Parents of Chi. Lakshmipathy (ID. 7185) are very happy to inform that the marriage of Lakshmipathy who has registered his profile in www.BrahminsMatrimony.com (ID. 7185) has been fixed.

The wedding falls on 20th August 2008 and will be celebrated in Chennai.

"Our Thanks are due to the organizers of www.BrahminsMatrimony.com for their services", they say .

We greet the couple Chi. Lakshmipathy and Sow. Sangeetha for their happy married life.

Brahmins of India: What it Means to Be a Brahmin

Those who do not live in India simply hear or read about the Brahmins of India. Understanding the term Brahmin is actually easier said than done. Those who are not thoroughly familiar with it simply remember it being taught in social studies class as the highest class in the Indian caste system.  In reality, it is a spiritual concept that has evolved to accommodate class, sub-classes and complex religious rites. What does it really mean to be a Brahmin?

Brahmin is actually already an English word. It originated from the Sanskrit Brahmana. Before the Vedic Age, the Brahmins were scholars, priests and teachers who spent their lives learning and teaching. These Brahmins achieved the highest form of spiritual truth or knowledge. Contrary to popular belief, the first Brahmins were not the highest group in society. Anyone from any class or birth history could aspire or become a Brahmin. There were however, requisites to this distinction. Aside from dedicating ones life to scholarly learning, would-be Brahmins also had to lead ascetic lives and learn to control both the mind and the body.

In time, this concept of the Brahmin changed. The Brahmins were already a respected group of people. It has been suggested by some scholars that some Brahmins perhaps wanted to retain their exalted position. Hence, the Brahmins themselves may have contributed to the gradual solidification of the caste system in which they occupied the highest level. Rigid class distinctions became more apparent through time. It became very difficult or nearly impossible for lower classes to cross to the Brahmin class. The Brahmin caste distinction also became restricted to Brahmin families, the sons and daughters of which could not marry below their caste.

The Brahmins of India hence became the most respected class of priests. They studied and taught the Vedas. To outsiders, the Vedas are understood as sacred scriptures but to the Hindus, they are a body of revealed truths. In the old caste system, Brahma strictly chose to reveal truth to the Brahmins who were even believed to have had divine origins. Aside from teaching the Vedas, the Brahmins also took charge or religious rituals and ceremonies. To this day, the execution of religious practices requires a Brahmin.

Because the Brahmins were at the highest level of society, they also became very influential. Their influence seemed logical since they were the scholars and teachers of truth. Their advice was sought by the warrior and merchant classes. Hence, they became responsible for many social laws that governed Indian society.

Among the Brahmin caste are further subdivisions. The main division is between the Pancha Gauda of the north and the Pancha Dravida of the south. Among the northern Brahmins are the Gauda, Utkala, Kanyakubja, Mithila and Sarasvata. The southern Brahmins are the Telinga, Malabar, Maharashtra, Dravida and Karnataka. Regardless of a Brahmin’s geographic location, he should be able to trace his lineage to any of the seven great ancient Brahmins.

At present, there has been another change to the concept of the Brahmin. Many Brahmins now participate in activities that are non-religious. Some of them are in the fields of business and politics. Unfortunately, there are also some reports both from foreign and Indian observers that some Brahmins have fallen well bellow their esteemed positions. Some of those who belong to Brahmin lineages have been found to be living under very poor conditions and performing menial tasks. There are also some individuals who claim to be able to easily change their distinction to Brahmin after changing their names, hence theoretically eliminating the age-old concept of caste.

The Brahmins of India have truly come a long way. Regardless of the changes in understanding and in distinction though, the Brahmins remain a vital part of Indian culture and history.