From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
Examples of
Anti-Brahmanism
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]
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 Dalitstan.org (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.
In Indian
states
Amongst small sections of Hindus within India, an Anti-Brahmin
stance is motivated by considerations similar to anti-semitism, where the a class is blamed
for all the ills of society.
In Kerala
In Kerala Ezhava lead
anti-brahminism.They are toddy tappers came
from Ezhavathu nadu (Sri Lanka),they are out of varnasramadharma,
so they always oppose caste system.
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. The Maratha Seva
Sangh is an extremely anti-Brahmin organization.[4]
Neo-Buddhism
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. This criticism is bolstered by
arguments that the Buddha had Brahmin heritage. Lord Buddha is said
to be a descendant of Sage Angirasa in many Buddhist texts.[5] There
too were Kshatiryas of other clans to whom members descend from
Angirasa, to fulfill a childless king's wish.[6]
In Tamil
Nadu
Tamil Nadu is home
to one of the oldest anti-Brahmin movements in India. Tamil Brahmins (Iyers and Iyengars) are frequently held responsible by
some sections of the Tamil politicians and media for direct or
indirect oppression of lower-caste people.
Historically, lower-castes were not allowed into temples and
schools in Tamil Nadu. The self-respect
movement, a Dravidian Nationalist movement, was started by Periyar on the canard of
"Brahmin oppression" and resulted in innumerable hate attacks on
Brahmins and started a wave of ethnic cleansing, resulting in forced
mass-migration of the Brahmin population.[7]
The canard of "Brahmin oppression" rationalized conspiracy theories and pointed to Brahmins
as enemies against whom the radical movements pitted
themselves.[7]
The legacy of the anti-Brahmanism of the self-respect movement was
taken over by the Dravida Munnetra
Kazhagam.Growing anti-Brahmanism in Chennai provided a rationale for polarization
of the lower castes in the DMK movement.[8]
Eventually, the virulent anti-Brahmanism subsided somewhat with the
replacement of the DMK party by the All India Anna
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)[9]. Jayalalitha[10], a
Brahmin, is now the leader of the AIADMK party, as is referred to
as "Amma"(mother) by her party cadres.
See also
Notes
- ^
Destruction Of Hindu
Temples By Muslims - Part II by Sita Ram Goel
- ^
(Prasad, Durga, P. 180, History of the Andhras up to 1565 A.
D.)
- ^
P. 67-68 Some Aspects of Ancient Indian Culture By D. R.
Bhandarkar
- ^
Politics of
vandalism
- ^
The Life of Buddha as Legend and History, by Edward Joseph
Thomas
- ^
P. 17 Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion,
Geography, History and Literature By John Dowson
- ^ a
b
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
- ^
Singh, Yogendra, Modernization of Indian Tradition: (A Systemic
Study of Social Change), Oriental Press 1974 page 167
- ^
C. J. Fuller, The Renewal of the Priesthood: Modernity and
Traditionalism in a South Indian Temple P117, Princeton University
Press 2003 ISBN 0691116571
- ^
P. 65 Daughter of the South: biography of Jayalalitha By Pi. Ci
Kaṇēcan
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