Is it possible to convert from a Non-brahmin to Brahmin?

Question

Is it legally possible to convert from a Non-brahmin ( Saiva pillai) to Brahmin ( Iyengar) ? Does Indian law permit that??

Answer 1

Brahmin is born out of birth  not by making. I do not think by marrying you he can become a brahmin. Rather you will be identified with his caste after marriage.

Saiva Pillai is anyway uppercaste in dravidian culture as Brahmin in Aryan Culture. We are looking at two different caste but of similar nature.

Happy married life.

Answer 2

YES!

Answer 3

You would be allowed to do so in Quebec, Canada. A man could carry a woman's family name if he wanted to.

Answer 4

the only way is inter-cast marriage, means get married with Brahmin ,then you'll converted as Brahmin.

Answer 5

Change of caste is not possible and permissible under the present set up.Vishwamitra tried his level best toraise himself to the status of a Brahmrishi(Brahmini Rishi) but did not succeed.,even if he surpassed the Brahmin in his penance. Strangely enough,however, if somebody belonging to another religion is converted toHinduism he is classified as a Brahmin.

Answer 6

surely you can do so because India does not support a single caste or creed.India is not a theocratic state and its one of your rights.

Answer 7

No, it is not possible.

Caste is controlled by God, not by the legal system.

Answer 8

*No !!!!

In india, caste is something u are born with or in it !!!

But perhaps, if a lady marries in to a diff caste, she normally becomes of that caste ;

but people still look down upon such cases!!

Answer 9

chant and be happy!

eat a sattvic diet!

devote your life to study and charity!

haribol!

Answer 10

no it is not possible bcoz he has ate meat.it is possible for bramin to convert into non-bramin.

Answer 11

In law, caste system applies to some reservation in education and Govt appointment  only. If a forward class (Brahmin, Saiva Pillai etc) caste person marries a backward (BC, MBC, OBC etc) class person there may be conflict in deciding the reservations for the offsprings. Otherwise there could be no bar in the inter caste marriage..

You asked if the caste conversion was possible. Suppose a catholic marries a protestant, does either of the community accept the couple as their follower? The ones who do not care for such acknowledgement by the church would venture into the wedlock. Suppose a labbai (a muslim community considered lower in status) individual marries a Syed community (superior muslim), again the conflict will arise in the superior community in accepting the wedlock.

But these mundane laws are of no avail to the divine. Saint Viswamithra was accepted as Brahma Rishi after much effort by the Vasishta Maharishi (not the other way as an answer here depicts). The challenge was that a kshathriya or warrior can not follow the rigid austerities of a Brahmin yogi to attain the high status (having been given to sensuous enjoyments that could pull down the equanimity of the aspirant anytime - from the austerities). But the great Viswamithra succeeded in the task and earned the title of Brahma Rishi.

Lastly, the true brahmin is not born but "made" according to several passages in Mahabharatha. The claim to brahmin hood by mere birth as followed now has no merit in essence. Read the book (Enge Brahmanan? where is brahmin), a tamil novel by popular writer CHO Ramasamy, where he explains with authority that no brahmin exists this day except Vaisyas or merchants as every brahmin now goes to job rather than practice austerities laid down for his community. Perhaps we may call the saints - of all castes - who spend full time in spiritual pursuits, as brahmins.

Answer 12

yes .marry one

Answer 13

No conversion is necessary.Study vedas and Observe the brahminical wayof life and rites , you become a brahmin. Most of the present day Brahmins do not know vedas and do not obsever the brahminical rites fully and well.

Answer 14

Your Varna is set from birth to death, die and get a better reincarnation.

Anyway, why do you ask this here? the royal caste is from the Kshatriya, not the Brahman.

EDIT

Uh... You're the lady, and he's the lower caste? I don't know with surety, but from my knowledge of history and sociology of analogous situations, odds are rather that you will be descending to his caste, and your children will be regarded as member of that caste too rather than he rising to yours, unless you're sole heiress to something important and your husband HAS to assume that function...

Answer 15

what the heck i hate this caste System.Who ever stared that i hate that person.

Answer 16

Can you clarify what is a legal Brahmin and an illegal brahmin, then I can answer.

Answer 17

A Brahmin girl by marrying a Non-Brahmin boy, becomes  Non-brahmin.

As per our Custom any girl marrying a boy gets into his gothram, likewise she goes into his kulam(caste)

Hence there is no question of converting him as Brahmin.

good luck

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Answer 18

Actually the caste has no meaning. Castes are man-made. If a male non-bramhin marries a female brahmin, or vise versa, then what will be caste of their children? If this has happened several times in ancestral generations, how law can decide the caste of a child?

Answer 19

Why should law come in picture in these things. You are free to feel yourself whatever you may like.

For me you are a brahmin already, if you like that. What is important is to feel your being as a soul, thats all.

Answer 20

I was under the impression that one was born a Brahmin, and that one could trade down but never up.

I believe you'll trade down to his level instead of him rising to yours.  You and your children will be at his level.

If you truly want to marry him, why does it matter?

I thought the caste system had been outlawed for years, anyway?!

Answer 21

No, caste is something you are born into, and you cannot change that.

Answer 22

According to my understandings it is impossible. Read 'Manusmriti' to find out proof.

Answer 23

First, no -- it is not possible.

Second, there is no question of legal possibility or process -- Indian law does not recognize caste.

Third, I am saddened by yur question. If you want to marry the person, why is his caste important? If it is, don't marry him.

Fourth, why is this question in 'Royalty'?

Answer 24

These people are crazy.  The caste system was abolished in 1947.  Even if you come from the lowest castes, you can start your own family and improve your lot.

Answer 25

you can not convert from a non brahmin to brahmin.there is no brahmin . brahmin means that he who knows (brahm)god.who doesnot feel diversity between non brahmin tobrahmin. brahmin likes every human being wheater next person belongs to any cast. i would like to say that we can be true brahmin . if we feel god in our inner side of heart.

Answer 26

I thought Brahmin were cattle.