Indische Palaographie von circa 350 a. Chr. – circa 1300 p. Chr. c47.s2.7

c47.s2.7

§ 24. **Brāhmans** (14,893,300). Considering that the participation of a Brāhman is essential to the validity of all ceremonies of a social character amongst the great majority of the community which takes its religious title from this order, it is not surprising that the latter should occupy the first place in the returns both as to numbers and dispersion. In every part of India, except the eastern and western frontiers and the hills of the Central Belt, the Brāhman is found in very considerable numbers, and tradition, which in this case, at all events, is corroborated by the evidence of physiognomy, nomenclature and custom, is almost unanimous in pointing to the upper Gangetic region as the place of origin. From this nucleus Brāhmans found their way in very early days across Rājputāna and Mālva to the west coast of Gujarāt. In the south of the Peninsula, the earliest appearance of this class was probably not much earlier than the Christian era, and for the next eight or nine centuries the supply seems to have been plentiful and constant. The Brāhmans of lower Bengal trace their