The Divine Qualities that Show What A True Brāhmaṇa Is
Establishing a truly progressive society requires recognizing and elevating individuals who exhibit the highest standards of morality, spiritual knowledge, and spotless character. By deeply analyzing the Vedic scriptures, Śrīla Prabhupāda provides a crystal-clear definition of this intellectual class, emphasizing their strict sense control, truthfulness, and absolute dedication to the Supreme Lord. When such pure, unalloyed individuals are honored and supported by society, they act as the very mouth of God, showering divine blessings and ultimate liberation upon everyone.
Defined by Qualification and Qualities
The title of an intellectual is earned strictly through merit, not through the accident of birth in an aristocratic family. A genuine representative of this class must perfectly control their mind and senses while executing severe austerities and studying the spiritual sciences. Through the flawless teachings of Śrīla Prabhupāda, we understand that these individuals must exhibit twelve distinct qualities, most notably absolute truthfulness and tolerance, to be recognized as true guides.
- A brahmana is accepted on the merit of qualification and not on the merit of simply being the son of a brahmana.
- A brahmana is highly qualified when he can control his senses and mind, when he is a learned scholar in spiritual science and when he is tolerant and forgiving.
- A brahmana is supposed to be qualified with twelve qualities. As stated in the Mahabharata: A brahmana must be perfectly religious. He must be truthful, and he must be able to control his senses. He must execute severe austerities.
- Brahmanas are satyam samah damah. He must be truthful, he must control the senses, control the mind... samo damah,... He must be tolerant. He should not be agitated in trifle matters.
The Mouth of the Supreme Lord
In Vedic culture, the pure intellectual class is revered as the direct representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead on earth. Because they spend their lives chanting the holy names and Vedic mantras, they are considered the mouth of the Lord. As Śrīla Prabhupāda explains, whenever these pure individuals are sumptuously fed and given charity during festivals, the Supreme Lord Himself happily accepts the offerings.
- According to the Vedic injunctions, a brahmana is the mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; therefore in all rituals a brahmana is offered food because when a brahmana eats, it is considered that the Supreme Lord Himself eats.
- According to our Vedic civilization, whenever, whenever there is any ceremony, the brahmanas are..., are sumptuously fed. Because brahmanas are considered to be the mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- In every festival the brahmanas are to be fed first, and when the brahmanas are pleased they bless the festival by chanting Vedic mantras or the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.
- The cowherd men from Vrndavana gave the brahmanas cows decorated with golden ornaments and beautiful garlands. The brahmanas are given charity because they are not engaged in any business profession.
The Guide and Teacher
The fundamental business of this highly elevated class is to act as the brain of society, performing the intellectual work required to keep human civilization on the right path. They deeply study the scriptures, perform austerities, and then distribute that vital knowledge to the general public. We find in the guidance given by Śrīla Prabhupāda that without the direction of these expert teachers, the other classes would wander blindly into material suffering.
- Brahmana is meant for doing the brain work. He will give advice. Just like we, Krsna consciousness movement, we are not meant for the ksatriya's or vaisya's business, the devotees, but if required they can take. But real business is brahmana's business.
- Brahmanas are required for the guidance of the whole society.
- Brahmanas are supposed to acquire six kinds of auspicious qualifications: they become expert in worshiping the Lord or the demigods (yajana), and they teach others how to execute this worship (yajana).
- They (brahmanas) are supposed to be engaged in brahminical occupations, as described in the Bhagavad-gita namely, they must be very learned and must perform austerity and penances. Not only must they themselves be learned, but they must also teach others.
Spotlessly Clean and Pure
To effectively guide others, the teacher must maintain a standard of impeccable cleanliness, internally and externally. This state of śaucam requires daily bathing, wearing clean clothes, and remaining free from all material greed. As Śrīla Prabhupāda strictly notes, if a person loses this purity and adopts the degraded habits of lower classes, they are strictly prohibited from accepting charity.
- The brahmana is called suci. He is always clean, taking three times bath, cloth washed, mouth, hands, legs, all clean, with tilaka. That is brahmana. Saucam.
- The brahmanas are the highest social order, and they imbibe the modes of goodness and are engaged in the activities of equality, restraint, and forgiveness.
- The religious principle for a brahmana is that he should not be greedy at all.
- Unless a brahmana is very pure, he cannot accept charity from others. Charity should be given to those who are pure. Even if one is born in a family of brahmanas, if one acts as a sudra one cannot accept charity, for this is strictly prohibited.
An Elevated Vaiṣṇava
While being a learned scholar is a highly respectable material achievement, it does not represent the ultimate perfection of life. A true intellectual completely utilizes their knowledge to understand the Absolute Truth and engage exclusively in the loving service of Kṛṣṇa. Through the profound realizations presented by Śrīla Prabhupāda, we learn that when an intellectual transforms into a pure vaiṣṇava, they become the most exalted and worshipable entity in the entire universe.
- Even a brahmana is also under the control of material nature. But the same brahmana, when he becomes a Vaisnava, a devotee, he becomes the best of the brahmanas.
- Brahmanas are meant to understand the Absolute Truth, and once they understand the truth and actually engage in the loving service of the Lord, they can be called Vaisnavas.
- The brahmanas are always dedicated to the Lord's service with their bodies, words and mind. There is no better person than a brahmana who thus engages himself and dedicates himself to the Supreme Lord.
- A brahmana who is well versed in Vedic knowledge and fully conversant with transcendental matters becomes a representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore one should worship such a brahmana or Vaisnava.
Conclusion
A true brāhmaṇa is the most valuable asset to human civilization, distinguished entirely by their impeccable character, relentless truthfulness, and profound realization of the Absolute Truth. As conclusively established by Śrīla Prabhupāda, these extraordinary individuals dedicate their entire existence to teaching and guiding humanity toward spiritual perfection, completely indifferent to personal material gain. By honoring and following the advice of such pure vaiṣṇavas, the entire world can be effortlessly delivered from the darkest illusions of material existence.
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