2401:4900:38C2:D35C:2248:D8D4:4B2:7CEE at 09:25, 2 July 2021

2021-07-02T09:25:42Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Assamese Brahmins
|image =
|languages = [[File:Assamese Bengali letter A (red).png|15px]] [[Assamese language|Assamese]]
(''<small>and dialects; [[Kamrupi language|Kamrupi]] • [[Goalpariya language|Goalpariya]]</small>'')
|religions = [[Hinduism]]
|population =
|region1 = India
|pop1 = [[Assam]]
|publisher=
|date=
|accessdate=
}}
{{Culture of Assam}}

'''Assamese Brahmins''' or '''Bamun''' are the [[Brahmins]] present in the [[Assamese people|Assamese society]]. There are two classes in [[Assam]] among brahmins, of which the [[Ganak]]s(গণক) who are also known as Daivajna(Astrologers) are one. That group follows the [[Atharva Veda]] (the solar cult). They are mostly called as "Bamun"-বামুণ or "Brahman"-ব্ৰাহ্মণ in [[Assamese language]]. They were originally priests. Religious worship in temples are generally done by them.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d3PfztHTv0sC&pg=PA1|title=Nalinibala Devi |pages=1–3 |year=2000 |first=Preeti |last=Barua|isbn=9788126009169 }}</ref>

There they promoted learning, [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic religion]] and astrology, besides imparting general vedic knowledge to the public.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iorHBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA397 |title=North-East India: Land, People and Economy |page=397|year= 2013|first1=K. R. |last1=Dikshit |first2=Jutta K. |last2=Dikshit |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=9789400770553 }}</ref> Their origin was probably the [[Indo-Gangetic Plain|Gangetic Plain]]: according to the ''Nidhanpur'' copper plate, around 200 Brahmin families of various [[gotra]]s and [[Shakha|ved–sakha]]s moved from there to Assam on the invitation of [[Bhutivarman]] in the 6th century CE.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iorHBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA390|title=North-East India: Land, People and Economy |page=390|year=2013|first1=K. R. |last1=Dikshit |first2=Jutta K. |last2=Dikshit |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=9789400770553 }}</ref>

== History ==
Brahmins are considered to be one of the oldest Hindu settlers in the region and held the highest positions in society.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MFJYeS8-TlAC&pg=PA43 |title=Social History of Assam: Being a Study of the Origins of Ethnic Identity and Social Tension During the British Period, 1905-1947 – ''Pre–British History and Society''|date=1989|work=Manilal Bose, Concept Publishing Company|isbn=9788170222248|last1=Bose|first1=Manilal}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://online.assam.gov.in/culture|title=Culture – Social Life, Social Institutions, Women|work=Government of Assam|access-date=6 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906135536/http://online.assam.gov.in/culture|archive-date=6 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Assamese Brahmins are the community in that state who are considered to have [[Caucasoid]] origins.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f7UTH5ROsKAC&printsec=frontcover#q=ROOTS|title=Socio-economic profile of Rural India (series II) – ''Roots'', page 15|work= S.C. Patra and Ashish Vachhani, Concept Publishing Company, 2011|isbn=9788180697241|last1=Patra|first1=S. C.|year=2011}}</ref>

== Tradition and culture==
=== Lagundeoni ===
Traditionally, the ceremony of [[Lagundeoni]] – one of the [[Sanskaras]] or rites of passage marking acceptance of a student by a [[Guru]], is a quite prevalent ritual within the community.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://online.assam.gov.in/documents/10156/bb449a06-3262-469c-be21-69b21d4df317|title=Assam State Gazetteer Vol. 1, page 317 – ''Government of Assam''|work=Mr. Amlan Baruah and S.B. Roy Choudhury|date=1999|access-date=6 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108110433/http://online.assam.gov.in/documents/10156/bb449a06-3262-469c-be21-69b21d4df317|archive-date=8 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> A sacred thread – ''Lagun'', given by a [[Pujari]] during the ceremony is a symbolic reminder to the young male born to the Brahmin family of his purpose at school, as well as a social marker of the student as someone who has embarked his journey into formal education, where education itself is not limited to ritual and philosophical speculations, but extends to all practical aspects of culture and life in general. The ceremony is typically performed between ages 12 – 14 among Brahmin males.

=== Death rituals===
Brahmins of the [[Assam valley|valley]] follow a different death ritual as opposed to the other indigenous communities in Assam. A religious rite, known as ''Caturthā'' is performed on the 4th day of a person's demise unlike ''Tiloni'', performed on the 3rd day of person's demise by non–Brahmin indigenous communities.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qOqEsStmcQQC&pg=PA31|title=Among the Luminaries in Assam: A Study of Assamese Biography, page 54|work=Anjali Sarma, Mittal Publications|date=1990|isbn=9788170992073|last1=Sarma|first1=Anjali}}</ref>

=== Pujas===
Most Brahmin families are involved in performing religious rituals,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://online.assam.gov.in/web/guest%20/people?webContentId=174793|title=Religion and Caste|work=Assam On–line Portal, Government of Assam|access-date=6 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831132114/http://online.assam.gov.in/web/guest%20/people?webContentId=174793|archive-date=31 August 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> known as [[Pujas]].
The main Pujas are as follows -
Satyanarayan Puja, Maa Durga Puja, Shree Laxmi Puja, Shiva Puja, Shree Ganesha Puja, Saraswati Puja, Annapura Puja, Jagadhatri Puja and so on...

==Lifestyle==
Although in general Brahmins observe all the customary rituals, they appear usually less rigid<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MFJYeS8-TlAC&pg=PA43&lpg=PA43&dq=brahmin+general+caste+assam#q=brahmin|title=Social History of Assam: Being a Study of the Origins of Ethnic Identity and Social Tension During the British Period, 1905–1947, ''Pre–British Assamese Society, page 44''|work=Manilal Bose, Concept Publishing Company|date=1989|isbn=9788170222248|last1=Bose|first1=Manilal}}</ref> in some of their traditional lifestyle choices, such as they may eat meat, fish, unlike their counterparts in [[North India]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thewire.in/120108/assam-government-withdraws-meat-sale-ban-cultural-festival-social-media-outcry/|title=Assam Government Withdraws Meat Sale Ban at Cultural Festival After Social Media Outcry, The Wire|work=The Wire Staff|date=30 March 2017|access-date=6 September 2017}}</ref>

== Present ==
The Brahmins constitute one of the [[Forward Class|Forward classes]] of Assam<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1150811/jsp/northeast/story_36532.jsp |title=Sabha lists NRC demands – ''Assam literary body seeks changes in legacy data provision, ''The Telegraph (Calcutta – Gauhati)''|work=Staff reporter |date=11 August 2015 |access-date=6 September 2017}}</ref> based on the classifications of [[Government of India]], although the recent trend on economic condition has not been very well within the community. Assam's former Chief Minister, [[Tarun Gogoi]] announced setting up of development councils for several communities in the state, including Brahmins.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gogoi-announces-development-councils-for-brahmins-others/1/560294.html|title=Gogoi announces development councils for Brahmins, others, ''India Today''|work=PTI – Press Trust of India|date=1 January 2016|access-date=5 September 2017}}</ref>
==See also==
*[[Manipuri Brahmin|Manipuri Brahmins]]
*[[Assamese people]]
*[[Bengali Brahmins]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

[[Category:Brahmin communities of Assam]]
[[Category:Brahmin communities by language]]

Assamese Brahmins - Revision history

2401:4900:38C2:D35C:2248:D8D4:4B2:7CEE at 09:25, 2 July 2021