How I became a Brahmin
With no doubt I declare my-self as Brahmin [in-progress]. As a
matter of fact, I belong to the backward caste (OBC) as per the Indian caste
system. This is a story about how one from a backward or scheduled caste can
also become a Brahmin.
Since my childhood I cultivated a kind of habit which Brahmin’s do
in India. After my college days and later I realized soul can get birth in any
place, but everyone is eligible to practice Brahmin rituals. Please have
patience to get lights on my interesting story…
Before I go to my story… Here is the Sri Krishna thought
on caste system, unfortunately Indian political system suppressed these core
facts. As per my Brahmin Friend every individual has eligibility to practice
Brahmin rituals.
Lord Krishna speaks to Arjuna as he clarifies the origin and
purpose of the caste system in sanatana dharma.
The
four-fold order was created by Me according to the divisions of quality and
work. Though I am its creator..
Cāturvarṇyaṃ:
the four-fold order. The four varnas are named - Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya
and Shudra. They constitute the four-fold order. The three gunas - sattva,
rajas and tamas - and the law of karma - these four elements were divided by Me
to create the four varnas.
·
Sattva guna predominates in Brahmins - and they are assigned the
tasks (karma) of sham, dam, tapas (meditation) etc.
·
Rajas guna predominates in Kshatriyas - sattva guna is secondary.
Their karma is to be warriors and show bravery and tejas.
·
Rajas guna also predominates in Vaishyas - tamas guna is
secondary. Their karma is to be farmers and traders.
·
Tamas guna predominates in Shudras - rajas guna is secondary.
Their karma is to serve others.
The emphasis is on guna (aptitude) and karma (function) and not on
jaati (birth). The varna or the order to which we belong is independent of sex,
birth or breeding. A varna is determined by temperament and vocation - not by
birth or heredity.
According to the Mahabharata, the whole world was originally of one class but later it became divided into four divisions on account of the specific duties. (Ref: https://www.eaglespace.com/spirit/gita_castesystem.php)
Let me come back to my story, how I became Brahmin. This is my pure
personal experience, not influenced by any belief systems or books.
In my opinion Gayatri Mantra is the most powerful mantra among all
other mantras in the Ancient Indian Spiritual Science. This was discovered by
Brahmarshi Vishwamitra.
Since my childhood I'm very keen in understanding and learning
about our devotional and spiritual science. I'm a very practical person, simply
don't believe things based on others beliefs.
How I
discovered this power of Gayatri Mantra:
In 2015, I accepted Yajnopavita to practice Brahmin’s ritual in a
more systematic way. I was travelling using office cab, there were few Brahmin
colleagues who were discussing about the Upakarma that day - Full moon day (ನೂಲು ಹುಣ್ಣಿಮೆ),
one can exchange old Yajnopavita with new. That day with the guidance of my
Brahmin friends I started practicing rituals which Brahmin’s do. SandhyaVandana
and Other Pooja practices.
Yagnopavita comprises of 3 threads (for bachelors) and 6 threads
(for married person). After wearing this suddenly I noticed there is a change
in my alertness and awareness. And Yajnopavita became a reminder for me to
follow the SandhyaVandana without fail. I started practicing this 2 times a
day, immediately after taking bath. Especially I take cold water bath in the
evening.
Since the beginning, I continued practice of this SandhyaVandana,
agnihotra [Agnihotra I do occasionally] I have experienced greater levels of awareness,
great health. Also noticed an enhancement in my consciousness.
How
strictly I followed SandhyaVandana:
This practice I never missed, all 365 days I'm taking cold water
bath [in evening]. Since I work in corporate [Software profession], sometimes I
reach home at night 11pm, 12am and so on. Never skipped doing this.
Sometimes after a friend's party or office party and get together,
I have reached home at 1am or 2am, still I took a cold water bath and went to
bed after finishing SandhyaVandana and Gayatri Mantra chanting.
In the year 2017, I went to Himalayas for Trekking. There people
were scared to touch the water due to heavy cold. I took a cold water bath.
(10500 feet above sea level) Everyone in my trekking team was shocked by
looking at me.
Yes, truly the water was equivalent to ice, but my determination
and discipline was bigger than that.
Before I took a bath, I just remembered our moola Guru's: Adi
Shankaracharya, Acharya Madhwa, Ramanuja Acharya like - You great people
travelled all parts of India and followed every discipline without fail, I'm
doing the same with your inspirations, bless me.
Everyone in the Trek team was literally shocked, some of them
asked, you don't want to go back? As you are taking such a risky attempt.
With this experience I can say our Babas living in Himalayas is
true and they are divine flowers of India.
Practice
of Gayatri Mantra:
There are so many customs for this, they are designed to help
people to get enlightenment. Unfortunately, some people use those to escape
from not doing, if we do, we need to do full else we should not do. This is
making many people skip in the name of fear.
I don't get the logic here. Assume if you donate ₹1 you get some
punya, if you donate ₹100 you get more punya. Similarly doing one Gayatri
Mantra also brings benefits to you, if you do 108 times you get more benefits.
Please don't skip in the name of number or rules or profession or place or
time.
Some of them skip doing, if we do, we have to do at exact time,
else we should not do. To pray to God every time is a good time. God will never
decline your prayers due to timings.
So, Stop having fear… Here is an interesting story Satan (devil) become jobless!?
Who is
eligible to do this?
After practicing for a few days, I asked one of my other Brahmin
friend, is it only reserved for the Brahmin community? He said, that is the
most stupid thing people think. SandhyaVandana and Yagnopavita is for all.
Anyone and everyone eligible to do this.
He is absolutely right. Unfortunately, in the name of cast and
community we have limited our spiritual practices to few communities. Or else
long back India would become a Viswa Guru [World teacher]. Now we are
witnessing that western people [Europe and America, and so on] are following
these practices. Remember, most of the western people are more practical,
simply they don’t follow something, once they get to know its scientific values
and powerful benefits they do follow and practice.
One good thing is if most of the educated people understand the
benefits of spiritual science and promote this, we have a possibility to
witness a close to extinct Brahmin community become a majority community in
India and world. I’m saying this without any selfishness, I want all to
experience the real power of India's spiritual science.
Great
thing is most of the Western countries are realising benefits of Indian
Spirituality. As some of us have a habit of following the West, since they are
doing it in a more disciplined way, soon our people will also follow them.
There is a saying in Kannada. ಶಂಖದಿಂದ ಬಂದರೆ ನೇ ತೀರ್ಥ
ಆಗೋದು means: If water come from a conch then only it become Teertha
(pure).
Did I
become Brahmin?
I’m on the way, sooner or later I will become a pure Brahmin. When
I chit chat with my Brahmin friends, I usually say as I’m a converted Brahmin.
They laugh at me and encourage my practice.
Becoming Brahmin is power which is higher than any power in this
world. That is what Sri Brahmarshi Viswamitra demonstrated to the world. I’m
saying these things with my practical experiences. With this I noticed great
health benefits (both mental and physical). It also increases our immunity and
consciousness.
Everyone is eligible to become a Brahmin, thought of becoming
Brahmin itself is a beautiful thought.
Final word: if you are wearing Yagnopavita and doing SandhyaVandana,
please don't do it for sake of doing it. Do it with full awareness and
alertness when chanting Gayatri Mantra and all. Else it will not be that
effective. Doing one Gayatri Mantra with full awareness is more powerful than
doing 100 with unconsciousness. Be conscious and practice chanting Gayatri
Mantra to experience divine powers. Yagnopavita is a great help and it brings
discipline into your life.
