GREETINGS

I am a regular listener of your discourses on TV. I am unable to digest what is given in the following mail. I would request for some clarification. WHO is BRAHMIN? LORD KRISHNA ANSWERS (Excerpts from the English book ‘THE GREAT HINDU TRADITION’) The conversation between Sri Yudhishtra and Sri Krishna Paramatma on Braahmanyam would be worth a glance here. This is contained in the 96th and 97th chapters of the Aswamedika Parva- one out of the eighteen parvas. Asks Yudhishtra: Kesava! Janardhana! Who is a Brahmin?What is his true character? Sri Krishna: Listen to Me, Oh, Yudhishtra! Great one among the ardent followers of dharma! It is they: * who have tuft, who wear Yajyopaveeta, * who worship Agni, * who love their spouse, * who recite Vedas, * who worship Devi Gayatri through performing Sandhyavandana * who perform their duties towards guests and * who perform pitru karmas with devotion… Oh King, Pandava, listen to me further. Even if one were to be a Brahmin by birth and were to be highly accomplished, I will consider their life a mere waste if they * do not perform Deva karmas, * are greedy, * have no love for their spouse, * discriminate while serving food, * show disrespect to their mother, father or Guru * do not perform Sandhyavandana, * do not respect the words of father-in-law and mother-in-law, * earn their living by usury, * are impostors * and neglect their nitya karmas