Brahmin (less often Brahman) originally is a member of the Hindu priestly caste. The word is related to, but not to be confused with Hindu religious conception of the transcendent and immanent  "Brahman".  

Brahminism is a term commonly used to denote a system of religious institutions originated and elaborated by the Brahmans, the sacerdotal and, from an early period, the dominant caste of the Hindu community.  

One encounters this word, "brahman," all over Hinduism: Brahma, the creator god, Brahman his Spirit and brahmin, "priest." Since the priests were the keepers of the rituals and the incantations, it was the priests who had brahman. This aspect of Hinduism is called Brahminism: Hinduism characterized by magical and ritualistic practices performed by an elite priesthood.  

Armed with spells and with the rituals outlined in the Brahmanas, the brahmins were powerful beings who could command the gods to bring about whatever they please. Things didn't happen because the gods made them happen; things happened because the priests made the gods make them happen. Because of this immense power over the whole of creation, the brahmins occupied the highest position in the hierarchy of society, forming the principle class of the "four colors" or castes.

Originally an individual became a Brahmana through personal merit and initiation, but gradually priestcraft by degrees entered in, so that the son of a Brahmana became a Brahmana by right or family protection first, then by that of descent. The rights of blood-descent in time replaced the nobler rights of genuine merit, and thus arose the rigid cast of the Brahmanas. Presently, a member of the highest of the four orthodox Hindu castes during the Vedic and post-Vedic periods. The other three Hindu castes are Kshattriya, Vaisya, and Sudra. 

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