The Bin!

Not recently, but at different points of time, this question has been raised to me directly or indirectly which I think I should clarify in detail. People tend to suggest me what I should do and what I should not, and criticize me for things I do as they believe shouldn’t be done by a so called Brahmins.

Starting with who do we call Brahmin in Hindu religion, I think anyone can refer to the pretty well explained wikipedia article. But to summarize in a sentence, I can say that those who bear the ‘Brahmagyaan’ or ‘the knowledge of the Universe’ are considered as Brahmins. Now, what does ‘knowledge of Universe’ means ? At the time when Hindu religion was shaping up, it is ridiculous to assume that man had the knowledge of the entire Universe. In fact, it was the contents of the Vedas and Upanishads that were considered to be the knowledge centers. So in short, Brahmins were those fellows, who were highly literate at those times, and knew pretty well of the Vedas and Upanishads.

Do I have the knowledge of Vedas and Upanishads ? I don’t have the faintest idea of these. So I am not a Brahmin by definition.

Now that was how the Brahmins originated. Literate learned persons in the society. And in those days, most of the people used to be very religious. Of course we have religious people now also, but the ratio is substantially low. They used to worship their Gods. And they needed someone to do it for them. Now obviously it was the Brahmin people who did this job as they were learned enough and could recite sanskrit shlokas. And with time, they got this specific identity as Pundits and Temple Priests. And when social structure was divided into castes based on their job profile, Brahmins were known to be the people doing all sorts of religious rituals.

Do I do rituals etc. or the job of a priest ? No! So I am not a Brahmin by profession.

The next thing that comes into question is heredity. I am born in a family that has a Brahmin surname. But does it make sense to call someone a Brahmin, just because he is born with such a surname? What difference does a surname make ? We should better stick to the original definition of a Brahmin which makes better logic, than to claim that caste is hereditary.

I have been criticized for eating non-vegetarian food being a so called Brahmin. What does my taste buds have to do with my surname ? Should I stop eating what I like to eat, just because my surname matches with the category of people who used to be vegetarians in some ancient time ? And in today’s world, I have seen many people who claim themselves as Brahmin and still eat non veg food. At least I am not being hypocritical.

I have been criticized for not knowing how to worship. Not holding fasts. Not going to the temple and not knowing the Hanuman Chalisa or other shlokas. Do you expect me to do all those things that a Brahmin used to do in 19th century probably ? In that case, I shouldn’t have done Engineering as Brahmins are not supposed to do this job! In fact, almost all of us, shouldn’t be doing what we are doing, by the Hindu religion’s definition of castes. Should we all move back by 100 years ? Ridiculous!

I am not saying that knowing the shlokas or Hanuman Chalisa drags you back into the historical period. But then, knowing it is also not a compulsory thing. If you are interested, go ahead and learn. If you are not, chill! It has got nothing to do with my surname whatsoever. And knowing these things doesn’t make one a better person than the other guy who doesn’t know it. I am an Engineer by profession. And I am better than many! I am not a priest by any standards, so do not search for the skills of a priest in me.

And if I would start everything doing like a so called Brahmin should do, you’ll again start pointing fingers at me for I wouldn’t touch you, I would treat you as lower untouchable castes, I wouldn’t join you for dinner and I wouldn’t allow you to enter my house! Will you be happy if everyone in the society behaves in this way ? At one side, you complaint about the caste-ism and at the same time you want me to behave as a Brahmin ? Who is being hypocritical now ?

I will not talk about fasts, worshiping, temple going etc. They belong to a different league of matters and I would write another piece of junk sometime on those things. But to summarize, Brahmanism  is not hereditary, it is something which is earned. We can’t move forward if we stick to old customs which probably were good at old times but do not fit now. Eating non veg on a Thursday or Tuesday is as heinous (if you think it heinous) as eating it on a Sunday. And going to the temple every Monday wouldn’t make oneself more human. Some people go for jogging every morning, some go to temples to satisfy their inner mind. Its just a matter of choice. It doesnt make one superior or inferior to others.

Finally, it is ridiculous to say that I should do something because my surname says so!