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BRAHMINS.
(200)

IN previous numbers, 127, 147, 160, of Vol. III., subjects of Brahmins have occurred, in which some particulars of them have been slightly sketched. In the present instance a group of four persons is represented. One of these is reading, probably from a sacred book, to a boy who is sitting on his right hand, and is most likely a pupil. The other two men are apparently listening, though the youth on the right of the group may be a scholar also, of a more advanced age than the other. The sects and offices of Brahmins, and their assumed and admitted superiority over the people, as priests in general and particular, form so important a feature in the social polity of the Hindoos, that a brief review of it may not be out of place here.

In the division of Hindoo castes, Brahmins were, they assert, created the head of all. They emanated, says the sacred legend, from the mouth of Brahma, as typical of wisdom; the Kshuttries, or warriors, from his arms, as typical of strength; and Vaisyas from his thighs; and the Sudras from his feet. Since then the Brahmins have been the head of the Hindoo religion, and have played an extraordinary and wonderful part in the history of the Hindoos, who form so large a portion of the intelligent and civilized population of the world. In the preceding article, No. 199, it has been assumed that the Brahmins were, in all respects, at one time subservient to the Kshuttries or Rajpoots; that is, they were their priests and their servants, and had no pretension to temporal power. It does not appear from the history of India, that the Brahmins in ancient times ever aspired to the rank or responsibility of executive ruling power, or to princedom in any respect. That indeed would have been a violation of the fundamental principles of their order, which are poverty, abstinence, purity of life attained by seclusion and bodily mortification, with the study of holy books. But their exclusive vocation of priesthood, and separation from, and divine superiority to, all other castes, gave them, from the first, a subtle authority over the minds of their fellow men, which