| Brahmin is not just a language or a group of | | | | the weight of the earth. It had been sinking due |
| people, it is a culture on its own. The name | | | | to the weight of wisdom of the gathered sages. |
| “Tamil” derives from | | | | During his travels, it is said that he brought water |
| “Damila” which refers to an | | | | taken from the Ganges River, which is considered |
| ancient non-Aryan people, as documented in early | | | | sacred. But a crow tipped over the pot of water |
| Buddhist records. Their roots come from Pakistan, | | | | that he was bringing and it formed the Kaveri |
| western India, and other western areas. The | | | | River, which is now also considered sacred in India. |
| culture itself started to form in the early centuries | | | | These Brahmin people also have a lot of |
| before Christ, out of a particular form of speech | | | | superstitions that affect their daily lives and rites |
| and set of cultural traits. | | | | of passage. For example, pregnant women are |
| Where They Can Be Found | | | | not allowed to cross rivers or climb hills. They |
| A lot of the Tamil people were settlers of North | | | | receive gifts of bangles from the family of their |
| Sri Lanka because of the British. When they took | | | | husband when they reach their seventh month of |
| control of Ceylon and India, they moved a lot of | | | | pregnancy. There are also elaborate ceremonies |
| these people to become workers in Ceylon, for | | | | for shaving the head of and naming the baby, |
| the plantations. Ceylon, it must be noted, is the | | | | once he is born. Women at the point of puberty |
| old name for Sri Lanka. A minority of them, about | | | | are celebrated through a fest. |
| 18 percent, still take up residence there. | | | | When it comes to death, they also have a unique |
| Some of them live in parts of Asia, Africa, Fiji, | | | | set of beliefs. They are not allowed to refer to |
| Europe, the USA and the West Indies. But the | | | | dead people as dead. Instead, they are believed |
| majority of them, about 67 million in total, live in | | | | to have moved into Shiva’s realm, or to |
| India today. | | | | wherever it is that they go when they die. Burial |
| Language | | | | is not practiced among those of higher social |
| The Tamil Brahmin language comes from the | | | | standing. Instead, they prefer cremation. Before |
| Dravidian family and can be subdivided into several | | | | the funeral, a corpse is washed, perfumed and |
| dialects. Some of these are Kangu, Chola, and | | | | dressed in smart or brand-new clothes. Every |
| Pandya. In written form, there is the traditional | | | | anniversary of the death of a family member, the |
| script called Grantha, and the roundish Vattelluttu | | | | relatives are required to gather, feed the poor, |
| for daily use. | | | | and give gifts to priests. |
| Religion and Beliefs | | | | Community Life |
| The Hindu religion is dominant among the people. | | | | Matrilineal ties are given importance. Marriage |
| They worship Shiva, Vishnu, Vinayaka and a | | | | between cousins is permitted and often practiced. |
| number of other major gods. They have minor | | | | They marry within their caste, and the |
| deities too. They also worship the Mother | | | | bride’s family pays for a dowry and all |
| Goddess traditionally and through honoring local or | | | | the wedding expenses. Wedding rites usually |
| minor goddesses called ammans. They do this | | | | included a sacred fire, throwing rice, blowing conch |
| through daily prayer known as puja. They believe | | | | shells, and colored water. |
| largely in superstitious practices. Only a minority | | | | Their hello and goodbye greetings are patterned |
| are Christian or Muslim. | | | | after the Hindu namaskar. This involves joining |
| Sages are highly thought of among the people. | | | | palms. They are hospitable people who entertain |
| Ancient folklore speaks of Agastya, the heaviest | | | | guests with food and coffee and tell them to |
| sage, who had to move south in order to balance | | | | return once they say goodbye. |