Who is A brahmin and how should he live?- According to ancient Tamil literature

Who is A brahmin   and how should he live?-  According to ancient Tamil literature- Thiruvalluvar  and Thirumoolar.

Compiled and translated by

P.R.Ramachander

 I.  Thiruvalluvar   is  the Author of thirukkural  , considered as Tamil Veda . He is supposed to have lived    around 5^th centuary by some of the research scholars  .Many ascribe him to  the BC. He has used  “Anthanar” as   as “Paarpaan”   For  Brahmins. These  two great  poems  are found in his kural. He says they are great people who are followers of Dharma  and  also says that  if they fail in good conduct  , he would slip away    from nobility .Anthanar   could perhaps indicate very soft people and Paarpan   , possibly  indicates that he is the  “one who sees(examines)  “

30.Anthanar yenbor  Aravor , mathevyuirkkum,

Chenthanmai  poondu  ozhukalal

Brahmins (great people)  are followers of Dharma,

As they treat  with great mercy   all  beings  on earth.

134.Marappinum   othu  kolalaagum paarppan,

Pirappozhukkam    kundra kedum..

If  a Brahmin   forgets   to learn Vedas , he can learn them,

But  if he errs from good  conduct  , none  would believe him to be  a noble one.

II. Thirumular  was a Saivaite   Sidha   who lived  in 8^th centuary AD .He  is considered as one of the 108 Nayanmar   as well  as  one  of the 18 Sidhas. He is the author  of  a great book called  “thirumanthiram”  .He  uses words like  “Anthanar” , “Paarpor”   and “Vedhiyar(those who have learnt Vedas”  to indicate  Brahmins

     His views about how a Brahmin should live are simply great and have been taken from his book   .I wish  each Brahmin should read them.

.Anthanar  aavor  aru thozhil poondulor,

Semthazhal ombi, muppothum niyanam  cheithu,

Athavam nal karumathu ninru aangittu,

Santhiyum othi sadangu arupporkale

They who are Brahmins  have   six types  of jobs,

They maintain the fire, do the needed rituals  all the three  times,

Do that penance so that  they do their dharma,

Perform sandhyavandhana and formulate  rituals for others.

.Peru neriyaana , pranavam oarnthu,

Guru  neriyaam, urai koodi, naal  vedha,

Thiruneri yaana kiriyai   irunthu,

Sorupama thanor , thugalil  paarppare.

They realise  the  great   duty  of “om”,

And according to  the instructions of Guru, they do meditation  on it,

And observe   the rituals   as specified  in the four vedas,

Live  like   the form of Shiva   and are those who see(paarpar) without mistake.

.Vedantham ketka  virumbiya   vedhiyar,

Vedantham kettum, tham vetkai  ozhinthilar,

Vedantham aavathu, vetkai  ozhinthidam,

Vedantham  kettavar, vetkai  vittare  .

The Brahmins    who wanted to hear  the philosophy,

In spite of learning  philosophy, did not leave their desire,

In spite  of philosophy being   a state of  “no desire”

And those   who learn philosophy   are those who left their desire.

.Noolum sikhayum  , nuvalil  brahmamo,

Noolathu kaarpaasam , nun  sikhai  kesamaam,

Noolathu vedantham , nun sikhai   jnanamam,

Nooladai   anthanar   kaanum nuvalile.

Sacred thread and hanging lock of hair(kudumi)  are symbol of Brahmins

But sacred thread  is simple cotton thread and lock of hair   is simply hair,

The  thread   they should have is philosophy, and lock of hair is wisdom,

And each Brahmin wearing sacred thread   should  know about this.

Sathiyam indri thani jnanam than indri,

Otha vidayam vittorum  unarvindri,

Bathiyum indri, paran unmai  indri,

Pitherum moodar brahmanar  thaam andre.

They without truth  , without  special wisdom,

They without proper knowledge , they who have no feeling for others,

They without devotion, They   who do not know    truth of God,

Are lunatic idiots and they are  not brahmins.