Bramins (ब्राह्मण,) of Nepal

This article is about the social caste. For the moth family, see Brahmaeidae. For similarly spelled words, see Brahman (disambiguation).

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Brahmin (also Brahman; Brāhmaṇa) (Sanskrit: ब्राह्मण)^{[Note 1]} is a name used to designate a member of the four varnas. The English word brahmin is an anglicised form of the Sanskrit word Brāhmana. In the Smriti view there are four "varnas", or classes: the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas, and Shudras. The Atreya smRti 141-142 enjoins that

"janmanA jAyate shUdraH
One is a Shudra by birth
saMskArAd dvija ucyate
By observing Samskaras one becomes a Dvija
vedapAThI bhaved vipraH
By studying the Vedas one becomes a Vipra
brahma jAnAti brAhmaNaH One who knows Brahman is a Brahmana

The term Vipra means "inspired", while Dvija means "twice-born". Members of the Brahmin varna are generally expected to belong to the priestly class. Traditionally Brahmins were fire-priests who adhered to different branches (shakhas) of Vedas. However, historically, the semantic change from a tribal state into the Hindu state of jati-varna matrix saw the conversion and absorption of tribals into the Brahmin class, through adoption of the priestly occupation. In Medieval and colonial India, people in mundane occupations have also proselytized themselves into Brahmins, usually upon gaining positions of power or upon becoming wealthy.
The Smritis conferred upon the Brahmins, the position of being the highest of the four Varnas. The priestly class was expected to practice self-abnegation and play the role of being the custodians of Dharma (as "one who prays; a devout or religious man; a Brāhman who is well versed in Vedic texts; one versed in sacred knowledge"). However, the fees payed to the Brahmana for performance of a sacrifice was grossly material