Brahm-bhoj (The feast offered to Brahmins)

Brahm (for Brahmin) bhoj (for feast) is a unique ritual of feeding Brahmins. It is considered auspicious and is practiced on occasions as diverse as a child’s birth, Upanayana (the sacred thread ceremony- a Hindu rite-of-passage ritual where the concept of Brahmin is introduced to a young boy. Traditionally, the ceremony was performed to mark the point at which boys began their formal education.), marriage (especially an Arya Samaj wedding that has sixteen Brahmins being invited for a traditional lunch), Anushthan (worship of Saturn), various poojas and even Death. In the caste system, Brahmins are supposed to be the uppermost caste and associated with the performance of all the Vedic rituals. The basic idea behind Brahm-bhoj is to get their blessings. The family members usually participate in serving the Brahmins.

Atharvaveda says that when holy Yajna is performed by reciting Ved mantras then the food made in the house is called YAJ SHESH AMRITAM, this is actually Brahm Bhoj and one can also invite a learned philosopher of Vedas to take the food.

Brahm-dan (Dissemination of spiritual wisdom) instead of Brahm-Bhoj

In an Anushthan, Brahm-Bhoj requires feeding either Brahmins or young maidens. Qualified, deserving Brahmins are not easily available these days. Alternatively, maidens (who being symbolic of mother power of God the Matri Shakti) are offered food, but at times they are not permitted by their parents to take food in a stranger's house. Brahmbhoj has, thus, ceased to have relevance in the contemporary society.

Under these circumstances, Brahm-dan i.e. Dissemination of spiritual wisdom (Sadgyan) can truly serve the purpose of Brahm-bhoj. For each Ahuti, one is recommended to donate one paisa (one hundredth of local currency-the rupee) for Brahm-dan, and with this amount, procure literature pertaining to Yug Nirman (resurrection of moral values in the society) and distribute it to deserving people.

An incident in the life of Guru Nanak

Bhai Lalo was a carpenter by profession who lived at Saidpur, present-day town of Eminabad in Gujranwala district of Pakistan, and with whom Guru Nanak put up for three days during his travel through those parts. Bhai Lalo served him with devotion. That was the time when a Hindu steward, Malik Bhago, of the local Muslim chief had announced a grand feast to which all and saints and sadhus were invited. At the end of the feast, Malik Bhago learnt that Nanak, a holy man born of Kshatriya parents, had ignored his invitation and had instead chosen to dine with a low caste carpenter. Messengers were immediately despatched to bring Guru Nanak to his house. Malik Bhago questioned him, "How is it that you ignored my invitation to the brahm bhoj? Or, is it that the food your casteless host serves you is better than mine?" Guru Nanak said, "I eat what God sends. There are no castes in God's sight." "Then, you should eat whatever is offered in this house." Guru Nanak took Lalo's coarse bread in his right hand and Malik Bhago's delicacies in the left. As he pressed both, milk dripped from Lalo's coarse bread and blood from Malik Bhago's food."

Bhai Lalo is counted among the earliest emissaries of the Sikh faith.

Brahm-Bhoj : A peaceful protest by the ‘living-dead’!

Believe it or not, in 2003, over 2000 people in Lucknow, U.P., India, who were alive n kicking, were declared dead in official records. For lack of concerted efforts on the part of successive governments to redress their grievances, the living dead continued to suffer, as once declared dead on official record, even a son of the soil forfeits his bonafide rights and becomes alien to his own land and property!!

The people held a protest in a unique way by having a 'Brahm bhoj' (a ritual being held after death) to be attended by over 2000 living-dead from all over the state in front of the Vidhan Sabha! Since the problem plagued all, the bhoj was attended by members of different communities, including Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs and Christians!!

A sizeable number of victims were those either working in some foreign countries or settled there…