Category:A So-called Brahmana
Theme Analysis
The distinction between a qualified, spiritual leader and a so called brāhmaṇa is a critical theme addressed by Śrīla Prabhupāda. In the current age of Kali-yuga, the original varṇāśrama culture has degraded into a rigid caste system based solely on seminal birth. A so called brāhmaṇa claims prestige and authority due to family lineage but entirely lacks the essential brahminical qualifications of sense control, purity, and devotion to the Supreme Lord. Often engaging in forbidden activities such as meat-eating, intoxication, and mundane politics, these unqualified individuals mislead society and plunge it into chaos. Furthermore, out of false pride, they exhibit deep envy toward genuine Vaiṣṇavas who are properly trained in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, regardless of their birth background. Śrīla Prabhupāda robustly defends the scriptural truth that a real brāhmaṇa is determined by character (guṇa) and action (karma), and that a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa automatically surpasses the position of any nominal caste brāhmaṇa.
- The Illusion of Birthright: Claiming the title of a brāhmaṇa based purely on seminal descent, without exhibiting the required spiritual symptoms, is a severe deviation from Vedic culture.
- Degradation through Sinful Acts: Many who pose as spiritual leaders in the modern age are actually engaged in illicit activities and dry speculation, rendering their status void.
- Envy Toward True Devotees: A prominent characteristic of unqualified caste brāhmaṇas is their unwarranted envy and hostility toward genuine Vaiṣṇavas, particularly those born in non-Vedic families.
- The Necessity of Authentic Qualification: The scriptures clearly mandate that a brāhmaṇa must possess specific qualities like peacefulness and truthfulness; without these, the title is meaningless.
- The Superiority of Vaiṣṇavism: A sincere devotee of Kṛṣṇa, even if born in a low-class family, is spiritually far superior to a proud but unqualified priest.
- Global Spiritual Training: The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement actively rectifies this social anomaly by training individuals worldwide to become genuinely qualified brāhmaṇas.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Recognizing the False Pride of a So-called Brāhmaṇa.
Pages in category "A So-called Brahmana"
The following 42 pages are in this category, out of 42 total.
A
- A so-called brahmana who is born in the family of brahmanas but performs activities aimed against the Vaisnavas cannot be accepted as a brahmana, because brahmana means Vaisnava and Vaisnava means brahmana
- All the sannyasis in the Krsna consciousness movement, who are preaching all over the world, are regular brahmana-sannyasis. Thus the so-called caste brahmanas should not object to offering them respectful obeisances
- At the present moment in India the presidential offices are occupied by many so-called brahmanas, but the state maintains slaughterhouses for killing cows and makes propaganda against Vedic civilization
- At the present moment, although the so-called brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras have lost their original culture, they claim to be brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras by birthright
- At the present moment, there are so many so-called brahmanas. They have no sadacara. Still they are passing as brahmana. Illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating - everything is there, but he is a brahmana
I
- If all the unqualified sudras become so-called brahmanas and ksatriyas, social order will be impossible to maintain. Thus there will be discrepancies, human society will turn into a society of animals, and the situation all over the world will be hellish
- If someone from a non-brahmana family (for example, one born in a family of sudras) tries to become a brahmana by being properly qualified under the instruction of a bona fide spiritual master, these so-called brahmanas will object
- If this (Varnasrama) system is neglected & the qualities & divisions of society are not considered, the result will be brahma-vit-ksatra-sudranam yo bali bhavita nrpah: the so-called caste system of brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya & sudra will be meaningless
- In this Age of Kali many so-called brahmanas are envious of Vaisnavas. The Kali-contaminated brahmanas consider Deity worship to be imaginative
- In this age there are many so-called caste brahmanas and caste Gosvamis who, taking advantage of the sastra and of the innocence of people in general, claim to be brahmanas and Vaisnavas by hereditary right
- In this age, all kinds of sacrifice are forbidden because there is no learned priest amongst the so-called brahmanas, who go by the false notion of becoming sons of brahmanas without brahminical qualifications
- It is understood that he (one who chant the holy name of God offenselessly) has already performed all sorts of rites. It is the so-called brahmanas who actually have to undergo different kinds of austerities before reaching that point of purification
- It should never be misunderstood that the so-called brahmanas who are born in brahmana families but have no brahminical qualifications are referred to in this connection
P
- Prahlada Maharaja says he (a devotee) may be born in a family of the dog-eaters, but because he has engaged his body, mind and words for service of Krsna, then he is better, he is in superior position than the so-called brahmin
- Presently in India, intoxication & meat-eating are encouraged, & the so-called learned brahmanas presiding over this state of affairs have certainly become degraded according to the standard given herein (CC Madhya 1.197) by Srila Rupa & Sanatana Gosvami
- Presently in India, so-called brahmanas are almost all engaged in some mundane service, and they do not understand the import of the Vedic sastras. Nonetheless, they are passing themselves off as brahmanas on the basis of birth
S
- So-called son of a brahmana
- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura remarks that although the brahmana (who cooked for Lord Caitanya) did not belong to a superior community, he fearlessly chastised so-called caste brahmanas because he was situated on the platform of pure ds
- Such a devotee is better than such a brahmana because the devotee can purify his whole family, whereas the so-called brahmana in a position of false prestige cannot purify even himself
- Suppose a so-called brahmana or a perfect brahmana executes his religious process very perfectly, but he does not become a devotee, then what is his gain? These are the sastric injunction
T
- The European and American devotees in the Krsna consciousness movement are sometimes accepted as brahmanas, but the so-called caste brahmanas are very much envious of them
- The Lord is very fond of devotees, or brahmanas. This does not refer to so-called caste brahmanas, but to qualified brahmanas
- The Lord is worshiped as brahmanya-deva. The Lord is very fond of devotees, or brahmanas. This does not refer to so-called caste brahmanas, but to qualified brahmanas
- The so-called brahmanas are no longer interested in understanding the nature of the Supreme Brahman, although a brahmana means one who has attained knowledge about Brahman
- The so-called brahmanas claim that one who is not born into a brahmana family cannot receive the sacred thread and cannot become a high-grade Vaisnava. But we do not accept such a theory, because it is not supported by Rupa Gosvami
- The so-called brahmanas of the Kali-yuga are sometimes very proud that a great brahmana like Bhrgu Muni could touch the chest of Lord Visnu with his foot
- The so-called brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas have forgotten their traditional activities, and in the absence of these activities they are called śūdras
- The so-called members of the brahmana and other high-order families are no longer highly cultured because of the bad influence of the present age
- There is no possibility of methodical chanting of the Vedic hymns by the so-called brahmanas or priests of the present age
- This instruction by Krsna to the brahmana is very significant. The purport is that a true brahmana should not be disturbed in any situation. In this modern age, Kali-yuga, the so-called brahmanas have accepted the abominable position of sudras
U
- Unfortunately these, our these European and American disciples, these so-called brahmana priests of Jagannatha Puri, they do not allow
- Unfortunately, debauched so-called brahmanas in India neither offer them (the sannyasis of the Krsna consciousness movement) respect nor accept them as bona fide sannyasis
- Unfortunately, with the progress of Kali-yuga, the so-called brahmanas, although very proud of taking birth in brahmana families, no longer worship the salagrama-sila
W
- When Arjuna promised to behead the aggressor named Asvatthama, he knew well that Asvatthama was the son of a brahmana, but because the so-called brahmana acted like a butcher, he was taken as such, and there was no question of sin in killing him
- Why India is fallen down? Because the so-called rascals, they are claiming that "I am brahmana." But what is our occupation, sir? "Oh, I am serving as a coolie." Is that brahmana's business?