Vishwakarmas

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This article is about a Hindu community. For the Hindu deity, see Vishvakarman.

Vishwakarmas (also Vishwabrahmins, Vishwakarma Brahmins, Panchal) are a community or caste of artisans in India, who are the followers of Lord Vishwakarma.[1] They are considered as forward in Maharashtra and many other States in India, but they come under OBC in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other North Indian States. The Tamil Nadu "Vishwakarma Munnetra Sangham" in 2004 launched the "International Vishwakarma Self-respective Movement", presided by Ganapathi Sthapathi, head of the Vastu ("Mayonic") "College of Architecture & Sculpture" at Mamallapuram. The movement calls for inclusion of the community in the Most Backward Class list due to the lack of representation in the Indian Parliament, and also because prior to the British rule there were often attempts made to deny this class from Brahmanic privileges. But upon referring pandits, or religious advisers it was understood that this class were to be given Brahmanic privileges. [2]

Contents

[edit] Gotras

Vishwabrahmins are divided into five gotras or exogamous clans, each corresponding to a Rishi named in the Yajur Veda (4.3.3)[3]

  1. Sanaga Rishi,
  2. Sanaathana Rishi,
  3. Abhuvanasa Rishi,
  4. Prathnasa Rishi
  5. Suparnasa Rishi

Each of the five gotras is also identified with a traditional occupation:[4]

  1. Manu (blacksmith),
  2. Maya (carpenter),
  3. Thwastha (metalcraftsman),
  4. Silpi (stone-carver)
  5. Vishvajnan (goldsmith)

The five gotras are further divided into a total of 25 sub-clans (upa-gotras).[3]

Because of their fivefold division, they are also known as Panchals. They are said to follow five Vedas (instead of the standard four), the fifth being the "Pranava Veda",[5] which is not a text but the notion that "Aum is the Veda".

[edit] References

  1. ^ Raina 1999, p. 79
  2. ^ "Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics Part 18", By James Hastings, Page 599, ISBN 0766136957, states the following "Panchalas have the Brahmanic sanskars, or sacraments, and perform their ceremonies according to the Vedic Ritual. Frequent attempts were made in the days preceding British rule to deny them the rights to these Brahmanic privileges; but when the decision of pandits, or religious advisers when referred to, was in their favor."
  3. ^ a b Velpanura, Velpanura; L. Krishna, Anantha Krishna Iyer (1935). The Mysore tribes and castes. Mysore: Mysore University, pp. 459. 
  4. ^ Mukherji, Meera (1978). Metalcraftsmen of India. Calcutta: Anthropological Survey of India, Govt. of India, pp. 21. 
  5. ^ "Mysore State Gazetteer", Printed by the Director of Print., Stationery and Publications at the Govt. Press (1965), Page 220

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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