Bairagi Brahmin (caste)
Bairagi Brahmin  is a Hindu caste. They are also called by different names that are Swami, Bairagi, Mahant, Vaishnav, Vairagi, Ramanandi, Shami, Vaishnav, Pujari. They are Vaishnav, and wear the sacred thread. A majority of Bairagi Brahmin is found in West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Bihar and the eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh. Bairagi are considered as part of the upper castes of Bengal – Brahmin, Rajput, Chatri, Grahacarya and Baidya. Bairagi Brahmin belong to the Brahmin varna. Senugupta describes them as a High caste group. William Pinch believes that the Bairagi branch of Vaishnavas is the result of the Galta conference of 17th Century. Bairagi brahmin caste is formed of Brahmins and Kshatriya. In 1713 a meeting was held of all Vaishnava (Bairagis) in Galta Temple and it was decided that only Brahmins and Kshatriya would be part of bairagis. And they excluded other castes. In 1720, Maharaja Jai Singh II, king of Jaipur State held a meeting with all vaishnava mahants and was decided that other castes would not be part of bairagis. Maharaja Jai Singh II obtained pledges from Ramanandi mahants and other vaishnava to maintain strict caste rules. According to Mayer, the Bairagis were one of a few sectarian castes which accepted admissions from higher castes. He states that they Bairagis had a worldly and celibate branches of the caste. He states they were considered of equal status with Brahmins, Rajputs, and Jats. Structure
Bairagis brahmins are divided into four Sampradayas - often referred to collectively as the 'Chatur-Sampradaya'. 1. Rudra Sampradaya (Vishnuswami), 2. Sri Sampradaya (Ramanandi), 3. Nimbarka Sampradaya and 4. Brahma Sampradaya (Madhvacharya). Dynasties

Nandgaon
The first ruler Mahant Ghasi Das of Nandgaon State, was recognized as a feudal chief by the British government in 1865 and was granted a sanad of adoption. Later the British conferred the title of raja on the ruling mahant. Chhuikhadan
The chiefs of Chhuikhadan State were originally under the Bhonsles of Nagpur, the first Chief being Mahant Rup Das in 1750. However, after defeat of Marathas, they were recognized by British as feudatory chiefs in 1865 conferring the title and sanad to Mahant Laxman Das. Akharas
There are three prominent Bairagi (Vaishnav) Akharas:
 Digambar Akhara
 Nirmohi Akhara
 Nirvani Akhara

Mahabharat
The Mahabharata says that once, after Babruvahana dug a dry pond, a Bairagi Brahmin reached the centre of pond and instantly water came out of the pond with a thunderous noise. 