_by_Sophie_Charlotte_Belnos%2c_digitally_enhanced_by_rawpixel-com_21.jpg) A Brahmin priest performing daily prayers | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Assam,India | |
| Languages | |
| Assamese | |
| Religion | |
 Hinduism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Brahmin groups: |
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| Culture of Assam |
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Assamese Brahmins are theBrahmin community present in theAssamese society. There they promoted learning,Vedic religion,astrology,ayurveda and as well as imparting general vedic knowledge to the public.[4] The Brahmins migrated toAssam fromVideha (Mithila),Kannauj,Bengal(Gauda) and many other places.[5]
The earliest historical evidence of settlement of Brahmins in Assam comes from epigraphic sources of theVarman dynasty (350–650).[6] In the late medieval period beginning with the early 16th century, a number of Brahmins fromMithila,Benaras,Kanauj,Bengal andPuri (Srikshetra), were settled in western Assam by theKoch kings for performing Brahminical rites.[7][8][9] During the reign ofNara Narayan (1554-1587) of theKoch dynasty, two Brahmins named Siddhantavagisa and Vidyavagisa were brought fromGauda and Siddhantavagisa was responsible for the spread of Hinduism in the Koch kingdom[10] Even during the reign of Koch king Prannarayana (1633-1655), Brahmins were brought from Mithilia to serve in the Koch kingdom[11] and this process was later continued by theAhom state especially under theTungkhungia Ahom kings withSiva Singha donating 19 out of the 48 landgrants by the Ahom kings to Brahmins.[12] The migration of Brahmins into Assam took place from CentralHimalayas as well.[13] Most of these migration took place due to the foreign invasions inNorth India and on the invitation by the local rulers.[14] Traditionally these Brahmins held the highest positions in society.[15]
Traditionally, the ceremony ofLagundeoni – one of thesamskaras or rites of passage marking acceptance of a student by aguru, is a quite prevalent ritual within the community.[16]
Brahmins of theAssam valley follow a different death ritual as opposed to the other indigenous communities in Assam. A religious rite, known asCaturthā is performed on the 4th day of a person's demise unlikeTiloni, performed on the 3rd day of person's demise by non–Brahmin indigenous communities.[17]
Although in general Brahmins observe all the customary rituals, they appear usually less rigid[18] in some of their traditional lifestyle choices, such as they may eat meat, fish, unlike their counterparts in other parts of India like the North and the South.[19][20]
The Brahmins constitute one of theForward classes of Assam based on the classifications ofGovernment of India, although the recent trend on economic condition has not been very well within the community. Assam's former Chief Minister,Tarun Gogoi announced setting up of development councils for several communities in the state, including Brahmins.[21]
| Name | Portrait | Notability | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anundoram Borooah |  | India's 1st IndianDistrict Collector, 6thImperial Civil Service officer & 1stGraduate fromAssam/Northeast India. | |
| Hem Barua (original name was Hem Chandra Sarma Barua) | Former 3 timesMember of Parliament, Lok Sabha fromAssam. | ||
| Lakshminath Bezbarua |  | ||
| Bijoy Chandra Bhagavati |  | Former Union Minister of State inSecond Nehru ministry | |
| Gopinath Bordoloi |  | 1st Chief Minister of Assam &2nd Prime Minister of Assam | |
| Himanta Biswa Sarma | .jpg) | Chief Minister of Assam | |
| Jaimini Bhagwati | .jpg) | Indiam High commissioner toUnited Kingdom | |
| Phani Sarma | |||
| Bijoya Chakravarty | [[File:Bijoya Chakravarty in August 2015.jpg|thumb|Bijoya Chakravarty Photo]] | FormerMember of Rajya Sabha |
Ahom [aho]
Census Data Finder/C Series/Population by Religious Communities
2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01 MDDS.XLS
Assamese Brahmins are not vegetarians, but they are very judgmental about other peoples' food and eating habits. Brahmins else- where in India consider the Assamese Brahmins polluted and impure
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