Pandit vs. Brahman — What's the Difference?

A Pandit (Sanskrit: पण्डित, romanized: paṇḍita; Hindi: पंडित; also spelled Pundit, pronounced ; abbreviated Pt. or Pdt.) is a man with specialised knowledge or a teacher of any field of knowledge in Hinduism, particularly the Vedic scriptures, dharma, or Hindu philosophy; in colonial-era literature, the term generally refers to Brahmins specialized in Hindu law.

Brahman (Sanskrit: ब्रह्मन्) connotes the highest Universal Principle, the Ultimate Reality in the universe. In major schools of Hindu philosophy, it is the material, efficient, formal and final cause of all that exists.

A Brahmin scholar or learned man.

The divine and absolute power of being that is the source and sustainer of the universe.

Used as a title of respect for a learned man in India.

The divine universal consciousness pervading the universe and sustaining the souls of individual persons; Atman.

An honorary title for a learned man or scholar.

A religious formula or prayer and the holy or sacred power in it and in the officiating priest.

Same as Pundit.

Variant of Brahmin..

Also Brah·ma (-mə) or Brah·min (-mĭn) Any of a breed of beef cattle developed in the southern United States from stock originating in India and having a hump between the shoulders and a pendulous dewlap. They can tolerate heat and are often used for crossbreeding.

Variant of Brahmin.

Member of the Hindu priestly class.

A person of the highest or sacerdotal caste among the Hindus.

A person from an old, respected, and usually wealthy family who has considerable social or political influence; - a term used especially in New England; as, a Boston brahmin.

A member of a social and cultural elite (especially a descendant of an old New England family);

A member of the highest of the four Hindu varnas;

The highest of the four varnas: the priestly or sacerdotal category

Any of several breeds of Indian cattle; especially a large American heat and tick resistant grayish humped breed evolved in the Gulf States by interbreeding Indian cattle and now used chiefly for crossbreeding