Brāhmaṇas occupied a unique position in the history of South Asia, leaving inerasable imprints on its social and cultural fabrics. We tend to take their presence and authority in the society for granted. However, they and their actions were embedded in the historical context of particular space and time, in which diverse power relations existed among social groups with different economic and cultural backgrounds. What should be studied is a process in which they established their presence and authority. The present study aims at discussing this process and its implications in the context of the regional history of Bengal from the fifth to the thirteenth century AD. What transpires from the discussion is the process in which brāhmaṇas acquired a clearer identity as a peculiar social group, constructed networks by migration and the establishment of Brahmanical centres, and established their authority through the connection with kingship at the court and the extension of their influence in rural society.
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