How did Brahmin's caste live?

Answer 1

The answer depends on what period of history you are referring to. Brahmins lived closer to their ideal life style before the onset of British influence on the life style of all of India. Mahabharata, Ramayana and Puranas contain references to ideal routines of Brahmins. For typical Brahmin life style during recent times, you can read . "My Life with a Brahmin Family" by Lizzie Reymond.

The ideal Brahmin life style can be described form many dimensions -

1. Philosopy and motto - The creator of the Universe and Life (Brahman) has a purpose behind this creation. Understand that purpose, maintain a communion with Brahman, lead a life in alignment with the purpose of the creator and guide others to do so.

• The creator's purpose translates into all beings leading a complete life. A life style that fulfills not just the body and the senses, but goes beyond in creating fulfillment for mind, intellect and finally the Soul.
• Leading and guiding others to lead such a complete life involves intense, deep and wide knowledge of life both on the worldly plane and divine plane.
• The Brahmin's life was centered around performing Tapasya (meditation combined with penance and austerity) and acquiring this knowledge of life system and also acquiring the power to transmit this knowledge to others.

2. The above motto translated into specific life styles that are different for different life stages called the Ashrama. During the Brahmacharya Ashrama (Bachelorhood, roughly translated), the main purpose is to carry out Sadhana and acquire the knowledge of Brahman and his scheme for the creation. The next stage of life, the Grihasthashrama (Familyhood, roughly translated) maintains the Tapasya and learning to some extent, but expands into enjoying the worldly life as well. During the old age (Typically called Vanaprashthashram), leading a reclusive life with focus being on contemplating the divine.

3. The ideal life style can further be classified into Nithya Karma (routine duties) and Naimiththika karma (duties that befall due to circumstantial necessities). The routine was classified into 3 parts - religious duties, profession and individualistic life. Morning to noon was dedicated for religious duites, noon till night was dedicated to profession and night for individualistic life for fulfilling one's desires. The profession for Brahmins was again classified into six parts - Yajana and Yaajana (performing Yajnas and getting others to perform Yajnas), Adhayana and Adhyapana (Continuous learning and teaching), Dana and Pratigraha (Giving and Receiving).

The above 3 dimensions, I hope approximately capture the life style of Brahmins.