Brahmans
Highest caste members
Brahmans is the plural of Brahman, which has two distinct meanings.
In Hinduism, Brahman (also spelled Brahma) is the supreme cosmic principle or ultimate reality underlying all existence.
Separately, a Brahman (also Brahmin) is a member of the highest Hindu caste, traditionally the priestly and scholarly class: The Brahmans performed the temple rituals.
In American usage, Brahman also refers to a breed of cattle developed from Indian stock, prized for heat tolerance: Texas ranchers favor Brahmans for their hardiness.
Ordained religious leaders
- VedasHindu canonical texts
- varnaHindu hereditary social order
- ritualsCeremonial repeated practices
- sacredWorthy of reverence
purity · Sanskrit · ceremonies · temples · scriptures · dharma · mantras · caste system
Humped Asian cattle
- humpRounded raised mass
- dewlapHanging neck fold
- TexasSecond-largest American state
- ranchingOperating a livestock farm
beef · drought-resistant · crossbreeding · livestock · gray coat · American South · rodeo · longhorn
Hindu eternal essence
- UpanishadsVedic philosophical scriptures
- ultimate realityFundamental nature of existence
- cosmic consciousnessSpiritual unity with totality
- AdvaitaHindu philosophy denying separation
Vedanta · nonduality · absolute · eternal · metaphysics · unity · transcendence · existence
priests
Ordained religious leaders
sacred · purity · Sanskrit · ceremonies · temples · scriptures · dharma · mantras · caste system · twice-born
zebu
Humped Asian cattle
ranching · beef · drought-resistant · crossbreeding · livestock · gray coat · American South · rodeo · longhorn · ranchers
Atman
Hindu eternal essence
- UpanishadsVedic philosophical scriptures
- ultimate realityFundamental nature of existence
- cosmic consciousnessSpiritual unity with totality
Advaita · Vedanta · nonduality · absolute · eternal · metaphysics · unity · transcendence · existence · consciousness
Brahmansdowntrodden
Persistently mistreated and degraded
dispossessed · subalterns · marginalized communities · servants · laborers