Assamese Brahmin: Difference between revisions
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{{Culture of Assam}} |
{{Culture of Assam}} |
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'''Assamese Brahmins''' are the [[Brahmins]] present in the [[Assamese people|Assamese society]]. |
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'''Assamese Brahmins''' are the [[Brahmins]] present in the [[Assamese people|Assamese society]]. There are two classes of Brahmins in [[Assam]] Chandra-Vipra ( Brahman/ Bamun) and Surya-Vipra (Daivagya Brahman/ Ganak). In Assam, usually The Chandra-Vipras perform the tasks of a Pujari in the Douls/Devalayas ( Temples ) and hindu households and The Surya-Vipras perform the tasks of Jyotish, Ayurved, Graha Pujas etc. But there are exceptions, in many parts of Assam( specially in Lower Assam) Surya-Vipras also perform the task of a pujari in many Devalayas. Similarly, some Chandra-Vipras also perform Jyotish & Ayurvedic tasks. The Assamese Brahmins were originally priests from different regions of India ( like Mithila, Kannauj, Bengal etc ), who came to Assam on the Invitation of different Kings. From or Before the time when Assam was known as Pragjyotishpur ( mentioned in Mahabharata), Brahmins are coming to this region. The Religious worship in temples is generally carried out by them.<ref>{{harv|Barua|2000|pp=1–3}}</ref> |
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There they promoted learning, [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic religion]] and astrology, ayurveda as well as imparting general vedic knowledge to the public.<ref>{{harv|Dikshit|Dikshit|2013|p=397}}</ref> The Brahmins of Assam are the descendants of early migrants from the Gangetic valley and a succession of influences, ideas and cultures entered Assam with them. The Brahmins and [[Kayastha]]s came to Assam from [[Mithila (region)|Videha (Mithila)]], [[Kannauj]],<ref>{{harv|Dikshit|Dikshit|2013|p=390}}</ref> Bengal and many other places. |
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== History == |
== History == |
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Revision as of 01:18, 2 August 2023
_by_Sophie_Charlotte_Belnos,_digitally_enhanced_by_rawpixel-com_21.jpg){kind=tracking} A Brahmin priest performing daily prayers | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Assam, India | |
| Languages | |
| Assamese | |
| Religion | |
 Hinduism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Kanyakubja Brahmin, Maithil Brahmin, Utkala Brahmin, Bahun, Bengali Brahmins, Saraswat Brahmins, Kulin Brahmins |
| Part of a series on the |
| Culture of Assam |
|---|
 |
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Assamese Brahmins are the Brahmins present in the Assamese society.
History
Brahmins are considered to be one of the oldest Hindu settlers in the region and held the highest positions in society.[4][5]
The earliest historical evidence of settlement of Brahmins in Assam comes from epigraphic sources of the Varman dynasty (350–650).[6] In the late medieval period beginning with the early 16th century, a number of Brahmins from Mithila, Benaras, Kanauj, Bengal and Puri (Srikshetra), were settled in western Assam by the Koch kings for performing Brahminical rites.[7][8][9] During the reign of Nara Narayan (1554-1587) of the Koch dynasty, two Brahmins named Siddhantavagisa and Vidyavagisa were brought from Gauda and Siddhantavagisa was responsible for the spread of Hinduism in the Koch kingdom[10] Even during the reign of Koch king Prannarayana (1633-1655), Brahmins were brought from Mithilia to serve in the Koch kingdom[11] and this process was later continued by the Ahom state especially under the Tungkhungia Ahom kings with Siva Singha donating 19 out of the 48 landgrants by the Ahom kings to Brahmins.[12] The migration of Brahmins into Assam took place from Central Himalayas as well.[13] Most of these migration took place due to the foreign invasions in North India and on the invitation by the local rulers.[14]
Tradition and culture
Lagundeoni/Upanayan
Traditionally, the ceremony of Lagundeoni – one of the Sanskaras or rites of passage marking acceptance of a student by a Guru, is a quite prevalent ritual within the community.[15] A sacred thread – Lagun (the Yajnopavit), given by a Pujari during the ceremony is a symbolic reminder to the young male born to the Brahmin family of his purpose at school, as well as a social marker of the student as someone who has embarked his journey into formal education, where education itself is not limited to ritual and philosophical speculations, but extends to all practical aspects of culture and life in general. The ceremony is typically performed between ages 12 – 14 among Brahmin males.
Death rituals
Brahmins of the Assam valley follow a different death ritual as opposed to the other indigenous communities in Assam. A religious rite, known as Caturthā is performed on the 4th day of a person's demise unlike Tiloni, performed on the 3rd day of person's demise by non–Brahmin indigenous communities.[16]
Pujas
Most Brahmin families are involved in performing religious rituals.[17] These are known as Pujas. The main Pujas are as follows - Satyanarayan Puja, Durga Puja, Laxmi Puja, Shiva Puja, Ganesha Puja, Saraswati Puja, Annapura Puja, Jagadhatri Puja, Kali Puja and many others.
Lifestyle and diet
Although in general Brahmins observe all the customary rituals, they appear usually less rigid.[18] Although Assamese Brahmins do not practise vegetarianism, they are quite critical of the food and eating practises of others. Other Brahmins in India view Assamese Brahmins as filthy and impure.[19]
See also
Notes
- ^ "639 Identifier Documentation: aho – ISO 639-3". SIL International (formerly known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics). SIL International. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
Ahom [aho]
- ^ "Population by Religious Communities". Census India – 2001. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
Census Data Finder/C Series/Population by Religious Communities
- ^ "Population by religion community – 2011". Census of India, 2011. The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 25 August 2015.
2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01 MDDS.XLS
- ^ (Bose 1989)
- ^ "Culture – Social Life, Social Institutions, Women". Government of Assam. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- ^ "On the other hand, this story may reflect the historical process of the expansion of agrarian settlements of the brahmanas which has been recognized from the Bhauma-Varman dynasty." ( & Shin 2010:10)
- ^ Shin (2010), p. 22: "It is suggested that under the Koch kings, patronage of brahmans began earlier and more vigorously than in the Ahom kingdom. Encouraged both by the Koch kings and the regional bhuiyan landlords, a number of brahmanas from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Bengal migrated into western Assam in the sixteen century"
- ^ (Adhikary 2018): Apart from this Maharaja Biswa Singha (Koch dynasty) invited a large number of Brahmins from Kanouj, Benaras and other learning places and provided them rent free lands to perform religious practice. He also appointed Ballabhacharya, the chief priest of Kamakhya Temple to Koch Kingdom."
- ^ (Sheikh 2012, p. 251): "He (Biswa Singha) brought some learned Brahmanas from Mithila, Benaras, Kanauj, and Srikshetra (Puri) to his kingdom in order to perform the Brahminical rituals"
- ^ (Sheikh 2012:251)
- ^ (Shin 2021:32)
- ^ Das (2014), p. 158: "The practice of giving grants to gain religious merit can be seem in full blossom in Ahom times"
- ^ (Witzel 1993:266)
- ^ (Witzel 1993:266)
- ^ "Assam State Gazetteer Vol. 1, page 317 – Government of Assam". Mr. Amlan Baruah and S.B. Roy Choudhury. 1999. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- ^ (Sarma 1990, p. 54)
- ^ "Religion and Caste". Assam On–line Portal, Government of Assam. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- ^ (Bose 1989, p. 44)
- ^ Saikia, Yasmin (9 November 2004). Fragmented Memories: Struggling to be Tai-Ahom in India. Duke University Press. p. 289. ISBN 978-0-8223-8616-2.
Assamese Brahmins are not vegetarians, but they are very judgmental about other peoples' food and eating habits. Brahmins else- where in India consider the Assamese Brahmins polluted and impure
References
Published-sources
- Witzel, Michael (1993), "Towards a History of the Brahmins", Journal of the American Oriental Society, 113 (2), American Oriental Society: 264–268, doi:10.2307/603031, JSTOR 603031
- Shin, Jae-Eun (2010). "Yoni, Yoginīs and Mahāvidyās: Feminine Divinities from Early Medieval Kāmarūpa to Medieval Koch Behar, Studies in History". Studies in History. 26 (1): 1–29. doi:10.1177/025764301002600101. S2CID 155252564.
- Adhikary, Madhab. (2018), "Development of Saiva Cult in Koch Kingdom Under Maharaja Biswa Singha (1496-1540).", Uttar Prasanga, 12 (3–4): 25–31
- Das, Sneha (2014). "Engraved Histories: A Study of Legend of Naraka and Political Legitimacy in the Kamarupa Region". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 75. Indian History Congress: 153–159. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44158374.
- Sheikh, Amiruzzaman (2012). "The 16th century Koch kingdom: Evolving patterns of sanskritisation". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 73: 249–254. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44156212.
- Barua, Preeti (2000). Nalinibala Devi. ISBN 9788126009169.
- Dikshit, K. R.; Dikshit, Jutta K. (2013). North-East India: Land, People and Economy. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9789400770553.
- Bose, Manilal (1989). Social History of Assam: Being a Study of the Origins of Ethnic Identity and Social Tension During the British Period, 1905-1947 – Pre–British History and Society. ISBN 9788170222248.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - Patra, S. C. (2011). Socio-economic profile of Rural India (series II) – Roots. ISBN 9788180697241.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - Sarma, Anjali (1990). Among the Luminaries in Assam: A Study of Assamese Biography. ISBN 9788170992073.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - Shin, Jae-Eun (2021). "Sword and Words: A Conflict Between Kings and Brahmins in the Bengal Frontier, Kāmatāpur 15th-16th Centuries". Journal of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums. 3. Government of West Bengal: 21–36.
Internet
• Surya, Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi • Surya and Suryavipra, Gulukeshwar Boruah