BRACHMA´NES(Βραχμᾶνες, Steph. B.: in other writers generally in the genitive, τὸ ἔθνος Βραχμάνων, τὸ φῦλον Βραχμάνων: also Βρᾶχμαι, Steph. B.), the Brahmins, or priestly caste of the Hindoos, called by the Greeks σοφισταί, and, from their habit of practising bodily asceticism in a state of nudity, Γυμνοσοφισταί.In the expedition of Alexander, their peculiar sentiments and practices and position among the natives excited the conqueror's attention, and led to inquiries, the results of which are preserved in the fragments of the contemporary historians, and in the compilations of later writers. The particulars of these accounts,agreeing as they do, to a great extent, with the better information gained through our own intercourse with India, it is superfluous to insert here; the reader who wishes to compare them with modern knowledge must carefully consult the original authorities. It should be observed that Alexander's intercourse, with them was not entirely peaceful; for they are found inciting the natives to resist the invader, and suffering severely in consequence. (Aristob. Fr. 34. p. 105, ed. Didot; ap. Strab. 15. p. 714; Onesicrit. Fr. 10, p. 50, ed. Didot, ap. Strab. 15. p. 715, and Plut. Alex. 65, Fr. 33, p. 57, ap. Lucian. de Mort. Peregr. 25; Nearch. Fr. 7, p. 60, ap. Strab. 15. p. 716, Fr. 11, p. 61, ap. Arrian. Ind. 11, Fr. 37, p. 71, ap. Arrian. Anab. 7.3.8; Cleitarch. Fr, 22. a, p. 83, ap. Diog. Laert. Prooem. § 6; Diod. 17.102—107; Strab. xv. pp. 712, foll; Arrian. Anab. 6.7.4, 6.16.5; Lucian. Fugit. 6; Plut. Alex. 69; Aelian, Ael. VH 2.41; Curt. 8.9. §. 31; Cic. Tusc. 5.2. 5; Plin. Nat. 6.21; 7.2; Apul. Flor.vol. 2. p. 130, Bip.; Suid. s. v.;Schneider, Annot. ad Aristot. de Animal. vol. 2. p. 475; Bohlen, Alt. Ind. vol. i. pp. 279, 287, 319, vol. 2. p. 181; Creuzer, Symbolik, vol.i.p.482; Droysen, Alex. p. 503; Lassen, de Nominibus quibus a veteris alppellantur Indorum philosophy, in the Rhein. Mus.2nd series, vol. 1. p. 171, for 1832. See also INDIA) In several of the passages now cited, the Brachmans are spoken of as a distinct tribe, having their own cities; and various geographical positions are assigned to them. This natural result of imperfect information assumes a definite form in Diodorus (Diod. 17.102, 103), who mentions Harmatelia (Ἀρματήλια) as the last city of the Brachmans on the Indus, and in Ptolemy (Ptol. 7.1.74), who places the Βραχμάναι μάγοιat the foot of a mountain called Bettigo (Βηττιγώ), and says that they extend as far as the Batae, and have a city named Brachma (Βράχμη).
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