In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Brahmaka (ब्रह्मक) refers to Brahmā, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.6 (“Prayer to Śiva”).—Accordingly, after Śiva spoke to Brahmā: “On hearing these words of the lord, the gods including Brahmā [e.g., Brahmaka], Indra and Viṣṇu were delighted [adya sabrahmakā devāssendropendrāḥ praharṣitāḥ]. After bowing to him they spoke to lord Śiva”.

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The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

India history and geography

Source: Wisdom Library: India History

Brahmaka (or, Brahmāka) refers to one of the 84 castes (gaccha) in the Jain community according to local Deccan tradition. The Jain caste and sub-caste system was a comparatively later development within their community, and it may have arisen from the ancient classification of Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya and Śūdra. Before distinction of these classes (such as Brahmaka), the society was not divided into distinct separate sections, but all were considered as different ways of life and utmost importance was attached to individual chartacter and mode of behaviour.

According to Dr. Vilas Adinath Sangava, “Jainism does not recognise castes (viz., Brahmaka) as such and at the same time the Jaina books do not specifically obstruct the observance of caste rules by the members of the Jaina community. The attitude of Jainism towards caste is that it is one of the social practices, unconnected with religion, observed by people; and it was none of its business to regulate the working of the caste system” (source).

The legendary account of the origin of these 84 Jain castes (e.g., Brahmaka) relate that once a rich Jain invited members of the Jain community in order to establish a vaiśya-mahāsabhā (i.e. Central Association of Traders). In response, 84 representatives came from different places, and they were later seen as the progenitors of these castes. Various sources however mention differences in the list.

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The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Brahmaka, (adj.) only in cpd. sa° with Brahmā (or the Br. world). q. v. (Page 494)

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Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Brahmaka (ब्रह्मक).—[-brahmaka], i. e. brahman + ka, at the end of a comp. adj. instead of brahman, in sa-, adj. With Brahman, [Uttara Rāmacarita, 2. ed. Calc., 1862.] 174, 3.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Brāhmaka (ब्राह्मक):—[from brahman] n. = -brahmaṇā kṛtam (saṃjñāyām) [gana] kulālādi

[Sanskrit to German]

Brahmaka in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Starts with (+13): Brahmakaivarta, Brahmakaivartapurana, Brahmakala, Brahmakalasha, Brahmakalpa, Brahmakambi, Brahmakanda, Brahmakanta, Brahmakanya, Brahmakanyaka, Brahmakapata, Brahmakappa, Brahmakara, Brahmakaranavada, Brahmakarika, Brahmakarm, Brahmakarma, Brahmakarman, Brahmakarmapradayaka, Brahmakarmaprakashaka.

Ends with: Sabrahmaka.

Full-text: Brahmika, Sabrahmaka.

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