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Braahman

(1) The highest order of human beings according to Hindoo religion. Brahmaa created four orders - Braahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shoodra and assigned specific duties to them to keep the society in order. Braahman are the highest as they were born from his mouth, and Ved also came out of his mouth, so Braahman are regarded as equal to Ved. Whenever a Braahman, especially who has observed high penance, curses another, his penance diminishes. Forgiveness is the highest virtue for a Braahman. His power lies in forgiveness. That is why normally Braahman are of very forgiving nature.

A Braahman's Karm 

According to Geetaa 18/42, Braahman's natural Karm are - 

(1) Sham - Control on mind
(2) Dam - Control on Indriyaan
(3) Shauch - Cleanliness of inside as well as outside (Cleanliness is of two types - internal and external. In internal cleanliness a persons cleans his ideas and in external cleanliness he cleans his physical body by soap etc.)
(4) Tapasyaa - To tolerate difficulties and pain for Dharm
(5) Kshamaa - Forgiveness
(6) Saralataa - Simplicity of mind, body and Indriyaan
(7) Aastiktaa - Belief in Bhagavaan
(8) Gyaan - Knowledge of Shaastra
(9) Vigyaan - Experience of Param Tattwa
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According to Bhaagvat Puraan, 11/14, a Braahman's 10 characteristics are --
(1) Sham, (2) Dam, (3) Tapasyaa, (4) Kshamaaa (forgiveness), (5) plainness or simplicity, (6) Bhakti, (7) Piousness, (8) Santosh (contentment), (9) Dayaa (kindness), (10) Satya (truthfulness).

Braahman Means Upanishad
See also      Upanishad

(1) Braahman is a collection of some books also. Central to the Vaidik literature was a belief in the importance of sacrifice (Yagya). After some time, after 1000 BC, a second type of literature began to take shape - that was story telling as a means to interpret the significance of sacrifice. The most famous and most important of these were the Upanishad - probably written at some time between 7th and 8th centuries BC. The composition and writing of these classics was thus taking place approximately at the same time as the epics of Homer was taking shape being recited and ultimately written on the west coast of what is now Turkey.

(2) A set of Books mostly in prose, meant to explain the relationship between the sacred text and the ceremonial. These books were composed during the period following the Vaidik period during which the 4 Ved Sanhitaa were composed. "Braahman" contain many interesting stories about the two periods which help in reconstructing the history. The more well-known Braahman are "Aitareya", "Chhandogya", "Gopath", "Jaimineeya", "Kaushitakee", "Panchvinsh", "Shadvinsh", "Shatpath" and "Tattireeya". Of these, Shatpath Braahman is the most extensive and the most important. The religious value of these works, however, is limited.
[Aangiras, p 256]

Shatpath Braahman

This is a part of Shukla Yajur Ved and is perhaps the most important Braahman, but most of it, like other Braahman, has lost its importance in the present-day world.

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