Anti-Brahminism

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Anti-Brahminism, also spelled as Anti-Brahmanism, is discrimination, hostility or prejudice directed against the Brahmin caste, as opposed to Anti-Hinduism which rejects Hinduism as a whole. Anti-Hindus have however taken the stance against Brahmins because they were the traditional priestly class and by antagonizing them, they may convert all Hindus.

Contents

[edit] Examples of Anti-Brahmanism

[edit] In Islamist Dynasties

In the book, Diwan-i-Salman by Khawajah Masud bin Sa'd bin Salman wrote of the Battle of Jalandhar (Punjab):

"The narrative of any battles eclipses the stories of Rustam and Isfandiyar...By morning meal, not one soldier, not one Brahmin remained unkilled or uncaptured. Their heads were levelled with the ground with falming fire..Thou has secured the victory to the country and to religion, for amongst the Hindus this achievement will be remembered till the day of resurrection."[1]

In Mughal times Sheikh Ahmad (Mujaddid) of Sirhind wrote a letter to Mirza Darab:

"Hindu Brahmans and Greek philosophers have spent a lot of time on religion. Since their efforts were not according to the Shariyat of the prophet, they were all fools. They will remain devoid of salvation."

The Brahmins were also the target in South India from the Delhi Sultanate and that is why at the time of the Vijayanagar Empire, King King Prolaya Vema of the Reddy Dynasty gave protection to them. [2]

Firoz Shah Bahmani (in about 1398-99), according to the Tawarikh Firishtah, kidnapped 2,000 Brahmin women, who were later freed by Raja Dev Rai of Vijayanagar.[3]

[edit] Neo-Buddhism

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Some Buddhists groups blame the downfall of Buddhismin India on the Brahmans while trying to deny or trying to hide from history the contributions made by the Brahmins to Buddhism. To name a few, the Bodhisattva Nagarjuna, Bodhisattva Aryasangha, and Bodhisattva Kshitagarbha. It is said that before The Buddha Himself, there were also other Buddhas and in those time periods Lord Buddha was Brahmin Suruci, Brahmin Atideva, Brahmin Ajita and there are more past Brahmin lives of The Buddha. Brahmins have significantly helped in spread the Buddha Dharma. In Tibet it was Bodhisattva Padmasambhava, in central Asia it was Kumarajiva, in mainland China it was Bodhisattva Bodhidharma and in Japan it was Bodhisena.

The jealous chauvinists are ignorant of the fact that the Buddha had Brahmin heritage. Lord Buddha is said to be a descendant of Sage Angirasa in many Buddhist texts.[4] There too were Kshatiryas of other clans to whom members descend from Angirasa, to fulfill a childless king's wish.[5]

[edit] In media

  • The "Secret Circular of the Brahmin Samaj of Balaghat, a document widely disseminated by the missionaries, specially among the dalits and tribals.
  • The anti-Hindu website Dalistan (now defunct), included an extensive set of documents promoting anti-Brahmin, anti-Hindu and separationist ideas. They have been widely promoted and quoted by anti-Hindu interests.

[edit] In Indian states

[edit] In Maharashtra

The anti-brahmin hate group Sambhaji Brigade attacked Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute of Maharashtra in January 2004, claiming that the Institute had defamed Shivaji. Later the Sambhaji Brigade issued statements reflecting anti-Brahmin sentiments. They also hate Ramdas Swami- a revolutionary saint from 17th century. Recently, the same organization had demanded the removal of Dadoji Konddeo from the Statue of Child Shivaji ploughing Pune's Land at Lal Mahal, Pune. They also threatened that if their demande were not met, they would demolish that part of statue by themselves.

These groups have also started a movement against the statue of Dadoji Kondedv – Kulkarni claiming that he was not early mentor of Shivaji Maharaj and issued a circular to destroy his statue in Lal Mahal of Pune. Other targets also include Lokmanya Tilak, the freedom fighter and the cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.

[edit] In Punjab

Several of the Sikh Bhagats, including Bhagat Jayadeva, Bhagat Ramananda, Bhagat Trilochan and Bhagat Surdas were all Brahmins. Further many of the other Sikh Bhagats had a Brahmin as their guru - Bhagat Dhanna, Kabir, Pipa and Ravidas had Ramananda. Kabir's daughter Kamali was married to a Brahmin.[6]

[edit] In Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is home to one of the oldest Anti-Brahminism movements in India. Anti-Brahminism as opposed to popular belief was not started as Anit-Brahmin caste system. The religious and social system of orthodox Hinduism was called as Brahminism. [1]. In other words, Hinduism and Brahminism was once replaceable. Brahmins happened to be the strong and core layer to hold the Hinduism structure. The self-respect movement founded by Periyar espoused rationalism and atheism, and although Periyar had Brahmin colleagues, the movement had currents of anti-Brahminism.[7] Tamil Brahmins (Iyers and Iyengars) were frequently held responsible by followers of Periyar for direct or indirect oppression of lower-caste people; this contributed to several clashes and a gradual migration of the upper castes.[8] Later, in regards to a DK member's attempt to assassinate Rajagopalachari, Periyar "expressed his abhorrence of violence as a means of settling political differences".[9]

The legacy of the Anti-Brahmanism in the self-respect movement was taken over by the later Dravidian parties. Eventually, the virulent anti-Brahmanism subsided somewhat with the replacement of the DMK party by the AIADMK.[10] Now the AIADMK is led by the Brahmin Jayalalitha or "Amma" (mother, as her followers call her).

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Destruction Of Hindu Temples By Muslims - Part II by Sita Ram Goel
  2. ^ (Prasad, Durga, P. 180, History of the Andhras up to 1565 A. D.)
  3. ^ P. 67-68 Some Aspects of Ancient Indian Culture By D. R. Bhandarkar
  4. ^ The Life of Buddha as Legend and History, by Edward Joseph Thomas
  5. ^ P. 17 Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History and Literature By John Dowson
  6. ^ P. 91 Medieval Mysticism of India By Kshitimohan Sen
  7. ^ Gail Omvedt (2006), Dalit Visions: The Anti-caste Movement and the Construction on an Indian Identity, Orient Longman, ISBN 8125028951, <http://books.google.com/books?id=nvSapw8i6k8C&pg=PA95&dq=Anti-Brahmanism&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html&sig=dvE4djhCdWEN3Siy24RioEdu-bs> 
  8. ^ Lloyd I. Rudolph Urban Life and Populist Radicalism: Dravidian Politics in Madras The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 20, No. 3 (May, 1961), pp. 283-297
  9. ^ Lloyd I. Rudolph and Suzanne Hoeber Rudolph, The Modernity of Tradition: political development in India P78,University of Chicago Press 1969, ISBN 0226731375
  10. ^ C. J. Fuller, The Renewal of the Priesthood: Modernity and Traditionalism in a South Indian Temple P117, Princeton University Press 2003 ISBN 0691116571

[edit] References