194:, the Vishwakarmas have claimed a higher social status for many years, and believe that the trades which they traditionally follow are superior to the work of a manual labourer because they require artistic and scientific skills as well as those of the hand. According to George Varghese, their claim to high status is "one of the mainstays of Vishwakarma identity" in what is otherwise a fragmented, incoherent community that has often suffered from internal differences of opinion. Their claim has been voiced by Edava Somanathan, a member of the community and its only historian in the written word. Somanathan's works, according to Varghese, "... are written from a pro-community perspective. Therefore, there are a lot of exaggerations and
143:
emperor. In order to defeat the
Vishwakarmas, Karunakaran planted many beautiful women (Brahmin women according to some versions of the legend) in the fort. These women married the Vishwakarmas, thus destroying their spiritual power, and learned the secret that a certain type of poisonous grass could
152:
While many sources refer to the five subgroups of the
Vishwakarma as artisans, historian Vijaya Ramaswamy believes that the Vishwakarma of the medieval period should be distinguished as craftsmen, arguing that "... while every craftsman was an artisan, every artisan was not a craftsman".
162:
were formed and disintegrated. The latter group, who did work in proximity to each other while constructing and embellishing temples, had opportunities for socio-economic advancement but also bore the risks of withdrawal of patronage and changes in religious focus.
202:, pre-dating the arrival of Brahmins and their caste-based division of society. He claims implausible achievements are evidenced in both the arts and sciences during that egalitarian pre-Brahmin era, including the construction of aeroplanes.
157:
differed considerably from that of the various people who banded together as
Vishwakarma and lived a relatively itinerant lifestyle that was dependent on the "temple economy" that waxed and waned as dynasties such as the
144:
be used to burn up the fort. Using this secret, the enemy blew up the fort, and the
Vishwakarmas were scattered in various areas, where they were forced to work as artisans and craftsmen for mortal humans.
284:
is composed of several sub-castes: Kulachar, Uttaradi (goldsmiths), Matachar (founders), Muulekammaras, and
Chikkamanes. Sub-castes do intermarry, and have a hierarchy among themselves.
125:, the five children of the god Vishwakarma served the gods as artisans, and possessed the ability to create things by simply visualising them. They had conserved their
100:(clans) of blacksmiths, carpenters, bell metalworkers (metal casters), stonemasons and goldsmiths. It is not known whether these five subgroups historically practised
727:
571:
96:, Shilpi and Visvajna — and these are believed by the Vishwakarma community to have been the forebears of their five subgroups, being respectively the
48:
or of high-status in the caste hierarchy, although these claims are not generally accepted outside the community. The community comprises five subgroups—
205:
This claim to
Brahmin status is not generally accepted outside the community, despite their assumption of some high-caste traits, such as wearing the
121:, whose original manuscript is undated but was most probably created in the mid-17th or 18th century. According to a popular myth recorded in the
859:
832:
759:
647:
139:, and the enemy weapons thrown at it were stuck to its walls, rendering it invincible. Their chief enemy was Karunakaran, a vassal of the
882:
809:
788:
609:
875:
Rethinking a
Millennium: Perspectives on Indian History from the Eighth to the Eighteenth Century : Essays for Harbans Mukhia
325:
697:
399:
372:
420:
Varghese K., George (8–14 November 2003). "Globalisation
Traumas and New Social Imaginary: Visvakarma Community of Kerala".
901:
911:
906:
584:
292:
In Andhra they are known as Viswa brahmin or
Viswakarma (Ausula or Kamsali, Kammari, Kanchari, Vadla or Vadra or
199:
85:
84:, who is considered by Hindus to be the divine architect or engineer of the universe. He had five children —
783:. Vol. 1 (Primal Elements: The Oral Tradition). New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.
117:
37:
798:
Brouwer, Jan (1987). "The Story of the
Magnetic Fort". In de Ridder, Rob; Karremans, Jan A. J. (eds.).
153:
Ramaswamy notes that the socio-economic and geographic stability of a medieval village-based maker of
230:
184:
225:
society by such means with the failure of the Vishwakarma to achieve the same. Their position as a
127:
752:
Rethinking a Millennium: Perspectives on Indian History from the Eighth to the Eighteenth Century
475:
429:
159:
851:
878:
870:
855:
828:
805:
784:
755:
747:
693:
685:
643:
637:
624:
605:
597:
467:
395:
389:
368:
362:
801:
The Leiden Tradition in Structural Anthropology: Essays in Honour of P.E. de Josselin de Jong
686:"The Latecomers: A case study of caste and sub-caste of goldsmiths in Karnataka, South India"
459:
330:
111:
of the Vishwakarma community were first consolidated in the early 18th century, during the
214:
195:
844:
210:
172:
112:
450:
Ramaswamy, Vijaya (2004). "Vishwakarma Craftsmen in Early Medieval Peninsular India".
895:
364:
Industrial Transition in Rural India: Artisans, Traders, and Tribals in South Gujarat
206:
180:
140:
336:
198:
tirades in Kerala". Somanathan argues that the artisanal groups were a part of the
89:
821:
799:
777:
Brouwer, Jan (1995). "The Visvakarma Worldview". In Saraswati, Baidyanath (ed.).
108:
81:
69:
65:
871:"Traditional Crafts, Technology, and Society in Pre-colonial Peninsular India"
748:"Traditional Crafts, Technology, and Society in Pre-Colonial Peninsular India"
690:
Ritual, State, and History in South Asia: Essays in Honour of J. C. Heesterman
305:
53:
471:
463:
252:, although they prefer to be known as Vishwakarma. They are divided into the
281:
222:
176:
136:
132:
61:
49:
17:
532:
293:
247:
218:
101:
846:
Essays in Classical and Modern Hindu Law: Dharmaśāstra and related ideas
479:
209:, and the Brahminisation of their rituals. For example, the sociologist
823:
The Makers of the World: Caste, Craft and Mind of South Indian Artisans
713:
670:
598:"Karnataka: Caste, dominance and social change in the 'Indian village'"
557:
433:
315:
310:
226:
93:
45:
320:
229:
has not aided their ambition. They have been included in the list of
191:
154:
57:
131:
by being celibates, and lived in a fort on the coast of Ilangapuri (
778:
72:, the builder and architect of heavenly realm, a Hindu deity.
367:. Bombay: Ramdas Bhatkal, Popular prakasham Pvt Ltd. p. 103.
341:
104:, which is a frequently-found feature of the Indian caste system.
97:
602:
The Modern Anthropology of India: Ethnography, Themes and Theory
36:
community are a social group of India, sometimes described as a
688:. In van den Hoek, A. W.; Kolff, D. H. A.; Oort, M. S. (eds.).
671:"List of Backward Classes approved by Government of Tamil Nadu"
533:"Vijaya Ramaswamy | Jawaharlal Nehru University - Academia.edu"
452:
Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient
714:"CENTRAL LIST OF OBCs FOR THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH"
558:"CENTRAL LIST OF OBCs FOR THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH"
843:
820:
80:The community claims to be descended from the god
585:Reconfiguring OBC politics in UP - Deccan Herald
519:
507:
495:
391:The Leiden Tradition in Structural Anthropology
600:. In Berger, Peter; Heidemann, Frank (eds.).
8:
728:"Central Government list of OBC - Telangana"
572:"Central Government list of OBC - Telangana"
246:The Tamil Vishwakarmas are locally known as
445:
443:
415:
413:
411:
388:R.De, Ridder; J.A.J, Karremans (1987).
353:
221:caste in achieving advancement within
642:. Scarecrow Press. pp. 107–108.
7:
842:Derrett, John Duncan Martin (1976).
639:Historical dictionary of the Tamils
115:. These myths were compiled in the
827:. Delhi: Oxford University Press.
40:. They prefer the alternate name,
25:
217:, juxtaposed the success of the
326:Great Architect of the Universe
280:The Vishwakarma caste of south
213:, who developed the concept of
288:Andhra Pradesh & Telangana
1:
780:Prakriti: The Integral Vision
422:Economic and Political Weekly
68:— claim to be descendants of
44:, and claim themselves to be
692:. BRILL. pp. 442–455.
928:
869:Ramaswamy, Vijaya (2008).
636:Ramaswamy, Vijaya (2007).
604:. Routledge. p. 128.
394:. Netherlands: E.J Brill.
272:(sculptor), Vishwa Brahim
873:. In Datta, Rajat (ed.).
746:Vijaya Ramaswamy (2008).
361:Streefkerk, Hein (1985).
233:in some states of India.
200:Indus Valley civilisation
750:. In Rajat Datta (ed.).
464:10.1163/1568520042467154
135:). The fort was made of
485:(subscription required)
877:. Delhi: Aakar Books.
231:Other Backward Classes
819:Brouwer, Jan (1995).
684:Brouwer, Jan (1992).
596:Ikegame, Aya (2013).
520:Vijaya Ramaswamy 2008
508:Vijaya Ramaswamy 2008
496:Vijaya Ramaswamy 2008
333:(Vishwakarma Jayanti)
113:British colonial rule
625:Central List of OBCs
185:Other Backward Class
510:, pp. 287–288.
167:Position in society
123:Vishwakarma Puranam
118:Vishwakarma Puranam
29:Hindu artisan caste
850:. Brill. pp.
160:Vijayanagar Empire
902:Blacksmith castes
861:978-90-04-04475-3
834:978-0-19-563091-6
804:. Leiden: Brill.
761:978-81-89833-36-7
649:978-0-8108-5379-9
428:(45): 4794–4802.
268:(carpenters) and
256:(brass-workers),
16:(Redirected from
919:
912:Goldsmith castes
907:Carpenter castes
888:
865:
849:
838:
826:
815:
794:
765:
732:
731:
724:
718:
717:
710:
704:
703:
681:
675:
674:
667:
661:
660:
658:
656:
633:
627:
622:
616:
615:
593:
587:
582:
576:
575:
568:
562:
561:
554:
548:
547:
545:
543:
537:jnu.academia.edu
529:
523:
517:
511:
505:
499:
493:
487:
486:
483:
447:
438:
437:
417:
406:
405:
385:
379:
378:
358:
331:Vishwakarma Puja
183:they come under
21:
927:
926:
922:
921:
920:
918:
917:
916:
892:
891:
885:
868:
862:
841:
835:
818:
812:
797:
791:
776:
773:
771:Further reading
768:
762:
754:. Aakar Books.
745:
741:
736:
735:
726:
725:
721:
712:
711:
707:
700:
683:
682:
678:
669:
668:
664:
654:
652:
650:
635:
634:
630:
623:
619:
612:
595:
594:
590:
583:
579:
570:
569:
565:
556:
555:
551:
541:
539:
531:
530:
526:
518:
514:
506:
502:
494:
490:
484:
449:
448:
441:
419:
418:
409:
402:
387:
386:
382:
375:
360:
359:
355:
350:
302:
260:(blacksmiths),
239:
227:left-hand caste
215:sanskritisation
169:
150:
78:
30:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
925:
923:
915:
914:
909:
904:
894:
893:
890:
889:
883:
866:
860:
839:
833:
816:
810:
795:
789:
772:
769:
767:
766:
760:
742:
740:
737:
734:
733:
719:
705:
698:
676:
662:
648:
628:
617:
610:
588:
577:
563:
549:
524:
522:, p. 288.
512:
500:
498:, p. 277.
488:
458:(4): 548–582.
439:
407:
400:
380:
373:
352:
351:
349:
346:
345:
344:
339:
334:
328:
323:
318:
313:
308:
301:
298:
290:
289:
278:
277:
264:(goldsmiths),
244:
243:
238:
235:
211:M. N. Srinivas
173:Andhra Pradesh
168:
165:
149:
146:
77:
74:
28:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
924:
913:
910:
908:
905:
903:
900:
899:
897:
886:
884:9788189833367
880:
876:
872:
867:
863:
857:
853:
848:
847:
840:
836:
830:
825:
824:
817:
813:
811:9789004085176
807:
803:
802:
796:
792:
790:81-246-0037-6
786:
782:
781:
775:
774:
770:
763:
757:
753:
749:
744:
743:
738:
729:
723:
720:
715:
709:
706:
701:
695:
691:
687:
680:
677:
672:
666:
663:
651:
645:
641:
640:
632:
629:
626:
621:
618:
613:
611:9781134061112
607:
603:
599:
592:
589:
586:
581:
578:
573:
567:
564:
559:
553:
550:
538:
534:
528:
525:
521:
516:
513:
509:
504:
501:
497:
492:
489:
481:
477:
473:
469:
465:
461:
457:
453:
446:
444:
440:
435:
431:
427:
423:
416:
414:
412:
408:
403:
397:
393:
392:
384:
381:
376:
370:
366:
365:
357:
354:
347:
343:
340:
338:
335:
332:
329:
327:
324:
322:
319:
317:
314:
312:
309:
307:
304:
303:
299:
297:
295:
287:
286:
285:
283:
275:
274:
273:
271:
267:
263:
259:
255:
251:
250:
241:
240:
236:
234:
232:
228:
224:
220:
216:
212:
208:
207:sacred thread
203:
201:
197:
193:
188:
186:
182:
181:Uttar Pradesh
178:
174:
166:
164:
161:
156:
147:
145:
142:
138:
134:
130:
129:
124:
120:
119:
114:
110:
105:
103:
99:
95:
91:
87:
83:
75:
73:
71:
67:
63:
59:
55:
51:
47:
43:
42:Vishwabrahmin
39:
35:
27:
19:
874:
845:
822:
800:
779:
751:
739:Bibliography
722:
708:
689:
679:
665:
653:. Retrieved
638:
631:
620:
601:
591:
580:
566:
552:
540:. Retrieved
536:
527:
515:
503:
491:
455:
451:
425:
421:
390:
383:
363:
356:
337:Kami (caste)
291:
279:
269:
265:
261:
257:
253:
248:
245:
204:
196:anti-brahmin
189:
170:
151:
126:
122:
116:
109:origin myths
106:
79:
76:Origin myths
41:
33:
31:
26:
18:Viswabrahmin
296:and Silpi)
82:Vishvakarma
70:Vishvakarma
66:stonemasons
54:blacksmiths
34:Vishwakarma
896:Categories
699:9004094679
655:16 January
542:14 October
401:9004085173
374:0861320670
348:References
306:Bhuee clan
270:Kartatchar
242:Tamil Nadu
62:goldsmiths
50:carpenters
472:0022-4995
282:Karnataka
276:Karnataka
223:Karnataka
177:Telangana
137:lodestone
133:Sri Lanka
480:25165073
300:See also
294:Vadrangi
249:Kammalar
237:Synonyms
219:Lingayat
102:endogamy
60:smiths,
434:4414253
316:Tarkhan
311:Panchal
266:Tatchar
155:ploughs
148:History
94:Tvastar
46:Brahmin
881:
858:
831:
808:
787:
758:
696:
646:
608:
478:
470:
432:
398:
371:
321:Daksha
262:Tattar
258:Kollar
254:Kannar
192:Kerala
128:veerya
98:gotras
58:bronze
854:–46.
476:JSTOR
430:JSTOR
342:Lohar
141:Chola
38:caste
879:ISBN
856:ISBN
829:ISBN
806:ISBN
785:ISBN
756:ISBN
694:ISBN
657:2012
644:ISBN
606:ISBN
544:2020
468:ISSN
396:ISBN
369:ISBN
179:and
107:The
90:Maya
86:Manu
64:and
32:The
460:doi
190:In
171:In
898::
852:45
535:.
474:.
466:.
456:47
454:.
442:^
426:38
424:.
410:^
187:.
175:,
92:,
88:,
56:,
52:,
887:.
864:.
837:.
814:.
793:.
764:.
730:.
716:.
702:.
673:.
659:.
614:.
574:.
560:.
546:.
482:.
462::
436:.
404:.
377:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.