Brahman

¹ American  

[brah-muhn] / ˈbrɑ mən /

noun

Hinduism.

Brahmans plural

1. Also a member of the highest, or priestly, class among the Hindus.

2. Also the impersonal supreme being, the primal source and ultimate goal of all beings, with which Atman, when enlightened, knows itself to be identical.

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Brahman ² American  

[brey-muhn, brah-] / ˈbreɪ mən, ˈbrɑ- /

noun

1. any of several breeds of Indian cattle, especially a grayish, heat-resistant American breed raised chiefly in the Gulf States.

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Brahman British  

/ brɑːˈmænɪk, ˈbrɑːmən /

noun

1. Also called (esp formerly): Brahmin.  (sometimes not capital) a member of the highest or priestly caste in the Hindu caste system

2. Hinduism the ultimate and impersonal divine reality of the universe, from which all being originates and to which it returns

3. another name for Brahma 1

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Brahmanic
  adjective
• Brahmanical
  adjective
• non-Brahmanic
  adjective
• non-Brahmanical
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• Brahmans
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Brahman¹

First recorded in 1475–85; from Sanskrit brāhmaṇa Brahman ¹ ( for def. 1 ), brahman Brahman ¹ ( for def. 2 )

Origin of Brahman²

1935–40; special use of Brahman priest

Explanation

A member of the highest social class in Hinduism is a brahman. The earliest brahmans were priests. For centuries on the Indian subcontinent, being born a brahman meant occupying a prestigious place in society. There was also religious significance to being a member of this elite caste, since brahmans were considered to be spiritually pure. In fact, for much of India's history, only brahmans were allowed to read and study religious scriptures. Brahman comes from Sanskrit, in which it means "prayer" or "the universal soul."