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Kumhar
File:Premprajapati.jpg
Hans Raj Sutti Prajapati/Kumhar, Working on wheel Chakk in Bainchan village inpunjab May, 2010
Languages
• Hindi • Gujarati • Marathi • Punjabi •
Religion
• 55% Hindu

8%Muslim 30.5%Sikh

6.5% Other religions
Related ethnic groups
• Prajapati • Kumbhar

Kumhar or Kumbhar (Punjabi: ਕੁਮਹਾਰ, Urdu: کتعہطد,Hindi: कु्म्हार); also known as Prajapati, is a caste or community of India, mainly belonging to the Hindu religion. The word "Kumhar" literally means "potter" in Indian languages, pottery being the traditional occupation of the Kumhars.[2]

In Hindu mythology, Kumhars are said to have descended from the Prajapati, the son of the Hindu god Brahma, and hence are referred to as Prajapatis. There are also other stories about them being called Prajapati.[3] In Shiv Purana while Narad Ji listens Shiv Tatva from God Brahma, he calls God Brahmaji as Prajapati so Brahmaji himself is also a Prajapati.

The Kumhar community is found throughout North India in the states of Punjab, Himachal, Western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.

Traditionally, the Kumhars have been the followers of the Dharmic religions (especially Hinduism), but many of them adopted Islam after the Muslim conquest in the Indian subcontinent.

Mythological origin

The Kumhars or Kumbhars or rehmani derive their name from the Sanskrit word Kumbhakar meaning earthen pot maker.[4] They are also known as Kumbhar(Marathi)Prajapati, Prajapat, Kumhar, Ghumiyar, Ghumar, Kumbhkaar . Today, the Kumhar caste is mainly found in Pakistan and Punjab, Bijnor(U.P.) (India).[5] Some Prajapatis/Kumhars trace the origin of their community to the beginning of civilization when the man started using utensils to prepare and eat food. They Kumhars consider themselves to be the starters of the world's first industry (pottery).

All sons of Lord Brahma were known to be Prajapatis. There are subcasts that are common in Kumhars and Brahmins. Brahmans are claimed to be offspring of Prajapatis. and Four varnas are developed by Brahmans within themselves but since Kumhars/Prajapatis were there from even before word Brahmins came to existence so they consider themselves different from varnas/Caste system.They say themselves to be different from the caste system and clain them to be higher than all varnas and castes.

In Hindu mythology, the Kumhars are the descendants of Lord Prajapati Daksha, son of Lord Brahma. Therefore, they are also known as Prajapati. Daksha Prajapati was a great scholar of Yajur Veda. After being given a prestigious rank by Brahma, he decided to perform a great yagna. He invited rishis, munis, devas and Brahmins to the yagna. On his arrival to the yagna mandap, all of these stood up in respect, except Brahma and Shankar. Prajapati became angry at the apparent disrespect and declared that Shankar will not be allowed to take part in the Yagna. Shankar's gate keeper, Nandi cursed all Brahmins that were there that their entire lineage will live in pity of others and will eat what others will give and will also be Demon-Brahins.[6] and hence many infants of Brahmins will become malicious in kaliyuga. But Kumhars were even then called Prajapatis and so there is no such curse given to this holy honest hardworking high system called Kumhar.Daksha also seem to be given same curse but Shiv purana tells that all Sons of Daksha were told Muki Marga and they become Mukta. This story of kumhars to be infants of only Prajapati Daksha seem to be false. But because prajapatis have surnames such as attris/bhardwaj/gautam/dhadhich etc., so they may be infants who did not study Vedas but worked hard so, those who studied Vedas, become Brahmins and who worked hard become Kumhars.

According to a Hindu mythology, the first Kumbh (earthen pot) was a gift from the Gods. When the gods and the demons were churning the ocean for nectar, there was no vessel to collect the ambrosia. That is when Vishwakarma, the heavenly builder, picked up some earth and shaped it into a pot. Some other Kumhar myths claim this to be their first creation. Another mythological story says that when Lord Shiva was about to marry Parvati, he realised he had forgotten the water pot integral for the ceremony. Therefore, he gave a part of his skin for clay to Prajapati, the god of creativity, to make a pot. And Parvati gave her blood to decorate the pot. That is when the first kumbh[7] (earthen pot) was created and Prajapati became the first Kumhar (potter). In some temples in Rajasthan, only a Kumhar can do the worship not the Brahmins.[8] The classification of Kumhars in the Hindu varna system differs from region to region.

The Kumhars of Nabha claim descent from Brahma in the following lines:[3]

Punjabi:

ਰਾਮ ਜਾਤ ਕਾ ਰੰਗੜਾ, ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ ਜਾਤ ਅਹੀਰ
ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਜਾਤ ਘੁਮਾਰ ਹੈ, ਸ਼ਿਵ ਕੀ ਜਾਤ ਫ਼ਕੀਰ

Hindi

राम जाति का रंगड़ा, कृश्न जाति अहीर
ब्रम्हा जाति किम्हार है, शिव जाति फ़कीर

Translation:

Rama is a Rajput, Krishna is Ahir
Brahma is a Kumhar by caste and Shiva is faqir

Traditional tools of Kumhars

Traditional tools of Kumhars/Prajapatis in Punjab like Chakk, Handi, Chalakkar, soot, in May 2010
  • CHAKK(ਚੱਕ)(चाक): wheel (Manual/Automatic/Semiautomatic)

{It is thought that Brahmaji is himself present on Chakk so it is worshiped on all occasions by all Hindu castes. But nowadays this tradition is lost somewhere}

  • GHIRNIYAN(ਘਿਰਨੀਆਂ)(घिरनीयां): Designing tools
  • SOOT/SOOTRA(ਸੂਤ)(सूत्र): To cut the made pot from the chak
  • THATTHU(ਥੱਥੂ)(थत्थू): External support to the raw material
  • THAPI(ਥਾਪੀ)(थापी): Internal supporting organ
  • MOOLI(ਮੂਲ਼ੀ)(मूल़ी): Refining tool for soil (by beating it into small pieces)
  • CHALLAKAD(ਚਲੱਕੜ)(चलक्कड़): To rotate the wheel using a rod; the rod is called Challakad
  • SANCHA(ਸੱਚਾ)(सांचा): (SACCHA in Punjabi) is a dye to make Handis
  • AAWA (ਆਵਾ)(भट्ठी-आवा): a hearth/kiln for raw material finalizing.

Arts products of Kumhars

Products of Kumhars/Prajapatis in Punjab Right to left: below are Taudian, bigger one are Chattina then biggest are Kumbh and smallest are Chilamns May 2010
  • Chatti
  • Taudi
  • Kujje
  • Gahde/Kumbh/Kalash
  • Chilamns
  • Kanalian
  • Gamle
  • AAthrian
  • Karhnian
  • Deeve/Diye
  • Jhanven
  • Chappan
  • Koonde
  • Chhikyale
  • Surahi
  • Kulhar

Notable Kumhars/Kumbhars/Prajapatis

Sut Jhally, discussing his video "Tough Guise: Men, Violence and the Crisis in Masculinity" at the Men's Project Collaborative, Amherst College in March 2004
  • Saint Gora Kumbhar, one of the very first Saints in Maharastra and India.
  • Saint Raka Kumbhar, Famous saint from pandharpur at the time of Shri Sant Gora Kumbhar
  • Waman Kumbhar, one of Sai Baba's first few devotees.
  • Mahapajapati Gotami, one of first buddhishts[9]
  • Saint Kuba Kumbhar, a famous poet from bengal.[10]
  • Kallu Kumhar, maker of sculptors of a famous story(Kallu Kumhar Ki unnakoti)
  • Deshbhakt Ratnappa Kumbhar, Member of Parliament from kolhapur.
  • Prof. Dr. D. T. Shirke, Department of Statistics, shivaji University, kolhapur.
  • Prof. Vijay Kumbhar, Abasaheb Marathe College, Rajapur (MS) India
  • Asa Singh Mastana, Punjabi Folk Singer/Artist
  • Surinder Kaur, Punjabi Folk Singer/Artist
  • Dolly Guleria, Punjabi Folk Singer/Artist
  • Arjun Prajapati, the award winning personality of Rajasthan[11][12]
  • Roshan Prince, singer
  • Deepika Prajapati, winner of Gold Medal in International youth Archery in USA.
  • Subhash Ram Prajapati, artist, writer, researcher, and scholar in Nepalese Culture
  • Sunil Prajapati, politician
  • Mohanlal Chaturbhuj Kumhar, awarded Shilpguru award in 2003
  • Shobha Ram Kumawat: alwar union menister played important role in education[13]
  • Shri Kewal Ram Prajapat, an expert in the craft of weaving of Dari (Durries) and Carpets received the State level Master Craftsman Award from Rajasthan Small Industries Corporation Limited for the year 1992-93.[14]
  • Shri Ram Chandar Prajapat Master Craftsman Award from Rajasthan Small Industries Corporation 2006-07 [14]
  • Shri Narpat Prajapat Master Craftsman Award from Rajasthan Small Industries Corporation 2006-07 [14]
  • Shri Mohan Kumar Prajapati Master Craftsman Award from Rajasthan Small Industries Corporation 1996-97 [14]
  • Madan lal prajapat Rajasthan MLA
  • Usha Prajapati: Famous Social activist, environmentalist,Textile Designer National/International personality [15][16]
  • Shreebai Mataji : Gurumata of Bhakt Prahlad[17]
  • M. R. Prajapati: Famous in world for product: mitticool/Nonstick wares and Clay products
  • mian munir rahmani ex MNA in Pakistan
  • khurshid mehmood kasuri ex foreign minister of Pakistan
  • HFO S D Pandit Ex Indian Air Force,He was awarded by Chief of Indian Air Force G S Gill in 1981.

The Sohni in the famous Punjabi legend Sohni Mahiwal was a Kumhar. Sohni was killed because the Kumhars don't accept the marriage of their daughters in other castes as Prajapati/Kumhar is supposed to be the highest caste. In Punjab when Shri Guru Gobind Singh found the Khalsa Panth, one of the first Khalsa Sikhs (the Panj Piares), Bhai Himmat Singh, was a Ghumiar/Kumhar family in the water-supply business. In the word Harry potter, potter means a Kumhar. The Khokhar Kumhar of Madhya Pradesh, who did the wooden work over ages, fought like wariors in the 1857 uprising against the British.

The first ever rhinoplasty recorded by the British in India was performed by an unknown Kumhar vaidya in the Maratha territory. This account was published in the Gentleman's Magazine in 1794.[18][19][20]

Divisions

Kumhar Groups of Rajashthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra

According to some books, the Kumhar community in Gujrat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra; is further divided into six sub-divisions, including:[2]

  1. Mathera
  2. Kumavat
  3. Marwara
  4. Timiria
  5. Mawalia

Each of these groups specialize in a particular form of earthwork.[2]

Kumhars of Punjab and Haryana

File:Prajapatishop.jpg
Vijay Kumar Vaish Prajapati/Kumhar, in his shop in Hoshiarpurpunjab June, 2010

The Hindu Kumhars of the south-east Punjab are divided into two main groups: Gola and Mahr; traditionally, the Golas were considered inferior in the caste hierarchy.[21] Some Mahrs in Jind claim to be the pure descendants of the sage Kuba (or Kubha) Bhagat.

Apart from Mahrs and Golas, there are also other minor Kumhar groups. For example, Hanslin, Tannr, Mali and Raj Kumhar. The Raj Kumhars traditionally worked as the masons and thus held a superior position in the caste hierarchy.

In Gurdaspur, the Hindu Ghumars are divided into two groups, one claiming descent from Raja Sain Pal, a Rajput, who had seven sons:[21]

  1. Ghuman
  2. Ojha
  3. Tatla/Tatra
  4. Machchana
  5. Kahlon – Who become a cultivator thus a jat by caste
  6. Haljhal - Who become potters
  7. Tak
  8. Kukoo Mahroliya from jamalpur
  9. Musilm Ku

mhar of Haryana The descendants of Tak and Haljhal don't marry within themselves because they were true brothers.

The Kumhars of Haryana

The Kumhars of Sirsa are divided into the Jodhpuria, from Jodhpur, who use the furnace or bhathi and are generally mere potters, and the Bikaneri or Desi, from Bikaner who use kilns (pajawas), but are chiefly agricultural and look down upon the potter's occupation as degrading. In Hissar there are four nondescript groups, the Bidawati, Magrochi, Nagori and Bhandia and others. All those appear to be really different tribes and not separate clans of one and the same tribe or caste, as, though all smoke and eat together, they will not inter-marry. Of these the first-named smoke with Jaats, and take wives from the Rugrachi, but will not give them wives in return (this is called batta). Other groups mentioned in accounts from this District are the Gola, Maru and Mula, all three distinct and will not intermarry. But the other accounts make the Gola the same as Maru and Bidwati identical with the Megrechi. Several of the Knmhar tribes have abandoned pottery and taken to agriculture as an occupation and thus risen in social scale. Other territorial Groups of Hindu Kumhars are:

  1. Bagri or Marwari
  2. Bangar(u) a sub-caste, found in Kapurthala, originally immigrants from Bangar
  3. Desi

Occupationally, the Bagri group is also sub-divided into Khapmarus or agriculturists and Khapbandas or potters, which form sub-castes, as they do not intermarry, or eat or smoke together. They avoid four gots in marriage. The Marwariss of Bagar use camels at a wedding, as they keep camels instead of donkeys. Besides Guga, they also affect Jin Devi, whose surine is on a hill near Jaipur. Fairs are held there on the 8th and 9th sudi of Chait and Asauj. The Marwari-Desi groups appear to he found only in Jind, and in Sialkot.

Kumhars of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab

The Kumhars ol Kangra appear, however, to be also known as Desi, and their women wear gold nose-rings. Their gots are Danial, Gan-gotra and Sonal. In Maler Kotla the Pajawagars are said to be Desi, there being no Marwaris in the State, and this Desi group is further sub-divided into Mahars and Golas. In Jind these two sub-divisions of the Desi group are also found, the Mahar being also called Maru.

Kumhars of Madhya Pradesh

Hathretie and Chakretie (or Challakad) Kumhars are found in Madhya Pradesh and refer to themselves as Prajapati. Hathretie Kumhars are called so because they traditionally moved the "chak" (potter's wheel) by hands ("hath"). Gola is a common surnames among Kumhars in Madhya Pradesh[22]

Kumhars of Pakistan

A huge population of Kumhars settled in Pakistan. They have two kinds 1: Muhajer and 2: Locals.Majority of Kumhars in Pakistan are Muslim. Muhajer Kumhars are migrate from India in 1947 after partition. They have many Gotars/Surnames and they are Hindi speaking like Haeyanvi Bangar(u) a sub-caste, found immigrants from Bangar Haryana, India. Some of the tribes are Punjabi speaking who have migrate from Indian Punjab. They are commonly called Rehmani. The title of Rehmani is adapted after partition by Muhajar Kumhars but Local Kumhars also adopted this title.Local Kumhars are ancient people of Punjab and Sindh and there is no concept of caste system in Blochistan and Kheber Pakhtonkha, where they are in majority (N.W.F.P).

Common Kumhar/Prajapati surnames

The Punjabi Kumhars/Prajapatis have the following common surnames (many of these surnames are also found in non-Kumhar communities):[23][24]

  1. Jhalli :ਝੱਲੀ ( حہ`لۓ)(ਚੱਕ ਦੇ ਚਾਲਕ)(Chalhi) who runs the chuck (wheel) {many Jhalli/Jhallys write themselves to be Jolly nowadays}
  2. Bhopal :ਭੋਪਾਲ (ਮਿੱਟੀ ਦੇ ਭਾਲ਼ੂ ਜਾਂ ਮਿੱਟੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਕਿਸਮਾਂ ਦੇ ਜਾਣੂ) (bhoo-bhaal) who searches for the proper type of earth
  3. Gill :ਗਿੱਲ (ਮਿੱਟੀ ਦੀ ਘਾਣੀ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲ਼ੇ) checks the mixture ratio
  4. Dhillon :ਢਿੱਲੋਂ (ਚੱਕ ਦੇ ਮਿਸਤ੍ਰੀ) accurate speed of the running wheel
  5. Dubb :ਡੱਬ (ਮਾਲ ਪਕਾਉਣ ਵਾਲ਼ੇ) packers/driers
  6. TalePhear:ਤਲ਼ੇਫਿਆਰ/ਤਲਵਾੜ(Talwar) (ਰੰਗਰੇਜ਼) colouring the raw material
  7. Kalsi :ਕਲਸੀ (ਕਲਾਕਾਰ) Kalakaar makes designs
  8. Gohal :ਗੋਹਲ/ਗੋਹਿਲ (ਆਵੇ ਦੇ ਚੈਕਰ) Earthen walls makers
  9. Kashav :ਕਸ਼ਵ (ਵਪਾਰੀ) Businessmen in Ghumars
  10. Malhi :ਮੱਲ੍ਹੀ (ਮਿੱਟੀ ਮਲ਼ਨ ਵਾਲ਼ੇ) To mix the clay with water.
  11. Khokhars:ਖੋਖਰ (ਜੰਗੀ ਲੜਾਕੇ/ਮੁਹੰਮਦ ਗ਼ੌਰੀ ਦੇ ਕਾਤਲ)
  12. Lehra/Lehri : ਲੈਹਰਾ, ਲੈਹਰੀ - pot basement fillers.
  13. Karari  : ਕਰਾੜੀ(ਕਰਾੜੀਏ)- Makers of surahis (earthen product for cold water) on large scale in older times.
See also: Prajapati Clans

Present circumstances

The Kumhars have almost shun their business but some kept it alive - there are Kumhars in the Indian continent that export their items around world. It is said that Kumhars have never their agricultural land but nowadays they have a lot of bought by them.[2]

The Kumhar maintain gotra exogamy and community endogamy. Their traditional occupation remains pottery, but many are now Higher Educated and are farmers also. The community are Hindus of the Shaivite sect.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.joshuaproject.net/peoples.php
  2. ^ a b c d e People of India Rajasthan Volume XXXVIII Part Two edited by B.K Lavania, D. K Samanta, S K Mandal & N.N Vyas pages 565 to 568 Popular Prakashan
  3. ^ a b Horace Arthur Rose. A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North-West frontier province: , Volume 3. Asian Educational Services. p. 563. ISBN 9788120605053. Retrieved 2010-05-27. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ http://books.google.co.in/books?id=VfKA9FGPTQoC&pg=PA31&dq=kumbh+Kumbhar&hl=en&ei=ylUCTPOrHISyrAfbkKU8&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=kumbhar&f=false
  5. ^ Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh. Development of ..., Volume 7 edited by Shyam Singh Shashi
  6. ^ Book name="Shiv purana/page number 160/61"
  7. ^ http://books.google.co.in/books?id=VfKA9FGPTQoC&pg=PA31&dq=kumbh+Kumbhar&hl=en&ei=ylUCTPOrHISyrAfbkKU8&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=prajapati&f=false
  8. ^ paner
  9. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahapajapati_Gotami
  10. ^ http://www.khapre.org/portal/url/hi/vyakti/ka/z90428224636(कूबा कुम्हार).aspx
  11. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padma_Shri_Awards_(2010%E2%80%932019)
  12. ^ Dutta, Ayandrali (2010-01-28). "Resul Pookutty honoured with Padma Shri". The Times Of India.
  13. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alwar
  14. ^ a b c d http://www.rajsico.gov.in/State.html
  15. ^ http://ushaprajapati.net/node/24
  16. ^ http://www.upasana.in/usha-prajapati-0
  17. ^ http://www.sspgm.net/sspgmshreebai2.html
  18. ^ Plastic Surgery in Ancient India
  19. ^ Curious Chirurgical Operation. Gentleman's magazine - 1794.
  20. ^ Gentleman's magazine - 1794 - First article Rhinoplasty in Europe
  21. ^ a b A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North-West frontier province Volume 3 by Horace Arthur Rose, Denzil Ibbetson and Edward Douglas Maclagan.
  22. ^ ग्वालियर के प्रजापती ("the Kumhars of Gwalior")
  23. ^ http://www.kumharsamaj.com/gotra.asp
  24. ^ A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North-West ..., Volume 3 By Horace Arthur Rose, Denzil Ibbetson (Sir), Edward Douglas Maclagan (Sir))
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