Talk:The Vedas: Brahmins and Non-Brahmins
By Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swami
What about non-Brāhmaṇas?
Is it not necessary for them also to attain inner purity? Even if they are not required to perform Vedic rituals or recite Vedic mantras, they too become inwardly purified by faithfully performing the duties assigned to them. Whatever one's jāti, if one performs one's hereditary vocation in a spirit of dedication to Īśvara, one attains liberation. As the Bhagavad Gītā declares:
Svakarmaṇā tam abhyarcya siddhiṃ vindati mānavaḥ.
One person's duty is warfare, another's is trade and cattle-rearing, and another's is manual labour. What, then, is the Brāhmaṇa's duty towards society?
The grace of Paramātman is indispensable not only for spiritual life but also for worldly well-being. The Brāhmaṇa's vocation is to perform those rites by which all jāti-s receive that grace. The devatā-s are the functionaries of Paramātman, and it is the Brāhmaṇa's duty to make all beings worthy of their blessings. The rituals he performs and the mantras he recites are intended for the welfare of all communities. Because these duties concern realities beyond the ordinary material world, he is required to observe stricter religious discipline, vows, and ritual purity than others so that the mantras may retain their potency. If it is understood that these observances are undertaken for the benefit of society as a whole, they cannot be regarded merely as privileges.
In addition, the Brāhmaṇa is expected to preserve and teach the arts, sciences, and śāstra-s, together with the traditional occupations of the various communities. His vocation is that of the teacher, and therefore he is expected to devote himself to learning and instruction rather than to other professions. His responsibility extends beyond preserving sacred knowledge to safeguarding the intellectual and cultural traditions upon which society depends.
Such a responsibility demands exceptional mental discipline. If the teacher himself lacks inner refinement, he cannot elevate others. At the same time, intellectual work presents the danger of pride and a sense of superiority. For this reason, the Brāhmaṇa undergoes the forty saṃskāra-s, which are intended to purify the individual and eliminate ego and arrogance.
The efficacy of mantras also depends upon the discipline of the person who recites them. For example, traditional mantra-s employed to cure a scorpion sting are said to be effective only when the practitioner faithfully observes the prescribed disciplines. Every mantra has specific rules governing its recitation, including the proper time and circumstances for its use. If these rules are neglected, the desired result is not obtained. It is also traditionally held that the recitation of mantra-s acquires greater efficacy during eclipses.
Thus, each Vedic śākhā contains the complete body of rites and disciplines prescribed for a Brāhmaṇa to attain the purity necessary for the proper performance of Vedic duties.