Brahaamanasya Tu Dehoayam Kshudrakaamaay Neshyate |
Sa Tu Krichhraay Tapase Pretyaanantasukhaay Cha ||
" The body of Brahmin is not for enjoying mundane luxuries, collecting money or ruling Kingdoms. This body is to do a vigorous Tapasya and meet Sachchidananda after body falls."
And I am proud to say that Brahmins honestly did their duty. They kept safe the unfathomable literature of the Vedas in their hearts before the invention of the script. IF these Brahmins hadn't done that, this Arya literature, Arya culture or Hindu Dharma would not have been among us. For this great work Brahmins lived the life of Tyag and Tapasya, they have left the kingdoms, they have rejected the Lakshmi(goddess of money) and accepted Saraswati(goddess of Gyan). They had readily embraced poverty. Though they were on the top level of Hindu caste system, still they chose to beg door to door in order to take the contribution of every caste of the discovery of Gyan. By taking the bread from the house of every caste, Brahmins made them the part of the discovery of Gyan.
If Brahmins like Vashishtha, Vyaas, Parshuram, Drona, Chanakya and Samarth Ramdas had lil bit desire to rule the India in their heart, the whole India would have been in the fist of Brahmins.
Brahmins at the time Ramayana:-
It is not right to say that Varanashram Dharma was not present in the Vedas. If you will read Purush Sookta, you will find out that various caste came from the various part of the Virat Purush Vishnu. At that time Brahmins too have many occupations. We can divide them in five categories.
1)Dev Brahmins:- Brahmins who used to do Snaan, Sandhya, Japa, Homa, Athithi-Dev-Pooja, BaliVaishwaDev Pooja. Their always spoke the truth and followed virtuous behaviour. They eked out by Shilonchchan Karma(Collecting corns from the fields and markets who happened to fall there during harvesting or transporting).
2)Muni Brahmins:- Who used to live in forests, do Tapasaya and live on the fruits of there. Doing daily Shradha was their duty.
3)Dwija Brahmins:- These Brahmins used to study the Vedas and the Vedanta. The enormous literature was the result of their research. Living on alms was their only source to collect food.
4)Kshaatra Brahmins:- First of all Brahmins prepared Kshatriyas for protecting nation. But when they saw some of them are going astray, they themselves had raised the weapons. Parshurama was a glorious example of Kshatra Brahmins.
5)Vaishya(trader) Brahmins:- These Brahmins didn't do above mentioned work. They lived in a simple manner but still they were considered Brahmins and given respect. For example Brahmin Trijat in the our scriptures. Nowadays, most of the Brahmins can be kept in this category.
The Role of Brahmins in the Vedic culture.
1)The Brahmin was given the most precious place by the people. Still in our villages, people say "Pai lagaaon" to the Brahmins that means, "I touch your feet." When I was Child and used to go to my village, I got surprised when the old Nats( a caste) would tell me, " I touch your feet."
2)Even lord Rama was called Brahmanaamupasakah. A person who worships Brahmins.
3)The work of priest was and is only done by Brahmins.
4)They were the topmost adviser and assistant of the King.
5)Vashishtha was the most respected person in the court of Rama.
Role of the Brahmins in the Histroy
1)First of all Brahmins like Vashishtha, Atri, Angira etc. brought the essence of the Vedas on this earth.
2)People like Vysa, VagyaValkya etc. wrote an unfathomable literature on the Vedas in the form Puruna, Aranyaka, Brahmana, Upanishadas etc.
3)Vashishtha did a lot to protect SooryaVansha.
4)VedaVayasa gave the successor to KuruVansha by Niyoga.
5)Brahmins like AryaBhatta, VarahMihir, Bharadwaja wrote a lot literature on science and mathematic.
6)Kalidas was known as the best playwright of the this world.
7)Whenever any problem came India, It was Brahmins who came forward to face it.
a)Parshurama punished many Kshatriya in order to bring law and order in Aryawarta.
b)Atri and other Rishi lived in the dangerous forests like Dandakaranya in order to spread Arya literature there.
c)Brahmins like Pushyamitra, Patanjali, AdhyaShankaraCharya did a lot to strengthen the condition of Hinduism in India in front of Buddhism.
d)Chankya helped Chandragupta Mourya to remove the Chaotic Rule of Nandas.
e)It was Brahmins soldier Mangal Pandey in the British Army who first raised the war against British Raj.
f)Brahmin girl Jhansi ki Rani has become a role model for the women power by fighting like knight in the in battle of 1857.
g)Keshavrav ji Hedgewaar who founded RSS(Rashitriya Swayam Sevak Sangh) was a Brahmin. No need to tell his role.
h)Samarth Ramdas, Guru of Shivaji Maharaj who inspired Shivaji and himself fought against Aurangzed.
8)Kabir who took the Hindu mysticism on its highest level.
9)Tulsidas who wrote Ramcharitmanas that still connects Hindus to Vedic literature who are not aware of Sanskrit.
10)Needless to mention about RamKrishna Paramhansa, Swami Dayananda Saraswati and Viveka Nanda.
11)Afghani Brahmin Panini wrote the first Grammar book of this world on Sanskrit.
12)Gorakhnath spread the Tantra and Yoga though out the world when it was vanishing.
I have omitted many names and works of Brahmins they did for this India, this world because my mind is too small to keep the legend of this caste inside.
That is why Vyasa said:-
Durveda Va Suveda Prakritaa Sanskritaastatha |
Brahmana Naavmantaavya Bhasmaachhanna ivagnyaa ||
We should not insult Brahmins at any condition. Whether he read the Vedas or not, he is SanskaarSampanna or not. At any condition, he is like a fire covered with ashes.
Check this link for further information about Brahmins and the impact of Hindu culture on others(here Greek):-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmin
https://answersrip.com/question/index?qid=20090812220822AAtPbYg