Brahminism

However, Brahminism is rarely discussed purely as a system of theology; it is inextricably linked to the social structure of the caste system (Varna vyavastha). In the classical texts associated with this tradition, such as the Manusmriti, society was divided into four hierarchical classes or varnas based on perceived spiritual purity and social function: the Brahmins (priests and scholars) at the top, followed by the Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), the Vaishyas (traders and agriculturists), and the Shudras (laborers and service providers). Outside and below this four-fold system were those deemed "untouchables" (now known as Dalits). Under this framework, social position, occupation, and moral duty (dharma) were strictly determined by birth, establishing a rigid hierarchy that preserved the supreme status of the Brahmin class.

In response to these critiques, some contemporary scholars and defenders of the tradition argue for a distinction between "Brahminism" as an oppressive socio-political ideology and the actual lived reality of the Brahmin community. They point out that in modern India, many individuals born into the Brahmin caste do not hold positions of power, and many traditional priests live in relative poverty. They argue that using the term to describe all social ills can sometimes oversimplify complex economic and political realities. brahminism

Because of this rigid social stratification, the term "Brahminism" took on a sharply critical definition in the modern era. Twentieth-century social reformers and anti-caste activists shifted the meaning of the word from a historical religion to an ideology of caste supremacy. Thinkers like Jotirao Phule, Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar argued that Brahminism was not merely a set of spiritual beliefs, but a deliberate system of social engineering designed to keep the majority of the population in a state of subjugation. Dr. Ambedkar famously defined Brahminism as "the negation of the spirit of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity," asserting that its core feature was the grading of society into ascending scales of reverence and descending scales of contempt. However, Brahminism is rarely discussed purely as a