Brahmin was the vocation for gathering and storing knowledge (Veda) and transmitting it to others. Moreover, by possessing the knowledge related to BRAHMAN (Brahm or God) and scriptures, a brahmin was also responsible for taking care of priestly duties in the society.

Anyone, irrespective of caste (1), could become a brahmin after getting proper education. The training to become a brahmin was quite rigorous and lasted for several decades in a gurukul (abode of guru or teacher) where a student would learn about Sanskrit language, Shastras (scriptures) and Darshanas (philosophies) etc. The knowledge from guru in a gurukul would be imparted to his students mainly in the form of sruti (by hearing process) because the written manuscripts were not widely available due to difficulties in preparing them manually.

Educating a student to become a brahmin usually started with the Upanayanam (initiation) ceremony while he was still young, about six or seven years old (even later sometimes and after preliminary tutoring). The initiation was performed to familiarize him with the requirements and rigors waiting ahead during his education. After being initiated, the potential student would generally leave his family and home behind to go and live in a far-off gurukul for several decades. There, he would assist in the gurukul, by performing manual chores, to pay back for his room, board and education.

The Upanayanam ceremony gave the student a new status of dvija or twice-born, which basically indicated that he had taken a vow of self-discipline, honesty, hard work, commitment to his cause, respect for his guru and elders, etc. It also implied that he understood and agreed to persevere and stay focused and determined to complete his education. Broadly speaking, Upanayanam would comprise initial or introductory process and instructions for acquiring knowledge, including in spiritual matters, scriptures and priestly duties (profession).

The sacred vow (pledge) by a young boy during Upanayanam, in front of the sacred fire and under the supervision of an officiating priest, was physically signified by wrapping a thread (sacred-thread or yagyopavit) around his body. The sacred thread would bind him symbolically to the vow and remind him about it for the rest of his life, even while working as a brahmin. Note that the initial yagyopavit (sacred-thread) and its successive replacements, used in place of discarded and worn out threads, would always be donned by the student and the brahmin.

Acquiring the dvija or twice-born status signified being born in spirit and undergoing a spiritual growth and mental and emotional transformations while still living. It had nothing to do with being physically reborn or exiting the womb twice. Similarly, dvija was not related in anyway to the previous birth or reincarnation. Its essential purpose was to undergo a mental and emotional preparation to face the demanding and disciplined life, requiring qualities of truthfulness, honesty and humility etc. Upanayanam also acted as a preliminary exercise and introduction in proper behavior (decency and courtesy towards others and having a calm and contemplative demeanor) for sruti learning.

As explained above, the sacred thread wrapped around the body acted as a constant reminder that the person, student as well as a practicing brahmin, had taken a vow to adhere to the qualities of hard work, humility, kindness, politeness and honesty etc. Note also that while the profession of brahmin was open to all, including the Sudras (2), it was mainly pursued by males. The females, with the exception of Gargi et al. (1), often stayed away from it because of the initial difficulties in education which was quite a rigorous, lengthy and time-consuming process, taking place usually in a remote gurukul (2). Consequently, because less number of females pursued the braminical vocation, women traditionally were not associated with the Upanayanam ceremony in their childhood or wearing the yagyopavit (sacred thread) around their body afterwards.

Finally, as indicated before, the process to become a brahmin was in completing the necessary training (education) etc., and not merely undergoing the Upanayanam (initiation) ceremony, acquiring the dvija (twice born) status or having (wearing) the yagyopavit (sacred thread) around one's body.

REFERENCES

(2) Subhash C. Sharma, “The cost of learning: the parable of Yagnavalkaya’s cattle”, Jan. 27, 2007, http://www.geocities.com/lamberdar/sruti_learning.html

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By: Dr. Subhash C. Sharma
Email: [email protected]
Date: July 9, 2007

link to: Related topics by the author