Vishwakarma (caste)
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| Regions with significant populations |
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| Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar, U.P., Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Srilanka, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Nepal |
| Languages |
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Hindi, Marwari, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi |
| Religion |
Vishwakarma describes a caste of priests, engineers, architects, sculptors, temple builders and artists of India.[citation needed] The term is applied to five sub-castes--blacksmiths, carpenters, coppersmiths, goldsmiths and sculptors. They typically worship various forms of Vishvakarman.
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[edit] History
The community is spread widely throughout India and played a vital role in the village economy. Their socioeconomic status varied from a very high level to the middle level in different parts of India, as they earned high wages in towns because of their factory employment and low wages in villages.[1]
[edit] Gotras
Vishvabrahmins acharya are divided into five gotras (or clans); each Rishi's name is mentioned in the Yajurveda (4.3.3).[original research?]
- Sanaga (Son of Manu (Shiva))
- Sanatana (Son of Maya (Vishnu))
- Abhuvana (Son of Tvashtha (Brahma of four faces))
- Pratanan (Son of Silpi (Indra))
- Suparna (Son of Vishvajna (Surya))[2]
The five gotras are further divided into a total of 25 sub-clans called upagotras.[citation needed]
[edit] Subdivisions
[edit] Kerala
Vishwakarmas of Kerala are also known as Achary, Kammalar, or Viswa Brahmanar.[3] They exist in Tamil in two communities: one Tamil (primarily in Travancore), one Malayali.[4] They are classified into five sub-castes--carpenters, blacksmiths, masons, brass smiths, and goldsmiths.[5]
[edit] Karnataka
The Vishwakarma caste of south Karnataka is composed of several sub-castes.[6]
- Kulachars/ aachar
- Shiv achars/acharya
- Uttaradi goldsmiths
- Matachar founders
- Muddekammaras
- Doddamanes[6]
- Chikkamanes
Most of these sub-castes do not intermarry and have a hierarchy among themselves.[6] All the above sub caste is varied according to various regions of Karnataka. All the sub-castes worships the goddess Kali, they are very similar to Brahmins in their ritual practices but few of them are non-vegetarians.[6] as some other Brahmin community eat Fish addressing it as "Jala Pushpam" (Flower from water).A small Sub-Caste in Koadgu called as Airi are also Vishwakarmas who came from Malabar region. Earlier they were goldsmiths, carpenters, blacksmiths and sculptors. They are non-vegetarians who follow customs and traditions of Kodagu.[citation needed]
[edit] Rajasthan
In Rajasthan, the Vishwakarmas are also known as Jangids and Suthar.[7]
[edit] Notables
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Russell, R.V. and Lai, R.B.H., The tribes and castes of the Central Provinces of India, Asian Educational Services, 1995, ISBN 81-206-0833-X
- ^ Hastings, James. Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics. Part 18. pp. 559.
- ^ Thurston, Edgar; K. Rangachari. Castes and tribes of Southern India,. Volume 3. pp. 126–129.
- ^ Iyer, L. A. Krishna (1968). Social history of Kerala. Book Centre. p. 6. http://books.google.com/books?id=UU5DAAAAYAAJ. Retrieved 16 January 2012. "The Kammalars are divided into two classes, the Tamil Kammalar and the Malayali Kammalar."
- ^ Ramaswamy, Vijaya (2007). Historical dictionary of the Tamils. Scarecrow Press. pp. 107–108. ISBN 9780810853799. http://books.google.com/books?id=H4q0DHGMcjEC&pg=PA107. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d Heesterman, J. C.; A. W. van den Hoek, D. H. A. Kolff. "Goldsmiths of Karnataka". Ritual, state, and history in South Asia: essays in honour of J.C. Heesterman. M. S. Oort. pp. 442–455.
- ^ Singh, Kumar Suresh; B. K. Lavanta. Rajasthan,. Volume 2. Dipak Kumar Samanta, Sushil Kumar Mandal, N. N. Vyas,. Anthropological Survey of India. pp. 201.
