Difference between Brahman, Brahmana & Brahma

Brahman, Braahmann & Brahma - these are 3 of the most confused & misunderstood words in Sanatan Dharma, so let’s decode their difference in simple language today.

At the top, you have Brahman - ब्रह्मन् - to grow or expand - referring to the Highest Absolute building-block cosmic spiritual power, from which the universe arises. This isn’t the same as “God” in Abrahamic religions - Brahman is the core substance, the building block, the reason & sustainer of everything.

It’s gender-neutral, and can be nirguna (without form) or saguna (with a particular form like Krishna, Shiva, etc.).

Second, you have Brahma (ब्रह्मा) dev - the deity in the 3 main deities - Vishnu, Shiva/Mahesh & Brahma - responsible for creating & designing this universe. He’s not as worshipped as the other 2, who are responsible for the preservation & destruction aspects respectively.

He’s said to reside on a lotus, which is often said to arise from Vishnu’s naval, and is often shown with 4 heads representing the 4 vedas or the complete corpus of knowledge of this universe.

Each universe in the multiverse has its own Brahma, who lives for 100 Brahma years, before triggering a mahapralaya or cosmic reset.

Thirdly, and finally, you have Brahman i.e. ब्राह्मण - the varna or section of society including the priests & gurus who were & are responsible for preserving & sharing our ancient Vedic knowledge, conducting rituals, and guiding the society with their wisdom, blessings & tapasya.

Varna was a flexible open system initially, so people could choose this profession & be initiated into the practice as a dwija - twice-born.

It was much later that the British and other forces, including some orthodox priests who conflated this with the more rigid, birth-based concept of Brahmin jaati or caste.

In conclusion, Brahman is the Absolute Energy, Braahmana is the group of priests, and Brahmaa is the creator God.