Brahmin is a Hindu Indian caste. The English word brahmin is an anglicized form of the Sanskrit word Brahmana. Brahmin refers to the 'Supreme Self' in Hinduism or the first of the gods. Because of the diversity in language, religious and cultural traditions and practices, and the Vedic schools which they belong to, there are numerous types of Brahmins. At one time they were the ones who performed Hindu rituals.
The history of the Brahmins is associated with the Vedic religion of early India, usually referred to as Sanatana Dharma. Brahmins first come to notice historically in the Vedic period, but how the modern caste system developed is a highly contested topic due to lack of clear data. Brahmins and kings became the dominant social and religious forces in many of the kingdoms that developed over pre-modern India.
There is a worldwide Brahmin diaspora, but they are concentrated in India. Partly because there are so few Hindus in Afghanistan, there are few Brahmins in that country.
Brahmins have excelled as educators, law makers, scholars, doctors, warriors, writers, poets, landowners and politicians. Modern Brahmin parents aspire for their sons to become computer programmers and engineers. In Afghanistan, they might not have these opportunities. In Muslim Afghanistan, there are few Brahmins, and their status is diminished.
But most Brahmins respect the ancient (and many not-so-ancient) traditions of their forefathers. Some work to synthesize modern science and Hindu beliefs and practices. There are hundreds of "denominations" of Hinduism and Brahmins have a presence in many; so it is not easy to generalize on what Brahmins believe. Some would be devotees of Vishnu or his avatars of Krishna or Ram, some would be devotees of Shiva, and some would be devotees of the goddess in one of her manifestations. Others are followers of modern gurus. Few today have seriously studied, let along memorized, the ancient Vedas; but one is more likely to find a person knowledgeable about the Vedas and other Hindu texts and teachings among Brahmins than among any non-Brahmin caste group.
Brahmins and other Hindus need protection in Afghanistan. They are at the mercy of an Islamicist government that practices the might makes right ethnic.
Pray for wisdom for disciples of Jesus who can befriend and share faith with Afghanistan’s Brahmins.
Pray that the true God will reveal himself to this community and use Brahmins to preach and teach about Jesus Christ.
Pray for them to have enough spiritual hunger to seek and find the savior of mankind.
Scripture Prayers for the Brahmin in Afghanistan.
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
