Vishwakarma (caste): Difference between revisions
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The five gotras are further divided into a total of 25 sub-clans called upagotras.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}} |
The five gotras are further divided into a total of 25 sub-clans called upagotras.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}} |
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==Diet== |
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Orthodox Vishwakarmans are strict Vegetarians.<ref>"The high castes include Brahmin, Vishwakarma, Gowda Sarsvath and Lingayaths which have relatively high ritual status, vegetarian food habits and are traditionally associated with non-manual occupations." Hindu widows: a study in deprivation, by Godavari D. Patil, Godavari D. Patil [http://books.google.co.in/books?id=9JSaAAAAIAAJ&q=Vishwakarma+vegetaria]</ref> |
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==Subdivisions== |
==Subdivisions== |
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Revision as of 01:03, 4 June 2012
 | This article possibly contains original research. (July 2010) |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar, U.P., Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Srilanka, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Nepal | |
| Languages | |
| Hindi, Marwari, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism |
Vishwakarma or Dhiman (also known as Vishwabrahmin or Dhiman Brahmins) describes a caste of priests, engineers, architects, carpenters, sculptors, temple builders and artists of India.[citation needed] They typically worship various forms of Vishvakarman. Vishwakarma or Dhiman is a Craftsman caste of India. Dhimans are a community or caste who have adopted engineering, art and architecture professions in India, and are followers of Lord Vishwakarma. They are found all over India. Being largely descended from Brahmins, Hindu law permits them to wear the sacred thread, perform various priestly duties and accords them a position equal to that of Brahmins. Hence, they are also known as Vishwa Brahmin or Dhiman Brahmin.
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]
Gotras
Vishwakarma acharya are divided into five gotras.
- 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))
The five gotras are further divided into a total of 25 sub-clans called upagotras.[citation needed]
Subdivisions
Kerala
In Kerala, the Vishwakarma community is also known as Achary, Kammalar, or Viswa Brahmanar.[2] They exist in Tamil in two communities: one Tamil (primarily in Travancore), one Malayali.[3] They are classified into five sub-castes--carpenters, blacksmiths, masons, brass smiths, and goldsmiths.[4]
Karnataka
The Vishwakarma caste of south Karnataka, who is composed of several sub-castes.[5]
- Kulachars/ aachar
- Shiv achars/acharya
- Uttaradi goldsmiths
- Matachar founders
- Muddekammaras
- Doddamanes[5]
- Chikkamanes
Most of these sub-castes do not intermarry and have a hierarchy among themselves.[5] 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.[5] as some other Brahmin community eat Fish addressing it as "Jala Pushpam" (Flower from water).[citation needed]
Rajasthan
In Rajasthan, the Vishwakarmas are also known as Vishwbrahmin.[6]
See also
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
- ^ Thurston, Edgar. Castes and tribes of Southern India,. Vol. Volume 3. pp. 126–129.
{{cite book}}:|volume=has extra text (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Iyer, L. A. Krishna (1968). Social history of Kerala. Book Centre. p. 6. 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 978-0-8108-5379-9. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d Heesterman, J. C. "Goldsmiths of Karnataka". Ritual, state, and history in South Asia: essays in honour of J.C. Heesterman. M. S. Oort. pp. 442–455.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Singh, Kumar Suresh. Rajasthan,. Vol. Volume 2. Dipak Kumar Samanta, Sushil Kumar Mandal, N. N. Vyas,. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 201.
{{cite book}}:|volume=has extra text (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)