Vishwakarma is the term used in India for a caste of priests, engineers, architects, sculptors, temple builders and artists. The term is applied to five sub-castes; blacksmiths, carpenters, coppersmiths, goldsmiths and sculptors.
Vishwakarma Brahmins are also called Rathakara Brahmins, and the Rathakara mentioned in the Rigveda (1.6.32) indicates high status and is associated with the placing of the holy sacrificial fire in the Yagya kunda. According to the Srautasutras, the Rathakara (Chariot-maker) is entitled to perform all the sacrifices. In many sacrifices, like the Rajasuya, the Rathakara played a role as recipient of the offerings (ratnina).
Origin :-
According to traditional belief, Vishwabrahmins are descended from five sons of lord Vishwakarma. They are as follows:
1. manu
2. maya
3.Twashtha
4. Silpi
5. Daivagya
The community is spread widely throughout India and played a vital role in the village economy. Their socio-economic status varied from a very high level to the low level in different parts of India, as they earned high wages in towns because of their factory employment and low wages in villages. About Vishwabrahmins, Anand K. Coomaraswamy says "the Kammalar (i.e. Panchal) were known as Vishwa or Dev Brahmana. They spread gradually towards the south and then reached Ceylon, Burma & Java. The Vishwabrahmins claim to have been the spiritual guides and priests and their position in the society survives in the saying the '’Vishwabrahmana is guru to the world'’.
They also perform priestly rites in connection with consecration of images. They both claim and possess various special privileges, which they always upheld with much vigour, He also mentions "throughout the rest of ceremony all priest officers had been performed by the craftsman themselves acting as Brahman priest".
Dr. Krishna Rao says, "The most highly organized & efficient of the industrial classes was Virpanchal comprising Goldsmiths, coiner blacksmiths, carpenters and masons. In the finest period of Indian art, particularly between eighth and ninth century, they claimed and enjoyed a social status in the community, equal to Brahmans. The art of engraving & sculpture had attained a high stage of development. It was exclusively cultivated by Panchals who wore sacred thread & considered themselves as Vishwakarma Brahmans. The craftsman being deeply versed in national epic literature always figured in the history of India as missionaries of civilization, culture & religion. The intellectual influence being creative & not merely assimilative was at least as great as that of the priest and the author".
Panchal are known as the missionaries of civilization, culture & religion because they spread the Hindu religion to the whole world through their art. Ernest B. Havell says, “The northern quarter of (Patliputra) was assigned to Brahmans & certain of the higher craftsman such as the armorers, ironsmiths & workers in precious stones. The association of skilled craftsmen with the Brahman and the Kshatriya castes is additional evidence that craftsmanship did not hold an inferior status in Indo Aryan society." The stapathi or master builder is described in the Shilpa Shastra as officiating at religious ceremonies which preceded the laying out of the Indo Aryan town or village and some of the metal workers and carpenters of the south of India still retains as their caste indication the name Acharya which denotes a teacher of religion.
Gotras
Vishvabrahmins are divided into five gotras or clans, each Rishi's name is mentioned in the Yajurveda. (4.3.3)
1॰ Sanaga (Son of Manu, Shiva)
2॰ Sanatana (Son of Maya, Vishnu)
3. Ahibhuna (Son of Tvashtha, Brahma of four faces)
4. Pratanan (Son of Silpi, Indra)
5 .Suparna (Son of Daivagya, Surya)
Panchal Movement to Reclaim Brahminical Right
"Panchals 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." - James Hastings.
Though the Panchals, also known as Vishwakarma Brahmins, held great importance in olden times, some Brahmins refused to accept Panchals as being Brahmins. This refusal led to a feud between the two groups. During Peshwa Brahminical rule, the Panchals suffered much. The Panchals were not even allowed to tie the dhoti - a cloth worn between legs and around the waist - a mark of Brahminical rank.
The Peshwas belonged to the Chitpavan Brahmin caste and were actually late migrants to India, having arrived from the Middle East and Central Asia. The Peshwas competed with the Panchals, who saw themselves as being the original Brahmins and first builders of the Aryan Vedic civilization.
Nelson Hindu Law, Page 139-140 states - "The refusal of many castes in ancient times to accept the Brahmins as their pastors and masters would seem to have bred a hereditary feud between castes. The origin and history of the feud at present are wholly unknown but it seem to me to be not improbable that the feud sprang from rivalries and contentions between the supporters and adherents of Brahmins on one hand and those of the goldsmiths and other artificers on the other hand. In south of India the goldsmith’s appear to have strenuously resisted the aggressive supremacy of Brahmans and have, for ages, claimed for themselves the right to be priests and spiritual guides styling themselves as Acharyas (religious teacher) by wearing the sacred thread.
Meharban, a British collector, in his book ‘Bombay Gazetteer’ states in Solapur Vol XX page 125: "Panchals are composed of five classes: goldsmiths, bronzesmiths, blacksmiths, carpenters and masons. They consider themselves equals, if not superior, to the local Brahmins. Their family priests, who are members of their own community, are held in high respect. They gird their boys with the sacred thread at the age of seven to nine years. A feast called the Brahmins' feast or Brahma Bhojan is held where kith and kin and members of the caste are invited
The Vishwakarma community across India
Andhra Pradesh :In Andhra Pradesh, Vishwakarmas are called Vishwabrahmins or Vishwakarma Brahmins. The Vishwakarmas, apart from the five traditional occupations, are also engaged in veda adhyana. Many eminent Vishwakarma purohits have been felicitated by Government of Andhra Pradesh in honor of their excellence in the veda adhyayana. One of the oldest vedic schools of Andhra Pradesh, Yalavarti Anjaneya Shastri. Veda Pathashala, in Tenali, founded in 1893, belongs to Vishwabrahmins and has produced thousands of vedic purohits and another vedic school, Patnala Sanyasirao, Veda Pathashala at Brahmamgarimatham. Kadapa has produced hundreds of vedic purohits by providing free food and accommodation.
In terms of their architectural skills, every temple in Andhra Pradesh stands as an ultimate testimonial for their excellence.[citation needed] Vishwabrahmins have shown their ultimate architectural and craftsmanship in the temples like Kalahasthi, Tirupathi, Srisailam, Lepakshi, Amaravathi, Warangal 1000 pillars temple, Alampur, Arasavilli, Bhadrachalam and Ramappa temple etc.
At Brahmamgarimatham in Kadapa District, AP Sri Patnala Sanyasi Rao Garu constructed Navaratna Mandapam.
Tamil Nadu : Vishvabrahmins or Kamaalar or Aachari or Aasaari in Tamil Nadu form several occupational subdivisions.
Swarna Shilpis (goldsmiths) - surnames Pathar,in some areas in Tamil Nadu, especially around thanjavur, kumbakonam.
Kamsya Shilpis (Silver and bronze smiths)
Ayo Shilpis (ironsmiths)
Daru Shilpis (Carpenters)
Rathi Shilpis (Stonemasons)
Each temple of Tamil Nadu is an ultimate testament to the Vishwakarmas. Vishwakarmas have shown their excellent architectural and craftsmanship skills in temples such as Thiruvannamalai, Tanjaore Brihadeeswara temple, Kumbhakonam, Kanchipuram, trichy, Madura meenakshi temple, Mahabalipuram, etc.
Vishwabrahmins of Tamil Nadu engaged in Veda Adhyayana has shown their Vedic cognizance on numerous occasions. The Vishwakarma Peetham at Arunachalam, Thiruvannamalai dates back to 1500 years, and jagadgurusri. Adishivalinga acharya guruswamigal is the jagatguru for this peetham.
The very ancient and famous Sri Kaligambal Temple situated near the Bay of Bengal in the Chennai city of Tamilnadu maintained by the Viswakarma Brahmin community and administered by five trustees elected by the Viswabrahmin living in Chennai. The Tamilnadu Vishwabrahmana Vaidiga Sangam (http://tamilviswabrahmin.jimdo.com/) is one of the prominent organization working for bringing the vishwakarmas back to rich vedic lifestyle.
Kerala :Vishvakarmas of Kerala, also known as Achary or Viswabrahmins. They are classified into various sub-castes.
1. Marayasari (carpenters)
2. Kallassari/Shilpi (masons, sculptors))
3. Moosari (bronzesmiths)
4. Thattan (goldsmiths)
5. Kollan/Karuvan (blacksmiths)
There are sub cast of carpenters like Odaaies, who are the traditional wooden ship makers of northern kerala. But Kallassaries are very less in numbers.
Karnataka : Main article : Vishwakarmas of Karnataka. The Vishwakarma caste of south Karnataka is composed of several sub-castes.
Kulachars
The Shivachars
The Uttaradi goldsmiths
The Matachar founders
The Muddekammaras
The Doddamanes : Most of these sub-castes do not intermarry and have a hierarchy among themselves. They are very similar to Brahmins in their ritual practices but few of them are non-vegetarians.
The Sankruthi Sahiti Prathishtana is a prominent organization from Karnataka working to bring the Vishwabrahmins back to a vaidic life style. G. Gnanananda, is running this organization and started Brahmshri shilpagurukulam affiliated with Bangalore University at Chikballapur.
Goa : In the state of Goa, Vishvakarmas are known as Charis who call themselves Vishwakarma Manu Maya Brahmins. Other artisan castes do not claim Vishvakarma status. Many artisans were converted and few immigrated during the Portuguese rule. Many who settled in Karnataka were temple builders and are called Gudigars. Others of the Shtapathis were converted and are now sometimes called Thavvayi in Konkani, which is a corrupted form of Sanskrit Sthapati. A math was established by them some 900 years ago in Mazali.
Madhya Pradesh : Vishwakarma Brahmins have a huge presence in Madhya Pradesh. When the British founded the defense industry during the world war, lakhs of Vishwakarma Brahmins took employment in these factories.
Gujarat : Some of the profession practiced by Panchals and related last names are given below-
1. Carpentry : Gurjar Sutar (aka Suthar). The common last names in use are Panchal, Suthar, Mistry, Wadia, Pitroda, Sanghadia, Gajjar
2. Stone-smith : known as Kadia
3. Blacksmith : known as Luhar with lastnames Panchal, Luhar, Sheth.
4. Sompuras : Related with construction of temples, wood and stone carving,
Panchals catered to the needs of chariots, horse carriages, furniture, home construction and agricultural equipment. They have witnessed the transition from animal driven water lifting wheel to use of diesel engines and electrical water pumps being used now for irrigation. Many Vishwakarma castes are found in the above-mentioned state. The Vishwabrahmins in Gujarat have the surname Vyas.
The entrepreneurial Panchals developed designs and manufactured various parts, assemblies and sub-assemblies for cotton textile mills. They have been engaged in production of bobbins, shuttles, lattices, weaving looms and ancillary items of equipment for dyeing and bleaching, weaving looms, drilling rigs, water pumps, lathe machine, drilling machines and hand tools.
With industrialization, Panchals adopted technical professions such as draughtsman, design engineer, architects, and shop floor and construction supervisors.
Maharashtra : Vishwakarmas are found in Maharashtra. People from Maharashra share the same surname (Vishwakarma , Panchal, Suvarnakar) among multiple castes. Hence it would be difficult to pin-point particular surnames as belonging to only the Vishwakarma caste.
Rajasthan : In Rajasthan, the Vishwakarmas are also known as Jangids and suthar.
Bengal : Vishwakarmas in the state of Bengal have the last name of Kar or Karmakar.
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar : Vishwakarmas in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have the surname of Vishwakarma, Dhiman, Sharma, Mistry, Panchal,Taak, kaushik, Lohar etc title. They are highly skilled in technical area.
Orissa : In the state of Orissa, Vishwakarma Brahmins have the following surnames : Moharana (this title used by all Viswakarmas), Mohapatra (only Mayas - Kastakars), Ojha (only Manu - Lauhakars)e.g. cricketer Pragyan Ojha, Sutar (only Maya - Kastakars), Sahu (Maya – Kastakars & Viswajna - Swarnkars), Parida (Maya - Kastakar and Manu - Lauhakars), Choudhry (Only Maya - Kastakars), Karamkar (Maya and Daivagya), Das (Maya - Kastakars), Bindhani (Maya - Kastakars), Badhei (Maya - Kastakars), Mistry (Maya – Kastakars & Manu - Lauhakars), Mishra (Maya - Kastakars), Subudhi (Maya - Kastakars) and Martha (Maya - Kastakars), Mishra, Senapati, Behera etc.
Contributions to Indian culture and civilization
1. Nalanda : Vishwakarma Brahmins built this giant educational cocommodating over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers. The university was considered an architectural masterpiece and was marked by a lofty wall and one gate. Nalanda had eight separate compounds and ten temples, along with many other meditation halls and classrooms. On the grounds were lakes and parks. The library was located in a nine-storied building where meticulous copies of texts were produced. The subjects taught at Nalanda University covered every field of learning and it attracted pupils and scholars from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and Turkey.
2. Iron pillar of Delhi : The pillar is made up of 98% wrought iron of pure quality and is a testament to the high level of skill achieved by ancient Indian ironsmiths in the extraction and processing of iron. It has attracted the attention of archaeologists and metallurgists as it has withstood corrosion for the last 1600 years, despite harsh weather.
Hindu architecture
A basic Hindu temple consists of an inner sanctum, the garbhagriha or womb-chamber, in which the image is housed, often with space for its circumambulation, a congregation hall, and possibly an antechamber and porch. The sanctum is crowned by a tower-like shikhara. At the turn of the first millennium CE two major types of temples existed, the northern or Nagara style and the southern or Dravida type of temple. They are distinguishable by the shape and decoration of their shikharas.
1. Buddhist architecture : Viharas (Buddhist monasteries) began to appear soon after the death of the Buddha, particularly during the Mauryan Empire (321 - 232 BC) with characteristic stupa monuments; and chaityas (meditation halls housing a stupa). The same period saw the beginning of stone architecture, evidenced by palace remains at Pataliputra as well as the Ashoka Stambha - the monolithic free-standing columns inscribed with edicts put up by the Emperor Ashoka. The Ashokan period is also marked for the introduction of brilliant rock-cut architecture, which formed into the 1000 year long tradition of cutting and sculpting vast, complex and multi-roomed shrines cut into natural rock, resulting in religious edifices belonging to the Ajivika Buddhist, Hindu and Jain faiths.
2. South Indian architecture :: South Indian architecture was a style of architecture that emerged thousands of years ago in the Indian subcontinent. The sites consist primarily of pyramidal shaped temples that are dependent on intricate carved stone in order to create a step design consisting of numerous statues of deities, kings and dancers.
3. Konark Sun Temple:The Konark Sun Temple is a 13th century Sun Temple (also known as the Black Pagoda), at Konark, in Orissa. It was built in red sand stone (Khandolite) and black granite by King Narasimhadeva I (AD 1236 -1264) of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. The temple is one of the most well renowned temples in India and is a World Heritage Site.
Vishwakarmas are the creators
Vastu Shastra : Vishwakarmas are the creators of this ancient Indian system of architectural design that has gained national and international respect and following. Vaastu Shastra deals with various aspects of designing and building living environments that are in harmony with the physical and metaphysical forces.
1. Mahabodhi Temple : The Mahabodhi Temple (Literally : "Great Awakening Temple") is a Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya, the location where Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, attained enlightenment. Bodh Gaya is located about 96 km (60 miles) from Patna, Bihar state, India.
Indian rock-cut architecture : Indian rock-cut architecture is more various and found in greater abundance than any other form of rock-cut architecture around the world.
1. Ellora Caves : Ellora Caves represents the epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture. The 34 "caves" - Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples and monasteries excavated out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills - were built between the 5th century and 10th century. The 12 Buddhist (caves 1-12), 17 Hindu (caves 13-29) and 5 Jain caves (caves 30-34), built in proximity, demonstrate the religious harmony prevalent during this period of Indian history.
2. Ajanta Caves : Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra, India are rock-cut cave monuments dating from the second century BCE, containing paintings and sculpture considered to be masterpieces of both "Buddhist religious art" and "universal pictorial art". Since 1983, the Ajanta Caves have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3. Mahabalipuram : The monuments are mostly rock-cut and monolithic, and constitute the early stages of Dravidian architecture where in Buddhist elements of design are prominently visible. They are constituted by cave temples, monolithic rathas (chariots), sculpted reliefs and structural temples. The pillars are of the Dravidian order. The sculptures are excellent examples of Pallava art. It is believed that this area served as a school for young sculptors. The different sculptures, some half-finished, may have been examples of different styles of architecture, probably demonstrated by instructors and practiced on by young students. This can be seen in the Pancha Rathas where each Ratha is sculpted in a different style.
4. Badami Cave Temples : The Badami Cave Temples are composed of four caves, all carved out of the soft Badami sand stone on a hill cliff in the late 6 th century. The four caves are simple in style. The entrance is a verandah with stone columns and brackets, a distinctive feature of these caves, leading to a columned mandapa and then to the small square shrine (sanctum sanctorum) cut deep into the cave. The temple caves represent different religious sects. Among them, two are dedicated to Lord Vishnu, one to Lord Shiva and the fourth is a Jain temple. The first three are devoted to the Vedic faith and the fourth cave is the only Jain temple at Badami.
5. Pancha Rathas : Pancha Rathas an example of monolith Indian rock-cut architecture dating from the late 7 th century located at Mamallapuram, a tiny village south of Madras in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The village was a busy port during the 7 th and 8 th century reign of the Pallava dynasty. The site is famous for the rock-cut caves and the sculptured rock that line a granite hill, including one depicting Arjuna's Penance. It has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Pancha Rathas shrines were carved during the reign of King Mahendravarman I and his son Narasimhavarman I. Each temple is a monolith, carved whole from a rock out cropping of pink granite. The five monolithic pyramidal structured shrines are named after the Pandavas (Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishtra, Nakula and Sahadeva) and Draupadi. As noted, each shrine is not assembled from cut blocks of stone but carved from one single large piece of stone. It is likely their original design traces back to wood constructions.
Indian art : The vast scope of the art of India intertwines with the cultural history, religions and philosophies that place art production and patronage in social and cultural contexts.
Indian painting : Somewhere around 1st century BC the Sadanga or Six Limbs of Indian Painting, were evolved, a series of canons laying down the main principles of the art. Vatsyayana, who lived during the third century A.D., enumerates these in his Kamasutra having extracted them from works that are still more ancient. These ‘Six Limbs’ have been translated as follows: 1. Rupabheda : The knowledge of appearances. 2. Pramanam : Correct perception, measure and structure. 3. Bhava : Action of feelings on forms. 4. Lavanya Yojanam : Infusion of grace, artistic representation. 5. Sadrisyam : Similitude. 6. Varnikabhanga : Artistic manner of using the brush and colours. (Tagore.) The subsequent development of painting by the Buddhists indicates that these ' Six Limbs ' were put into practice by Indian artists, and are the basic principles on which their art was founded.
Buddhist art : Buddhist art originated on the Indian subcontinent following the historical life of Gautama Buddha, 6 th to 5 th century BCE, and there after evolved by contact with other cultures as it spread throughout Asia and the world.
Indian coinage : The Vishwakarma Brahmins minted beautiful coins displaying great artistic talent.
History of metallurgy in the Indian subcontinent : The History of metallurgy in the Indian subcontinent begins during the 2nd millennium BCE and continues well into the British Raj. The Indian cultural and commercial contacts with the Near East and the Greco-Roman world enable an exchange of metallurgic sciences. History of Indian Science and Technology : The History of Indian Science and Technology begins in the pre-modern era. Archaeological evidence from Mehrgarh (7000 BCE) shows construction of mud brick houses and granaries. Farming, metal working, flint knapping, bead production, and dentistry are known to the people of Mehrgarh. The more advanced Indus Valley civilization yields evidence of hydrography, metrology and city planning being practiced on a sizable scale. Great attention to medicine, astronomy and mathematics is seen during the Vedic period (1500 BCE-400 BCE)-which also witnesses the first inquiry being made into the field of linguistics. Construction of step wells and stupas, use of diamond as a gem stone, and plastic surgery operations become visible during later periods. Indian mathematicians made early contributions to the study of the decimal number system, zero, negative numbers, arithmetic, and algebra.
Jaivana cannon : The Jaivana cannon is the largest wheeled cannon ever constructed. It is located at the Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur.
Yantra Mandir : The YantraMandir (commonly known as the Jantar Mantar) is an equinoctial dial, consisting of a gigantic triangular gnomon with the hypotenuse parallel to the Earth's axis. On either side of the gnomon is a quadrant of a circle, parallel to the plane of the equator. The instrument is intended to measure the time of day, correct to half a second and declination of the Sun and the other heavenly bodies.
Khajuraho : The Khajuraho temples, constructed with spiral superstructures, adhere to a northern Indian shikhara temple style and often to a Panchayatana plan or layout. A few of the temples are dedicated to the Jain pantheon and the rest to Hindu deities - to God's Trio, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and various Devi forms, such as the Devi Jagadambi temple. A Panchayatana temple had four subordinate shrines on four corners and the main shrine in the center of the podium, which comprises their base. The temples are grouped into three geographical divisions : western, eastern and southern. With a graded rise, secondary shikharas (spires) cluster to create an appropriate base for the main shikhara over the sanctum. Kandariya Mahadeva, one of the most accomplished temples of the Western group, comprises eighty four shikharas, the main being 116 feet from the ground level. These temples of Khajuraho have sculptures that look very realistic and are studied even today. The Khajuraho temples are UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Wootz steel : Wootz steel is characterized by a pattern of bands or sheets of micro carbides within a tempered martensite or pearlite matrix. It was developed in India around 300 BC.
Chennakesava Temple : The Chennakesava Temple, originally called Vijayanarayana Temple, was built on the banks of the Yagachi River in Belur, an early capital of the Hoysala Empire. Amarashilpi Jakanachari received a vision to build the Chennakeshava temple in his native place Kridapura.
Hoysala architecture : Hoysala architecture is the building style developed under the rule of the Hoysala Empire between the 11th and 14th centuries, in the region known today as Karnataka, a state of India. Hoysala influence was at its peak in the 13th century, when it dominated the Southern Deccan Plateau region. Large and small temples built during this era remain as examples of the Hoysala architectural style, including the Chennakesava Temple at Belur, the Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu, and the Kesava Temple at Somanathapura.
Hoysaleswara Temple : Hoysaleswara Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva. It was built in Halebidu (in modern Karnataka state) during the Hoysala Empire rule.
Chennakesava Temple at Somanathapura : The Chennakesava Temple at Somanathapura is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. It was built by the famous architect / sculptor Ruvari Malithamma.
Brihadishwara Temple : The Brihadishwara Temple is located at Thanjavur. It remains as one of the greatest glories of South Indian architecture. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Great Living Chola Temples" and this temple is an ultimate testimonial to the Vishwakarmas' architectural cognizance in planning and sculpting
