The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (435 page)
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Authors: John Bowker
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), of all beings.
tman and Brahman are one, and the knowledge of Brahman (
brahmavidy
; see
APARAVIDYA
) is the supreme goal of human life as it confers liberation (
mok
a
) from the ongoing cycle of suffering and rebirth (see e.g.
A
KARA
).
tman and Brahman are one, and the knowledge of Brahman (brahmavidy
; seeAPARAVIDYA
) is the supreme goal of human life as it confers liberation (
mok
a) from the ongoing cycle of suffering and rebirth (see e.g.
AKARA).
Brahman
(often Anglicized as brahmin
;
(often Anglicized as brahmin
;
Skt.,
br
hma
a
). A member of the highest of the four
varna
, or categories, of
Vedic
society, hence
Brahmanism
.
The brahmans were traditionally the custodians, interpreters, and teachers of religious knowledge, and, as priests, acted as intermediaries between humans, the world, and God. They alone knew and could perform the rituals of correct worship, making them acceptable to God.
br
hmaa). A member of the highest of the four
varna
, or categories, of
Vedic
society, hence
Brahmanism
.
The brahmans were traditionally the custodians, interpreters, and teachers of religious knowledge, and, as priests, acted as intermediaries between humans, the world, and God. They alone knew and could perform the rituals of correct worship, making them acceptable to God.
Br
hma
a
hmaa(Skt., ‘that pertaining to
brahman
’). In Hinduism, the explanatory portion of the
Veda
developed as a commentary on the
mantra
portions of the text. Commonly they are dated between 1,000 BCE and 650 BCE. The most important are the following: the
Aitareya
and
Kaus
taki
(
kh
yana
) Br
hma
as of the
g Veda
; the
Jaimin
ya
and
Pañcavi
sa
(
T
yamah
brahman
’). In Hinduism, the explanatory portion of the
Veda
developed as a commentary on the
mantra
portions of the text. Commonly they are dated between 1,000 BCE and 650 BCE. The most important are the following: the
Aitareya
and
Kaus
taki(
khyana) Br
hmaas of theg Veda; the
Jaimin
yaand
Pañcavi
sa(
T
yamahOther books
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