Last Brahmin

THE LAST BRAHMIN

Life and Reflections of a Modern Day Sanskrit Pandit

By Rani Shiv Shankar Sharma

Translated from Telegu by D.Venkat Rao

This is a strange and fascinating book. I have not read anything like this all these years. Possibly no one has written about people like Rani Narasimha Sastry.

He is the father of the author. The introduction gives an idea of the contents and matters dealt with in this narrative. Narasimha Sastry is last in a line Vedic of scholars who observe the Vedic norms and practice fire sacrifices without any pomp or publicity. They are simple, content and exclusive. They don’t mingle with the crowd visiting the temple and pilgrim centres. They though outworldly civil they are on their own. The narrative gives an idea as how Narasimha Sastry thou teaching Sanskrit in a college is not one of it. He teaches only Brahmin boys. He performs all Vedic rites properly and in correct times. He observes all pollution rituals. He is concerned only with the Vedic and not at all worried about anything worldly.

Though it is fascinating to know of the life of such a Brahmin, the book is disappointing. The telling does not follow any chronological system or it follows a subject wise division. There are a good lot of repetitions of words, sentences, entire paragraphs at several occasions. They come in the way of a serious reader.

The author styles himself as an atheist and communist. His elder brother is termed as the modern Hindu meaning a political entity. Both were disinherited by their father who wanted to remain a true Brahmin till end. The father and Brahmins of like minded were of the view that there is no such thing as Hindu in any of the ancient Vedic or Sanskrit scriptures. There is Sanatana dharma that each one to follow according to the birth. They do not agree with the saying “Janmana Jayate Sudra: Karmana Jayate Dvija:” Man is born in a particular varna due to the doings in his earlier birth. If one follows the duties fixed for ones varna by birth the he might take to higher varna in his next birth. Duties and cultures of varnas could not and should not be changed. Certain varnas do practice animal sacrifice and it is justified.

Although the father is of the view that Vedanta has no Vedic authority and Adi Sankara has thus corrupted the Vedic dharma he has every respect and devotion towards two of the mutts namely Sringeri Saradaa Peedham and Kanchi Kamakodi Peedham. As a true Vedic Brahmin he does not visit any temples. According to him no Brahmin has constructed any temple. Temples were constructed by Kshatriyas for non-Brahmin use. Brahmins should concentrate on Vedic rituals that eventually benefit the universe as a whole.

At some places, the author resorted to a kind of dialogue between people of different persuasions. They are informatory rather than explanatory. Still that makes you think. Since the author is a Sanskrit scholar with no English education he uses his knowledge to quote and cite several facets of his understanding of scriptural and puranic stories to explain some practices adopted by Brahmins. He brings out contradictions and confusions inherent therein.

However there are places where one gets puzzled. Who is speaking; whether the father or the son? His ideas of socialism and communism are second hand and not cogent enough. We come to know that at least in Andhra; Brahmins are found in all parties from far right to far left. I think that this is mostly true at every other state and at national level as well.