Vishwakarma (caste): Difference between revisions
rmv "Vishwakarma are also called Brahmins indicates high status" - from what I'm seeing in books they're a lower caste |
format, cleanup |
||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
}} |
}} |
||
'''Vishwabrahmin''' [[Vishwakarma (caste)|(Viśvákarma or Vishwakarma)]] is an [[India]]n [[caste]] of [[priest]]s, [[engineer]]s, [[architect]]s, sculptors, temple builders and artists community. It includes five sub-castes;[[carpenter]]s, [[blacksmith]]s, [[coppersmith]]s, goldsmiths and sculptors. They |
'''Vishwabrahmin''' [[Vishwakarma (caste)|(Viśvákarma or Vishwakarma)]] is an [[India]]n [[caste]] of [[priest]]s, [[engineer]]s, [[architect]]s, sculptors, temple builders and artists community. It includes five sub-castes;[[carpenter]]s, [[blacksmith]]s, [[coppersmith]]s, goldsmiths and sculptors. They identify themselves with the ''pancha jana'' ("five peoples") of the legendary [[Vedic period]]: [[Rathakara]], [[Karmakara]], [[Thakshaka]], [[Kumbhakara]], and [[NishadaSthapathies]]{{what}}) and worship various forms of [[Viswakarma]].{cn}} The caste is associated with the placing of the holy sacrificial fire in the [[Yajna kunda]].{{cn}} |
||
==Rishis== |
==Rishis== |
||
| Line 46: | Line 46: | ||
===Andhra Pradesh=== |
===Andhra Pradesh=== |
||
Vishwabrahmin is a member of a castes within Hindu society.{{cn}} |
|||
===Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat === |
===Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat === |
||
Revision as of 21:54, 17 June 2013
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
Vishwabrahmin (Viśvákarma or Vishwakarma) is an Indian caste of priests, engineers, architects, sculptors, temple builders and artists community. It includes five sub-castes;carpenters, blacksmiths, coppersmiths, goldsmiths and sculptors. They identify themselves with the pancha jana ("five peoples") of the legendary Vedic period: Rathakara, Karmakara, Thakshaka, Kumbhakara, and NishadaSthapathies[clarification needed]) and worship various forms of Viswakarma.{cn}} The caste is associated with the placing of the holy sacrificial fire in the Yajna kunda.[citation needed]
Rishis
Vishvakarma created five Brahmas/prajapathies - from his five faces.[12] They were Manu, Maya, Twosta, Silpy, Viswajna and their respective Rishis were
- Sanaga Brahma Rishi,
- Sanaathana Brahma Rishi,
- Abhuvanasa Brahma Rishi,
- Prathnasa Brahma Rishi,
- Suparnasa Brahma Rishi.
Gotras
Vishwakarma acharya are divided into five gotras (or clans); each Rishi's name is mentioned in the Yajurveda (4.3.3).[1]
- Sanaga
- Sanatana
- Abhuvanasa
- Pratanasa
- Suparna[1]
- overal 225 rishi gotras we are having.
Subdivisions
The caste consists of five sub-castes: carpenters, blacksmiths, masons, brass smiths, and goldsmiths.[2]
Kerala
In Kerala, the Vishwakarma community is also known as Acharyar, Achary, Kammalar, or Viswa Brahmanar.[3] They exist in Tamil in two communities: one Tamil (primarily in Travancore), one Malayali.[4]
TamilNadu
In TamilNadu, Tamil achari or asari are known as 'Tamil Kammalars' They were goldsmith, and landlords.[2]
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]
Andhra Pradesh
Vishwabrahmin is a member of a castes within Hindu society.[citation needed]
Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat
In North India, the Vishwakarmas are also known as Vishwbrahmin.[6]
Diet
Vishwakarmas in North and South India are strict vegetarians and practice complete abstinence from liquor.[7][full citation needed][8] follow a strict vegetarian diet.
Notables
- Viswakarma - engineer of Devas.
- Mamuni Mayan - engineer of Asuras, father of Mandodari
- Bhogar - a Siddha who made the Muruga idol in Pazhani.
- Annamacharya - saint-poet who was an devotee of Venkateswara, and wrote many songs about him
- Adi Shankaracharya - As per Shankar Vijaya, Shankara sang I am a decendent of Twashter, ... I am a Brahmin of the Vishwakarma Caste.[9]
References
- ^ a b Kashyap, Rangasami Laksminarayana (2003). Kr̥ṣṇayajurvedīya Taittirīya-saṃhitā. ISBN 8179940055.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ a b Ramaswamy, Vijaya (2007). Historical dictionary of the Tamils. Scarecrow Press. pp. 107–108. ISBN 978-0-8108-5379-9. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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) - ^ "Vishwakarmas of the south are strict vegetarians." Metalcraftsmen of India, Meera Mukherjee, Issue 44 of Memoir (Anthropological Survey of India)
- ^ Tribal arts and crafts of Madhya Pradesh, Authors Aashi Manohar, Shampa Shah, ISBN 0944142710, 9780944142714, pp 29
- ^ Journal of the Andhra Historical Society, Volumes 14-17\. Andhra Historical Research Society., 1953. p. 161.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|authors=ignored (help)