Namaskaram!!
I know many posts have been posted on this topic, ranging from marriage issues to traditional practices and social positions. Now many members posted many replies on a certain thread which dealt with inter caste marriages. My question is, is it not equally sinful for a 'practicing' Tamil Brahmin(please help me define one- I think it should definately include one whose theological and philosophical knowledge is profound and one who does not smoke, drink or eat non-vegetarian(mainly because Brahmins are supposed to follow a Satvik diet, this is the most basic pattern I can think of)) to marry one who may be the offspring of an unquestionably pious Brahmin family but may not be 'Brahmin' himself/herself? How can such a marriage be considered Brahmin?
A counter question is, what if a non-Brahmin is as Brahmin in practice as any Tamil Brahmin? Would exogamy be permitted then? Can they serve as priests, if they know all the mantras, their meaning and the Tatvas which, I know is a feature many Brahmin priests lack? The Arya Samaj would call them Brahmins, would we do the same? If, say a woman born to a Brahmin married a man Brahmin by Gunas, is she degrading herself?
I recall reading a lot of posts on genetics and hereditary traits among Brahmins. I recall a cousin of mine marrying a Brahmin 'suitable' who, well, was unorthodox(to put it in an understated way) and was praised by all for choosing to marry a Brahmin. When I pointed out that he was hardly Brahmin, I was told that no one was, really and I was being hypocritical, not to mention orthodox(by my mother, no less, who changed her gotra post marriage). I don't pretend to be a stickler for the rules(well, for the record I don't use the epithet Brahmin at all) but in that case, why all the show? Is that all we are, a mere bunch of middle-class and upper middle-class who wear a Thiruman Srichurnam (Namam is apparently a derogatory term, I was asked by a Swamiji not to use it) when required to?? Many replies seem to point in this direction. Another marriage, this time between a relative and a Syrian Christian only proved that castism is rooted in every Indian community(both sides opposed vehemently, giving the exact same points in opposition to the match and viewing the other with the exact same condescention.
I seriously doubt if my children are going to be Brahmin, or even Tamil for that matter(I think Hindi adn atheism will be keeping them occupied, whether they live in the U.S.A, Delhi or Chennai). But a clear curriculum for young children who are(by birth) or want to be Brahmin is in need. How much Sanskrit does one need? Tamil? Is English enough(I hope so)? Myths and blind faith will not help, so how does one instill the right values(ones that are peculiar to Brahmin families and devout members of other 'castes')?
A middle path- marry someone as 'Brahmin' as yourself. Well ok, so what happens if one wishes to marry a non-Brahmin(by birth) who is as 'Brahmin' as oneself? Or as 'non-Brahmin'(Gunas) as oneself? The only opposition then would some from society but hey, its just hypocrisy right?
Oh! I'm sorry, I did not mean to take a stand. I hope my questions will be answered.
I know many posts have been posted on this topic, ranging from marriage issues to traditional practices and social positions. Now many members posted many replies on a certain thread which dealt with inter caste marriages. My question is, is it not equally sinful for a 'practicing' Tamil Brahmin(please help me define one- I think it should definately include one whose theological and philosophical knowledge is profound and one who does not smoke, drink or eat non-vegetarian(mainly because Brahmins are supposed to follow a Satvik diet, this is the most basic pattern I can think of)) to marry one who may be the offspring of an unquestionably pious Brahmin family but may not be 'Brahmin' himself/herself? How can such a marriage be considered Brahmin?
A counter question is, what if a non-Brahmin is as Brahmin in practice as any Tamil Brahmin? Would exogamy be permitted then? Can they serve as priests, if they know all the mantras, their meaning and the Tatvas which, I know is a feature many Brahmin priests lack? The Arya Samaj would call them Brahmins, would we do the same? If, say a woman born to a Brahmin married a man Brahmin by Gunas, is she degrading herself?
I recall reading a lot of posts on genetics and hereditary traits among Brahmins. I recall a cousin of mine marrying a Brahmin 'suitable' who, well, was unorthodox(to put it in an understated way) and was praised by all for choosing to marry a Brahmin. When I pointed out that he was hardly Brahmin, I was told that no one was, really and I was being hypocritical, not to mention orthodox(by my mother, no less, who changed her gotra post marriage). I don't pretend to be a stickler for the rules(well, for the record I don't use the epithet Brahmin at all) but in that case, why all the show? Is that all we are, a mere bunch of middle-class and upper middle-class who wear a Thiruman Srichurnam (Namam is apparently a derogatory term, I was asked by a Swamiji not to use it) when required to?? Many replies seem to point in this direction. Another marriage, this time between a relative and a Syrian Christian only proved that castism is rooted in every Indian community(both sides opposed vehemently, giving the exact same points in opposition to the match and viewing the other with the exact same condescention.
I seriously doubt if my children are going to be Brahmin, or even Tamil for that matter(I think Hindi adn atheism will be keeping them occupied, whether they live in the U.S.A, Delhi or Chennai). But a clear curriculum for young children who are(by birth) or want to be Brahmin is in need. How much Sanskrit does one need? Tamil? Is English enough(I hope so)? Myths and blind faith will not help, so how does one instill the right values(ones that are peculiar to Brahmin families and devout members of other 'castes')?
A middle path- marry someone as 'Brahmin' as yourself. Well ok, so what happens if one wishes to marry a non-Brahmin(by birth) who is as 'Brahmin' as oneself? Or as 'non-Brahmin'(Gunas) as oneself? The only opposition then would some from society but hey, its just hypocrisy right?
Oh! I'm sorry, I did not mean to take a stand. I hope my questions will be answered.
