Bairagi Brahmin or Vaishnav Bairagi or Vaishnav Brahmin is a

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

caste A caste is a Essentialism, fixed social group into which an individual is born within a particular system of social stratification: a caste system. Within such a system, individuals are expected to marry exclusively within the same caste (en ...

. They are Hindu priests. They are sedentary rasik (temple dwelling or temple priest)

Brahmin Brahmin (; ) is a ''Varna (Hinduism), varna'' (theoretical social classes) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the ''Kshatriya'' (rulers and warriors), ''Vaishya'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''Shudra'' (labourers). Th ...

members of the Vaishnava sampradayas, especially the

Ramanandi Sampradaya The Ramanandi (), also known as Ramavats (), is one of the largest sects of Vaishnavas. Out of 52 sub-branches of Vaishnavism, divided into four Vaishnava '' sampradayas'', 36 are held by the Ramanandi. The sect mainly emphasizes the worshi ...

. According to K.S. Singh, the community uses different

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

s/ titles in different

states and union territories of India India is a federalism, federal union comprising 28 federated state, states and 8 union territory, union territories, for a total of 36 subnational entities. The states and union territories are further subdivided into 800 List of districts ...

; these are: Swami, Bairagi, Mahanta, Maharaj, Vaishnav, Bawa, Pandit, Purohit, Goswami, Sharma, Das, Brahmachari. They are Vaishnav, and wear the sacred thread. A majority of Bairagi Brahmin is found in

Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...

Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...

Jharkhand Jharkhand (; ) is a States and union territories of India, state in East India, eastern India. The state shares its border with the states of West Bengal to the east, Chhattisgarh to the west, Uttar Pradesh to the northwest, Bihar to the north ...

West Bengal West Bengal (; Bengali language, Bengali: , , abbr. WB) is a States and union territories of India, state in the East India, eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabi ...

, Assam, and

Odisha Odisha (), formerly Orissa (List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2011), is a States and union territories of India, state located in East India, Eastern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by ar ...

. Vaishnavas are considered as part of the 'upper castes' of India.

Vaishnav Sect and Vaishnav Brahmin Caste

Vaishnav Sect

Members of vaishnava sampradayas are called Bairagi or Vairagi. And these members are divided into three categories – renunciant (Virakt), warrior (Naga) and temple-dwelling (temple priest) ascetics. The most of renunciant and warrior are unmarried ascetics. Anyone can be member of these communities. But there are evidences of different meetings of vaishnava mahants who have decided that member of anyone caste could not be member of the community. "Decision was taken by all the vaishnava mahants that no one would be member of the community except

and Kshatriya. And other castes excluded from the community." – Galta Temple Meeting, 1713. Another case was of Maharaja Jai Singh II,

king King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...

of Jaipur State held a meeting with all Vaishnavas mahants. "Decision was taken that other castes would not be part of bairagis except

and Kshatriya." – Meeting of Maharaja Jai Singh II with Ramanandi mahants and other vaishnava to maintain strict

rules, 1720. Maharaja Jai Singh II obtained pledges from Ramanandi mahants and other vaishnava to maintain strict

rules. Senugupta describes them as a High caste group. According to H.A. Rose, in the Punjab and Haryana, most of Bairagis were recruited from Jats. Bairagi Sect in bengal is mainly formed by Poundra, Kayastha, Rajbanshi Castes in Gaudiya Sampradaya. Vaishnavas were liberals but in the practice

Vaishnavas (Vaishnava Brahmins) took

food Food is any substance consumed by an organism for Nutrient, nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or Fungus, fungal origin and contains essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, protein (nutrient), proteins, vitamins, ...

only from another

Brahmins Brahmin (; ) is a ''Varna (Hinduism), varna'' (theoretical social classes) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the ''Kshatriya'' (rulers and warriors), ''Vaishya'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''Shudra'' (labourers). Th ...

. William Pinch believes that the Bairagi branch of Vaishnavas is the result of the Bhakti Movement in 1000th CE.

Bairagi Brahmin Caste

Bairagi Brahmin caste is formed of sedentary rasik (temple dwelling or temple priest)

members of the vaishnava sampradayas especially the

. They are the members of vaishnava sampradayas. They are married and they have families. And rights of priesthood pass to their descendants. It is found that Bairagi

are priest in the most of villages and cities. According to Mayer, Status of Bairagis is equal with other

Structure of Bairagi Brahmins

Bairagi brahmins are divided into four Sampradayas - often referred to collectively as the 'Chatur-Sampradaya'. 1. Rudra Sampradaya ( Vishnuswami), 2. Sri Sampradaya ( Ramanandi), 3. Nimbarka Sampradaya and 4. Brahma Sampradaya (

Madhvacharya Madhvacharya (; ; 1199–1278 CE or 1238–1317 CE), also known as Purna Prajna () and Ānanda Tīrtha, was an Indian philosopher, theologian and the chief proponent of the ''Dvaita'' (dualism) school of Vedanta. Madhva called his philosophy ...

Akharas

There are three prominent Bairagi (Vaishnav) Akharas: * Digambar Akhara * Nirmohi Akhara * Nirvani Akhara

Mahabharat

The Mahabharata says that once, after Babruvahana dug a dry pond, a Bairagi Brahmin reached the centre of pond and instantly water came out of the pond with a thunderous noise.

References

{{Reflist Indian castes Brahmin communities of Bihar Brahmin communities of Delhi Brahmin communities of Uttar Pradesh