Government of Telangana constituted “Telangana Brahmin Samkshema Parishad” as a registered society with 17 members in January 2017. Earlier the Government has issued orders in December 2016 allotting six acres and ten guntas of land at Gopanpally in Serilingampally mandal of RR District for construction of “Brahman Sadan” on a nominal payment of one rupee per acre in accordance with the promise made by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in the meeting held on Brahmin welfare. Now the stage is all set for Bhoomipuja of the Sadan in the third week of February 2017.
The first ever Brahman Welfare meeting anywhere in the country chaired by the Chief Minister of the state was held on 23rd of October at Dr MCR HRD Institute Campus in Hyderabad. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao spoke eloquently on various hardships, issues and problems faced by Brahman Community.
The 80 and odd participants from a cross section of the community also shared their views and agreed on many things brought out by CM. The Chief Minister had given emphasis to the role of Brahmans since ages and highlighted how they have been in the service to society and humanity. He also brought to the notice of the gathering held, on the hardships faced by the Brahman community.
CM said that the things have come to such a stage to the Brahmans that at several places Archakas are solely dependent on the offering made by the devotees in temples at the time of Harati. He also said that the young marriageable age Brahman boys are not getting brides for them to marry as young girls are not in favor of marrying boys in Archaka profession.
The CM said that the community should overcome these difficulties and obstacles. In this context, KCR suggested that a well conceived strategy and comprehensive plan of action should be evolved together by persons both in and outside the government for the overall well being of Brahmins in Telangana State.
To begin with, CM suggested that a building complex to be known as Brahman Sadan with all the facilities would be made available for the Brahmin community in Hyderabad from the government side. A Board of Trustees will oversee the administration and management of the complex. All the traditional ceremonies, celebrations and other community activities of the Brahmans should be held under one roof, the CM suggested.
Several participants at the meeting spoke on the occasion. The general consensus was that Brahmans primarily engaged in the service to humanity, from helping the individuals to get over their day-to-day obstacles through offering Vedic remedies. Brahmans are there to help people to perform rituals and ceremonies from birth to death.
They have been also rendering help to spread the ancient wisdom, spiritual teachings and imparting Vedic knowledge. All these services are provided by Brahmans without anticipating any personal benefit.
During the discussion, several interesting points emerged about the origin of the brahmanical traditions from the beginning of the civilization. It was pointed out that there is an underlying relationship between Srushti-the Creation of universe and Brahmans.
Telangana State Vigilance Commissioner K R Nandan who also participated in the meeting, made several interesting observations giving a clue about the genesis, origins, need, evolution and ever-changing role and status of Brahman community.
But, as far as India was concerned, despite the rule by Moghuls for over 800 years and the British Colonial rule of about 200 years, none could dare change the religion, culture, traditions, Santhana Dharma till date.
The entire credit for protecting, preserving and defending the Santhana Hindu Dharma, its traditions and customs goes entirely to the Brahman community who could withstand the might of the invaders! More over our Santhana Hindu Dharma is all-encompassing inclusive in its nature and that of the invaders was restricted exclusive one!
Thus, the Brahmans were able to defend, protect and preserve the Indic culture and also at the same time passed on it to the generations after generation to come. Our ancient tradition, culture, wisdom and value system are all aimed at universal welfare. Ancient Great Rishis enabled the Brahmans in acquiring the knowledge of the ancient wisdom and to keep it under their protection. The Rishis were created by the Brahma even before the Devatas. The Rishis were asked to teach the human beings about the Atma, Jeevatma, and Paramatma, the importance of the human form, Creation, the essence of life and the cycle of existence. The Rishis living in heaven took birth on earth, married human beings, gave birth to children and completed their tasks and then left to their original abode of them.
The Rishis left behind a rich wisdom through the literary wealth preserved in several scriptures, traditions and customs. They passed on their knowledge, wisdom to Brahmans to protect, preserve, defend and propagate to generations after generations to come by.
Thus the descents of these great Rishis are the Brahmans in this land. The Brahmans as teachers, Gurus, Purohits are acting as the guardians of the ancient wisdom and transmitting it through the ages till date. The life of a Brahman is full of sacrifices and selfless in all aspects. It is known as “Voluntary Poverty”. This is what Brahmans of all the ages have been doing till date.
Leading a life with voluntary poverty, a Brahman would never sell his knowledge. He would lead an austere life often end up in begging. Saint-Composer Tyaga Raja did the same two hundred years ago while rejecting riches from the King. The Brahmans are expected to lead the society in a selfless manner without expecting anything. They are destined to do so and they are doing it till date. Hence welfare of Brahman is welfare of the Parameswara.
The initiative taken by CM KCR had brought to light the true essence of Brahmans existence and the need of the society to preserve and protect them for the larger interest of the society in general, country in particular. The meeting chaired by him paved way for their welfare and for drawing a strategy for it. It also leads to encouragement to Vedic studies, financial assistance to spiritual thinkers, provision for education, health, skill development, encouragement to entrepreneurs etc.
The Brahman Sadan Complex that is being planned in Hyderabad on the land allotted by Government of Telangana will be a platform for development of Brahman community and provides for a traditional accommodation to Peetaadhipathis and scholars coming from outside. This is in way an all-round development plan of the Brahman community. This will also be the first of its kind in the country. Brahmans Welfare of this nature is bliss to the Supreme Being.
