanta, Maharaj, Vaishnav, Bawa, Pandit, Purohit, Goswami, Sharma, Das, Adhikari, Brahmachari.[3] They are Vaishnav, and wear the sacred thread. A majority[vague] of Bairagi Brahmin is found in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, and Odisha. Vaishnavas are considered to be part of the 'upper castes' of India.[4]

Vaishnav Sect and Vaishnav Brahmin Caste[edit | edit source]

Vaishnav Sect[edit | edit source]

Members of vaishnava sampradayas are called Bairagi or Vairagi. And these members are divided into three categories – renunciant (Virakt), warrior (Naga) and temple-dwelling (temple priest) ascetics. The most of renunciant and warrior are unmarried ascetics. Anyone can be member of these communities.[5] But there are evidences of different meetings of vaishnava mahants who have decided that member of anyone caste could not be member of the community.

"Decision was taken by all the vaishnava mahants that no one would be member of the community except Brahmin and Kshatriya. And other castes excluded from the community." – Galta Temple Meeting, 1713.[1]

Another case was of Maharaja Jai Singh II, king of Jaipur State held a meeting with all Vaishnavas mahants.

"Decision was taken that other castes would not be part of bairagis except Brahmin and Kshatriya." – Meeting of Maharaja Jai Singh II with Ramanandi mahants and other vaishnava to maintain strict caste rules, 1720.[6]

Maharaja Jai Singh II obtained pledges from Ramanandi mahants and other vaishnava to maintain strict caste rules.

Senugupta describes them as a High caste group.[7] According to H.A. Rose, in the Punjab and Haryana, most of Bairagis were recruited from Jats.[8] Bairagi Sect in bengal is mainly formed by Poundra, Kayastha, Rajbanshi Castes in Gaudiya Sampradaya.

Vaishnavas were liberals but in the practice Brahmin Vaishnavas (Vaishnava Brahmins) took food only from another Brahmins.[8]

William Pinch believes that the Bairagi branch of Vaishnavas is the result of the Bhakti Movement in 1000th CE.[9]

Bairagi Brahmin Caste[edit | edit source]

Bairagi Brahmin caste is formed of sedentary rasik (temple dwelling or temple priest) Brahmin members of the vaishnava sampradayas especially the Ramanandi Sampradaya. They are the members of vaishnava sampradayas. They are married and they have families. And rights of priesthood pass to their descendants. It is found that Bairagi Brahmins are priest in the most of villages and cities.[10]

According to Mayer, Status of Bairagis is equal with other Brahmins.[11]

Structure of Bairagi Brahmins[edit | edit source]

Bairagi brahmins are divided into four Sampradayas - often referred to collectively as the 'Chatur-Sampradaya'. 1. Rudra Sampradaya (Vishnuswami), 2. Sri Sampradaya (Ramanandi), 3. Nimbarka Sampradaya and 4. Brahma Sampradaya (Madhvacharya).[1]

Akharas[edit | edit source]

There are three prominent Bairagi (Vaishnav) Akharas:[12][13]

Hanuman Garhi Temple, a major site of Ramanandi Bairagis in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.

Mahabharat[edit | edit source]

The Mahabharata says that once, after Babruvahana dug a dry pond, a Bairagi Brahmin reached the centre of pond and instantly water came out of the pond with a thunderous noise.[15]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Pinch, William R. (1996). Peasants and monks in British India. University of California Press. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-520-20061-6.
  2. ↑ Moran, Arik (2013). "Toward a history of devotional Vaishnavism in the West Himalayas: Kullu and the Ramanandis, c. 1500–1800". The Indian Economic & Social History Review. 50: 1–25. doi:10.1177/0019464612474165.
  3. ↑ K.S. Singh (1996), PEOPLE OF INDIA, National Series Volume VIII, Communities, Segments, Synonyms, Surnames and Titles : Anthropological Survey of India, Oxford University Press, p. 1089, ISBN 0-19-563357-1
  4. ↑ Nirmal Kumar Bose, Some Aspects of Caste in Bengal, p. 399, Vol. 71, No. 281, Traditional India: Structure and Change, American Folklore Society
  5. ↑ Moran, Arik (2013). "Toward a history of devotional Vaishnavism in the West Himalayas: Kullu and the Ramanandis, c. 1500–1800". The Indian Economic & Social History Review. 50: 1–25. doi:10.1177/0019464612474165.
  6. ↑ Pinch, William R. (1996). Peasants and monks in British India. University of California Press. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-520-20061-6.
  7. ↑ Senugupta, Parna (2011). Pedagogy for Religion: Missionary Education and the Fashioning of Hindus and Muslims in Bengal. University of California Press. pp. 104, 112.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Horace Arthur Rose (1997), A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province A.-K · Volume 2, Nirmal Publishers and Distributors, p. 36, ISBN 9788185297699
  9. ↑ Choubey, Devendra. Sahitya Ka Naya Soundaryashastra (in हिन्दी). Kitabghar Prakashan. p. 282. ISBN 978-81-89859-11-4.
  10. ↑ Moran, Arik (2013). "Toward a history of devotional Vaishnavism in the West Himalayas: Kullu and the Ramanandis, c. 1500–1800". The Indian Economic & Social History Review. 50: 1–25. doi:10.1177/0019464612474165.
  11. ↑ Mayer, Adrian C. (1960). Caste and Kinship in Central India. Routledge. pp. 28–29. 36–39.
  12. ↑ Jacobsen, Knut A., ed. (2008). South Asian Religions on Display: Religious Processions in South Asia and in the Diaspora. London: Psychology Press. ISBN 978-0-415-43736-3.
  13. ↑ Jāyasavāla, Akhileśa (1991). 18vīṃ śatābdī meṃ Avadha ke samāja evaṃ saṃskr̥ti ke katipaya paksha: śodha prabandha (in हिन्दी). Śāradā Pustaka Bhavana.
  14. ↑ "बाकी अखाड़ों से अलग कैसे है 'दिगंबर अखाड़ा'?". News18 India. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  15. ↑ Makhan Jha (1998), India and Nepal : Sacred Centres and Anthropological Researches, M.D. Publications Pvt., p. 100, ISBN 81-7533-081-3
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