Firstly, he must worship Brahman everyday. This could be done directly or through other Gods. Secondly, he will have to give reverence to saints and holy men by reading the Vedas, usually consisting of the Gayatri Mantra, which is one of the most popular of Hindu prayers from the Upanishads and is chanted at all ceremonies. Thirdly, he will have to respect his parents and elderly. Fourthly, he will have to give shelter and alms to the poor or holy men and lastly he will have to feed and care for animals, as Hindus believe that Brahman is omnipresent so all living things form one community.
In the daily worship, the priest performs puja for the deity. The congregation sing and clap while he performs the arti ceremony, which is offering love and devotion to God. He also performs Haven, the offering of fire. He pours ghee while he recites the Vedas, then dips his finger in water and touches his ears, nose, mouth, eyes, arms, body and legs, while the congregation copies.
The priest teaches the Vedas, sacrifices for people and helps and assists people by giving guidance and advice to people on moral and cultural issues and counsel the community. Because Brahmins are well educated, they will be able to answer people’s questions about their faith and how they can put this faith into action. Despite this, the priest also has to be a financial manager of the temple to run maintains of it.
Priests have to take part in religious ceremonies, festivals and are invited to conduct rites of passages (Samskaras) such as the Naming Ceremony (Namakarana). After a baby is born, the priest will conduct rituals and cast a horoscope to determine the first letter of the baby’s name.
In the Sacred Thread Ceremony (Upanayana), which is a ceremony to mark the transition to adulthood of a boy, the priest chooses the date that is best for it. He conducts homa, a special sacred fire ritual and presents him to his household gods.
In the Marriage Rites (Vivaha), the priest looks up the partners’ horoscope to find the date that is best for the wedding. He recites verses from the Vedas and blesses the couple for a long and prosperous marriage.