Data from 75 F2 Brahman-Hereford cows of four specific breed combinations, F2 HB (produced by F1 HB sires x F1 HB dams, where “HB” refers to cattle sired by Hereford bulls and out of Brahman cows), F2 BH (produced by F1 BH sires x F1 BH dams), HB x BH and BH x HB, were evaluated for maternal performance at the Texas A&M Research Center near McGregor. Differences between breed combinations were analyzed for calf crop born (CCB), calf crop weaned (CCW), calf survival (CS), birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), and cow weight at palpation (PW). The adjusted means for F2 HB, F2 BH, HB x BH, and BH x HB were 0.84 ± 0.06, 0.57 ± 0.07, 0.82 ± 0.06, and 0.62 ± 0.08, respectively, for CCW. F2 HB cows had a 0.27 ± 0.09 higher percent calf crop weaned than F2 BH cows (P < 0.01) and a 0.22 ± 0.11 higher percent calf crop weaned than BH x HB cows (P < 0.05). HB x BH cows had a 0.25 ± 0.08 higher percent calf crop weaned than F2 BH (P < 0.01) and a 0.20 ± 0.10 higher percent calf crop weaned than BH x HB cows (P < 0.05). As 6-year-olds, the adjusted means for cow weight at palpation for F2 HB, F2 BH, HB x BH, and BH x HB cows were 523.65 ± 20.49 kg, 602.61 ± 23.63 kg, 492.84 ± 16.98 kg, and 515.93 ± 22.96 kg, respectively. Averaged across all ages, HB x BH cows weighed 56.59 ± 15.29 kg less than F2 BH cows (P < 0.001) and 41.11 ± 18.92 kg less than BH x HB cows (P < 0.05). Also, F2 HB cows weighed 40.45 ± 17.68 kg less than F2 BH cows (P < 0.05). In this herd, HB-sired cows had higher reproductive efficiency than BH-sired cows. Also, HB-sired cows tended to be lighter than BH-sired cows. Although these differences existed, exact causes could not be determined primarily due to confounding between the birth year of the cow and the sire breed of the cow.

Descreve-se uma enfermidade hereditária em bovinos caracterizada por acúmulo lisosssomal de glicogênio em diversos órgãos. A doença foi diagnosticada em um rebanho da raça Brahman com 20 vacas e um touro, mantidos em criação extensiva, no município de Porto Lucena, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. A doença afetou 3 de 16 bezerros nascidos (18,75%) no ano 2000, 5 de 19 (26,3%) em 2001 e 2 de 12 (16,6%) em 2002. Os animais afetados, após 1 mês de idade, apresentavam dificuldade de acompanharem a mãe e crescimento retardado, desenvolviam fraqueza e tremores musculares, letargia e perda de condição corporal progressivos. Com o agravamento dos sinais clínicos os animais eram eutanasiados por apresentarem dificuldade em se alimentar ou beber água sem auxílio. Todos os bezerros eram descendentes do mesmo touro. Após a retirada deste animal do plantel e introdução de um touro Nelore não houve o nascimento de animais doentes. Foi realizada necropsia em 3 bezerros doentes e palidez muscular do tronco e membros foi a única alteração macroscópica encontrada. Vacuolização citoplasmática de diversos órgãos foi a principal alteração histológica observada. Os vacúolos citoplasmáticos eram mais evidentes na musculatura esquelética, miocárdio, especialmente nas fibras de Purkinje e neurônios do Sistema Nervoso Central (SNC). Nos tecidos mais afetados, também foi observada grande quantidade de grânulos ácido periódico de Schiff (PAS) positivos e negativos quando o tecido era tratado previamente com diastase. A microscopia eletrônica de transmissão mostrou acúmulo anormal de glicogênio livre no citoplasma das células ou envolto por membrana na musculatura esquelética, neurônios do SNC e fígado As amostras processadas de pele, musculatura esquelética e tecido nervoso na histoquímica de lectinas apresentaram reação com as lectinas Griffonia simplicifolia (GS-II) e Concanavalia ensiformes (Con-A). Uma mutação letal no gene da alfa glicosidase ácida, causadora da glicogenose generalizada em bovinos da raça Brahman, a 1057∆TA, foi detectada pela técnica de reação em cadeia de polimerase (PCR) em tecidos dos animais necropsiados. Também foi detectada presença dessa mutação no gene da alfa glicosidase ácida, através da análise de amostra de sangue, de animais que tem parentesco com bezerros que nasceram com a doença. Os achados clínicos, patológicos e ultra-estruturais são semelhante ás descrições de glicogenose tipo II em bovinos da raça Brahman. Até o momento não há casos descritos de glicogenose tipo II em bovinos da raça Brahman no Brasil. O diagnóstico de glicogenose hereditária foi baseado nos dados epidemiológicos, sinais clínicos, achados histológicos e ultra-estruturais, histoquímica de lectinas e pelos resultados de PCR.

Descreve-se uma enfermidade hereditária em bovinos caracterizada por acúmulo lisosssomal de glicogênio em diversos órgãos. A doença foi diagnosticada em um rebanho da raça Brahman com 20 vacas e um touro, mantidos em criação extensiva, no município de Porto Lucena, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. A doença afetou 3 de 16 bezerros nascidos (18,75%) no ano 2000, 5 de 19 (26,3%) em 2001 e 2 de 12 (16,6%) em 2002. Os animais afetados, após 1 mês de idade, apresentavam dificuldade de acompanharem a mãe e crescimento retardado, desenvolviam fraqueza e tremores musculares, letargia e perda de condição corporal progressivos. Com o agravamento dos sinais clínicos os animais eram eutanasiados por apresentarem dificuldade em se alimentar ou beber água sem auxílio. Todos os bezerros eram descendentes do mesmo touro. Após a retirada deste animal do plantel e introdução de um touro Nelore não houve o nascimento de animais doentes. Foi realizada necropsia em 3 bezerros doentes e palidez muscular do tronco e membros foi a única alteração macroscópica encontrada. Vacuolização citoplasmática de diversos órgãos foi a principal alteração histológica observada. Os vacúolos citoplasmáticos eram mais evidentes na musculatura esquelética, miocárdio, especialmente nas fibras de Purkinje e neurônios do Sistema Nervoso Central (SNC). Nos tecidos mais afetados, também foi observada grande quantidade de grânulos ácido periódico de Schiff (PAS) positivos e negativos quando o tecido era tratado previamente com diastase. A microscopia eletrônica de transmissão mostrou acúmulo anormal de glicogênio livre no citoplasma das células ou envolto por membrana na musculatura esquelética, neurônios do SNC e fígado As amostras processadas de pele, musculatura esquelética e tecido nervoso na histoquímica de lectinas apresentaram reação com as lectinas Griffonia simplicifolia (GS-II) e Concanavalia ensiformes (Con-A). Uma mutação letal no gene da alfa glicosidase ácida, causadora da glicogenose generalizada em bovinos da raça Brahman, a 1057∆TA, foi detectada pela técnica de reação em cadeia de polimerase (PCR) em tecidos dos animais necropsiados. Também foi detectada presença dessa mutação no gene da alfa glicosidase ácida, através da análise de amostra de sangue, de animais que tem parentesco com bezerros que nasceram com a doença. Os achados clínicos, patológicos e ultra-estruturais são semelhante ás descrições de glicogenose tipo II em bovinos da raça Brahman. Até o momento não há casos descritos de glicogenose tipo II em bovinos da raça Brahman no Brasil. O diagnóstico de glicogenose hereditária foi baseado nos dados epidemiológicos, sinais clínicos, achados histológicos e ultra-estruturais, histoquímica de lectinas e pelos resultados de PCR.

Descreve-se uma enfermidade hereditária em bovinos caracterizada por acúmulo lisosssomal de glicogênio em diversos órgãos. A doença foi diagnosticada em um rebanho da raça Brahman com 20 vacas e um touro, mantidos em criação extensiva, no município de Porto Lucena, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. A doença afetou 3 de 16 bezerros nascidos (18,75%) no ano 2000, 5 de 19 (26,3%) em 2001 e 2 de 12 (16,6%) em 2002. Os animais afetados, após 1 mês de idade, apresentavam dificuldade de acompanharem a mãe e crescimento retardado, desenvolviam fraqueza e tremores musculares, letargia e perda de condição corporal progressivos. Com o agravamento dos sinais clínicos os animais eram eutanasiados por apresentarem dificuldade em se alimentar ou beber água sem auxílio. Todos os bezerros eram descendentes do mesmo touro. Após a retirada deste animal do plantel e introdução de um touro Nelore não houve o nascimento de animais doentes. Foi realizada necropsia em 3 bezerros doentes e palidez muscular do tronco e membros foi a única alteração macroscópica encontrada. Vacuolização citoplasmática de diversos órgãos foi a principal alteração histológica observada. Os vacúolos citoplasmáticos eram mais evidentes na musculatura esquelética, miocárdio, especialmente nas fibras de Purkinje e neurônios do Sistema Nervoso Central (SNC). Nos tecidos mais afetados, também foi observada grande quantidade de grânulos ácido periódico de Schiff (PAS) positivos e negativos quando o tecido era tratado previamente com diastase. A microscopia eletrônica de transmissão mostrou acúmulo anormal de glicogênio livre no citoplasma das células ou envolto por membrana na musculatura esquelética, neurônios do SNC e fígado As amostras processadas de pele, musculatura esquelética e tecido nervoso na histoquímica de lectinas apresentaram reação com as lectinas Griffonia simplicifolia (GS-II) e Concanavalia ensiformes (Con-A). Uma mutação letal no gene da alfa glicosidase ácida, causadora da glicogenose generalizada em bovinos da raça Brahman, a 1057∆TA, foi detectada pela técnica de reação em cadeia de polimerase (PCR) em tecidos dos animais necropsiados. Também foi detectada presença dessa mutação no gene da alfa glicosidase ácida, através da análise de amostra de sangue, de animais que tem parentesco com bezerros que nasceram com a doença. Os achados clínicos, patológicos e ultra-estruturais são semelhante ás descrições de glicogenose tipo II em bovinos da raça Brahman. Até o momento não há casos descritos de glicogenose tipo II em bovinos da raça Brahman no Brasil. O diagnóstico de glicogenose hereditária foi baseado nos dados epidemiológicos, sinais clínicos, achados histológicos e ultra-estruturais, histoquímica de lectinas e pelos resultados de PCR.

The objective of this study was to determine breed specific effects of nutritional insults during gestation on regulation of muscle and adipose tissue growth in beef cattle offspring during fetal and early postnatal development. Angus and Brahman heifers were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 dietary treatments consisting of 100% or 60% based on net energy requirements for gestating heifers. Nutritional treatments were imposed from day 50 to 180 of gestation. Fetuses harvested at 180 days of gestation had smaller frames and spared critical organs. Gene expression in several fetal tissues indicated potential for compensatory growth. Postnatally, Brahman offspring weighed less than Angus offspring and had smaller heads and heart girths along with decreased expression of growth and myogenic genes in the Longissimus dorsi. There were no differences in growth or myogenic gene expression within the Longissimus dorsi due to treatment. However, restricted animals had a decreased expression of PPARG.

SILVA, Michelle Moura. Proteínas do plasma seminal de touros Bos Indicus e associações com parâmetros seminais. 2011. 71 f. : Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Ceará, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Departamento de Zootecnia, Fortaleza-CE, 2011 / Submitted by Nádja Goes (nmoraissoares@gmail.com) on 2016-08-09T13:06:10Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2011_dis_mmsilva.pdf: 1145339 bytes, checksum: d51993cff038075c4bea680c81c0cb00 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Nádja Goes (nmoraissoares@gmail.com) on 2016-08-09T13:06:32Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2011_dis_mmsilva.pdf: 1145339 bytes, checksum: d51993cff038075c4bea680c81c0cb00 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-09T13:06:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2011_dis_mmsilva.pdf: 1145339 bytes, checksum: d51993cff038075c4bea680c81c0cb00 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / This research aimed to describe the two-dimensional electrophoresis map of bull seminal plasma of adult Bos indicus, Brahman, and the determination of statistical associations between proteins of seminal plasma and semen parameters of these bulls. Semen samples from 56 bulls were collected and seminal plasma was obtained by centrifugation and subjected to two-dimensional electrophoresis. The gels were stained with colloidal Coomassie, scanned and analyzed using PDQuest application. The bulls were divided into groups of high and low sperm motility and high and low percentage of morphologically normal sperm cells. The most abundant proteins in seminal plasma of bulls Bos indicus and detected in all 56 gels showed similarity to espermadesinas and BSPs. The expression of spots with pI values ​​kDa protein equivalent to aSFP, BSPs, clusterin, albumin and osteopontin were significantly different between groups of animals with contrasting parameters of sperm motility and morphology. The associations found between such protein spots and semen parameters suggest the possibility of their use as molecular markers of potential fertility of animals. / A realização desta pesquisa teve por objetivos a descrição do mapa eletroforético bidimensional do plasma seminal de touros adultos Bos indicus, raça Brahman, bem como a determinação das associações estatísticas entre proteínas do plasma seminal e parâmetros seminais destes touros. Amostras de sêmen de 56 touros foram coletadas e o plasma seminal foi obtido através de centrifugação e submetido à eletroforese bidimensional. Os géis foram corados com Coomassie coloidal, digitalizados e analisados por meio do aplicativo PDQuest. Os touros foram divididos em grupos de alta e baixa motilidade espermática e alto e baixo percentual de células espermáticas morfologicamente normais. As proteínas mais abundantes no plasma seminal dos touros Bos indicus e detectadas em todos os 56 géis apresentaram semelhança com espermadesinas e BSPs. A expressão de spots com valores de kDa e pI equivalentes aos das proteínas aSFP, BSPs, clusterina , albumina e osteopontina foram estatisticamente diferentes entre os grupos de animais com parâmetros contrastantes de motilidade e morfologia espermáticas. As associações encontradas entre tais spots protéicos e os parâmetros seminais sugerem a possibilidade do uso destes como marcadores moleculares da fertilidade potencial dos animais.

Orientador: José Paes de Oliveira Filho / Resumo: A doença de acúmulo de glicogênio tipo II (GSD-II) e a síndrome miastênica congênita (CMS) são enfermidades autossômicas recessivas importantes no gado Brahman. Nenhum estudo avaliou previamente a prevalência de mutações responsáveis pelo GSD II (E7, c.1057_1058delTA e E13, c.1783C> T) ou CMS (CHRNE, c.470del20) nos bovinos Brahman brasileiro. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a presença dessas mutações em 276 amostras de bulbos pilosos de bovinos PO brasileiros e em 35 amostras de sêmen de touros da raça Brahman, rotineiramente utilizadas em programas de melhoramento genético no Brasil. Dos 276 bovinos Brahman testados, 7,3% foram identificados como heterozigotos para E7. Enquanto, todos os bovinos Brahman estudados eram wild-type para E13. Para as amostras de sêmen foi identificado 8,6% (3/35) heterozigotos para a E7 e para a E13 nenhum animal foi identificado. A mutação CHRNE, 0,73% das amostras de bulbo piloso são heterozigotos, enquanto para as amostras de sêmen, nenhum animal foi considerado heterozigoto. Este resultado indica que as mutações E7 e CHRNE estão presentes no rebanho Brahman brasileiro, e medidas de controle devem ser adotadas para evitar um aumento na incidência de GSD-II e CMS no gado Brahman no Brasil. / Abstract: Glycogen storage disease type II (GSD-II) and congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) are important autosomal recessive disorders in Brahman cattle. No study has previously evaluated the prevalence of mutations responsible for GSD II (E7, c.1057_1058delTA; and E13, c.1783C>T) or CMS (CHRNE, c.470del20) in Brazilian Brahman cattle. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of these mutations in 276 hair roots from purebred Brazilian Brahman cattle and in 35 semen samples from purebred Brahman bulls that were routinely used in breeding programmes in Brazil. Of the 276 Brahman cattle tested, 7.3% were identified as heterozygous for E7. All Brahman cattle studied were homozygous for the wild-type E13 allele. The E7 mutations was identified as heterozygous in 8.6% (3/35) of the commercial semen samples, whereas the E13 mutations was not identified. The CHRNE mutation was identified as heterozygous in 0.73% of the hair root samples, but this mutation was not present in any semen sample assessed. In summary, the E7 and CHRNE mutations are present in the Brazilian Brahman herd, and control measures should be adopted to prevent an increase in the incidence of GSD-II and CMS in Brahman cattle in Brazil. / Mestre

Objectives were to characterize residual feed intake (RFI) and determine the phenotypic correlation between performance, feed efficiency, and other biological measurements in Brahman heifers, as well as the relationship between RFI determined in confinement and measurements of grazing activity on pasture. Three separate 70 d feeding trials were performed, and RFI was determined as the residual between actual and predicted dry matter intake (DMI) for a given level of production. Brahman heifers (n = 103; 5-to-9 mo of age) were individually limit-fed a pelleted 12% CP complete ration daily in Calan gates. Weekly body weight (BW) and DMI data were collected, and predicted DMI was determined by linear regression of actual DMI on mid-test metabolic BW. Ytterbium chloride was used to evaluate digestive kinetics, and fecal samples were collected to determine fecal volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration and determine apparent dry matter digestibility (DMD) utilizing acid insoluble ash as an internal marker. Measurements of temperament were evaluated on all heifers at weaning. High (n = 6) and low (n = 6) RFI heifers (Exp. I) grazed fescue and ryegrass to determine variation in grazing behavior, DMI, and apparent DMD. Data from all three experiments were pooled, and RFI was not correlated with average daily gain (ADG), DMI, BW, partial efficiency of gain, feed conversion ration, fecal VFA concentration, or any measures of temperament. There were no significant differences in digestive kinetics between the RFI efficiency groups. Fecal samples taken for acid detergent insoluble ash (ADIA) determination were not collected at frequent enough intervals to account for weekly variation in fecal ADIA concentration. Pasture measurements were not different between the efficiency groups for heifers evaluated for grazing behavior, as well as estimated intake as a proportion of BW, or apparent DMD. Results of this study suggest that Bos indicus cattle appear to have similar efficiency traits as Bos taurus and Bos indicus influenced cattle, making this measure of efficiency equally as valid for use in both types of cattle. This indicates that selection based on RFI can be made to increase feed efficiency without affecting ADG or BW in Brahman cattle.

Objectives were to characterize residual feed intake (RFI) and determine the phenotypic correlation between performance, feed efficiency, and other biological measurements in Brahman heifers, as well as the relationship between RFI determined in confinement and measurements of grazing activity on pasture. Three separate 70 d feeding trials were performed, and RFI was determined as the residual between actual and predicted dry matter intake (DMI) for a given level of production. Brahman heifers (n = 103; 5-to-9 mo of age) were individually limit-fed a pelleted 12% CP complete ration daily in Calan gates. Weekly body weight (BW) and DMI data were collected, and predicted DMI was determined by linear regression of actual DMI on mid-test metabolic BW. Ytterbium chloride was used to evaluate digestive kinetics, and fecal samples were collected to determine fecal volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration and determine apparent dry matter digestibility (DMD) utilizing acid insoluble ash as an internal marker. Measurements of temperament were evaluated on all heifers at weaning. High (n = 6) and low (n = 6) RFI heifers (Exp. I) grazed fescue and ryegrass to determine variation in grazing behavior, DMI, and apparent DMD. Data from all three experiments were pooled, and RFI was not correlated with average daily gain (ADG), DMI, BW, partial efficiency of gain, feed conversion ration, fecal VFA concentration, or any measures of temperament. There were no significant differences in digestive kinetics between the RFI efficiency groups. Fecal samples taken for acid detergent insoluble ash (ADIA) determination were not collected at frequent enough intervals to account for weekly variation in fecal ADIA concentration. Pasture measurements were not different between the efficiency groups for heifers evaluated for grazing behavior, as well as estimated intake as a proportion of BW, or apparent DMD. Results of this study suggest that Bos indicus cattle appear to have similar efficiency traits as Bos taurus and Bos indicus influenced cattle, making this measure of efficiency equally as valid for use in both types of cattle. This indicates that selection based on RFI can be made to increase feed efficiency without affecting ADG or BW in Brahman cattle.

Popular perception and analyses of Hinduism and Indian society tend to focus on a largely monolithic image of the Brahmans. They emphasize the supremacy of Brahmans over other classes in social and religious domains, and attribute this supremacy mainly to their superior ritual status as members of the priestly class, as well as to their traditional access to learning and literacy. This dominant image has received most attention in scholarly approaches to Hindu-Indian society and religion. Scholars of religious studies have offered various theories to explain the ritual supremacy of Brahmans, while struggles of lower castes against Brahmans have been a persistent theme in historical studies. By stressing the dominance of Brahmans in the hierarchy of power, the theoretical and historical studies have adopted a generalized and hackneyed view of Brahmans. While doing so, they have largely ignored the power struggles within the larger Brahman class. History notes the emergence of various Brahman communities in different regions at different times; it also indicates the dynamism and fluidity inherent in the formation of these communities through continually evolving affiliations with distinct factors such as region, language, sects, occupation, rituals, and ritual texts. Despite the transformations and complexities taking place within this class, the perception of their supremacist identity has persisted. How did multiple Brahman communities that shared space and prominence within a particular region engage one another? Were there any disputes among them as they shared claims to the highest social ranking in the societies of which they were a part? If any such conflicts indeed occurred, did the disputing communities create any hierarchy among themselves just as they have been positing a hierarchy between themselves and other classes? Finally, how did they define their identities as a response to these conflicts and hierarchies, and how do these identities relate to the monolithic and essentialist identity attributed to the Brahman class as such? These questions – despite their critical significance – have surprisingly escaped the scholarly gaze of the specialists in religious studies and historians. This dissertation explores this largely uncharted area by focusing on the interrelationship and identities of the four Brahman groups situated in what we know today as states of Maharashtra and Goa, in the time period from the seventeenth century through the nineteenth century. During this period the four communities – the Chitpavans, the Karhadas, the Sarasvats, and the Deshasthas – engaged in intense mutual rivalry centered on gaining greater prominence in social, political and religious domains. This rivalry was largely due to contemporary political conditions under the Marathas in the early-modern/pre-colonial period, and later under the British in the colonial period. This dissertation examines five narratives composed during this period that reflect the responses of these four communities to their mutual conflicts. The Sahyadrikhanda, the Sataprasnakalpalatika, the Syenavijatidharmanirnaya, the Konkanakhyana, and the Dasaprakarana contain portrayals by a particular group of itself and its rivaling groups. This dissertation analyzes the discursive and the historical aspects of these narratives to understand the identities of these communities; it identifies the key notions that were integral to their identities and the socio-political circumstances under which they were articulated. Within the discursive aspect, I compare the narratives using the principle of intertextuality and explore how they relate to one another, the common themes they invoke and their textual modes that had a crucial bearing upon the ways in which they affected the identities of the four Brahman groups. Within the historical aspect I study the general and specific contexts within which the Brahmans produced and used the narratives to define their identities in the early modern and colonial eras. This dissertation is divided in two parts; the first deals with the early modern period and the second part focuses on the colonial period. The early modern period was an exceptional period for the Brahmans in western India as they experienced unprecedented social and occupational mobility under the regional polities, in particular under the Maratha rulers. The Marathas offered great opportunities of patronage and employment to regional Brahmans, as well as encouraged them to take precedence in social, political, and religious realms as a way to consolidate their claims to Hindu kingship. As the Brahman class rose to prominence, various Brahman groups, in particular these four prominent Brahman groups, competed against one another to obtain a greater share in patronage and employment. Asserting their own superior Brahmanical status while simultaneously denigrating the status of others was the prime means through which each of these groups staked claims to a greater social standing. These intra-Brahmanical rivalries and the attempts of these groups to project a hierarchy of ideal Brahmanhood found expression in the Sahyadrikhanda, the Sataprasnakalpalatika, the Syenavijatidharmanirnaya, and the Konkanakhyana. These narratives are essentially historical inasmuch as they contain accounts of origins and the pasts of these communities. This suggests that history was the chief site upon which these intra-Brahmanical rivalries were articulated. My analysis indicates that within this overarching scheme of history, the narratives invoked certain key themes in their accounts, which they used to project a superior status of the community that they endorsed and an inferior status of the community they wished to denigrate. These themes include diet, modes of occupation, right to sannyasa, regional affiliation, right to the Satkarma, and a patron deity or an emblematic figure. I argue that these themes define a distinct set of criteria for ideal Brahmanhood such as a vegetarian diet, religious modes of occupation, entitlement to sannyasa and to Satkarma, affiliation to a sacred region, and validation of status by an authoritative figure. These criteria define a frame of reference within which the Brahman communities projected a hierarchy of ideal Brahmanhood among themselves. I demonstrate that these criteria had a strong correlation with actual practices (diet, occupation) and associations (regions, deities) of the Brahman communities, and were embedded within distinct socio-political conditions. This suggests that unlike the monolithic, static, and ahistorical notion of Brahmanhood projected in the ideological world of classical texts and ‘Orientalist’ studies, the Brahmanhood to which a Brahman in early-modern Maharashtra subscribed was a pluralistic and fluid notion embedded within a distinctly regional and temporal context. This dissertation also illustrates that far from being restricted to the discursive domain, this notion (and the narratives that constructed it) asserted its relevance and influence in the practical realities of the early modern era in various ways. In other words, the narrative discourse of Brahmanhood had a tangible impact on the identities of the Brahmans in question. The second part of the dissertation examines the colonial period during which this pluralistic, fluid, and distinctly regional notion of Brahmanhood continued be invoked and redefined in debates among the Brahman communities. Triggered by contemporary social and political transformations, these debates mark the continuation of certain elements from the previous era, as well as the introduction of new elements drawn from the changing social and political order. In particular, the ways in which the narratives from the previous era were called upon and redefined in these debates reflect some of the crucial modalities in which a unique synthesis of the new and the old elements was constructed and adapted to these new disputes. By drawing attention to the discursive and the practical fluidities of Brahmanical rivalries and identities through its focus on the narratives, this dissertation calls for more nuanced attention to Brahman communities than they have received thus far. / text