H i s t o r y

The Yajurveda introduces us to a new epoch of religious and social life in India. The center of Vedic civilization now shifts from the Indus valley to further east, to the territory in the middle of Northern India, occupied by the  Kurus and the Panchalas.

 The country of Kurus called the Kurukshetra , is the holy land of the Yajurveda and the Brahmanas attached to them. This land lies between the Sutlej and Jamuna rivers.

" Kurukshetra was the country in which the Brahminic religious and social system was developed and  from which it spread to the rest of India. In the Manusmrithi  (the famous law book of Manu), the land of the Kurus is regarded with veneration as the special home of Brahminism and as such designated as Brahmavarta. Together with the country of Panchalas, and that of their neighbors to the south of the Jamuna, the Matsyas (with Mathura as their capital), and the Surasenas, it is spoken of as the "land of Brahmin sages, where the bravest warriors and the most pious priests live."  (Arthur A Macdonell. A history of Sanskrit literature).

  Historically, Brahmin philosophers and priests have played a key role in defining and giving meaning to the Hindu way of life, and holding together the diverse elements of society against onslaught of other religious ideas and dogmas, formidable task indeed. On the flip side, Brahmins have been criticized from time to time, of orthodoxy and perpetuating the caste system, which led to the creation of breakaway religions such as Buddhism and Jainism, thousands of years ago. More recently Arya Samaj, Ramakrishna order and other movements, which do not accept the Brahminic interpretation of Hinduism, have formed their own religious order. Thus, although the Brahminic influence is waning, learned Brahmins who remain true to their heritage and vocation continue to influence the Hindu society, in religious, social and cultural matters.

  Brahmins are not organized in the sense the Catholics are under the Vatican.  Therein lie their strength and their weakness.