VISWAKARMAS GENERAL FEATURES AND THEIR POSITION IN THE SOCIETY

Authors

  • Manjoor Gopalan Member of a Viswakarma community

Keywords:

VISWAKARMAS

Abstract

Caste is comparatively a new institution in South India, since early Tamil literature is silent about it. p.T. Sreenivasa Iyangar says, in 'A History of South India' that at the period Of 'Tolkappiyam' (c. 500 A.D.) caste system. as such did not exist, though its beginnings may be inferred from the poet's reference to 'anthanar' (Brahmins), arachans' (rulers), 'vanikkar's' (merchants) and 'velialars' (farmers) as high (melor) and others as low (kizhor) people. According to Nanchinarkianar (c. 600 A. D.) the ancient commentator of Tolkappiyam, these distinctions were not rigid, as arachans inter-marned from Vellalars. Professor Elangularn Kunjan Pillay says that literary and epigraphic sources prior to the seventh century are silent on caste, While references to it are frequent in the period between the eighth and eleventh centuries

Author Biography

Manjoor Gopalan, Member of a Viswakarma community

Mr. Manjoor Gopalan is a member of a Viswakarma community. He is closely associated with the Backward and Dalit movemetns.

References

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Rao. M.S.A., Social Change ih Malabar, 1957, p. 22. 396

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David G, Mandelbaum, Societv in India, 1970, p.56.

Edgar Thuston and K. Rangachari, Caste and Tribes of Southern India, Vol. m. pp. 113-117.

R.N. Misra, Ancient Artists and Art-Activity, Indian Institute Of Advanced Studies, Simla, 1975 pp. 3-4.

R.E. Enthoven. The Tribes and Castes of Bombay, vol. 111. p. 157. 412

M.S. Jayaprakash, A Study of the Ezhavas in Kerala, Gurukripa Publications, Kottayam, 1977, pp. 35-36.

Pandalam MN. Krishnan Achari, Viswakarma Service Society Kendra Mandira Udghatana Smaranikas 1992 May, p. 16

Pandalam MN. Krishanan Achari, Ente Jeevitha Smaranakal, Pandalam, 1984, pp. 206, 207, 209.211.

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Published

2001-09-30

How to Cite

Gopalan, M. (2001). VISWAKARMAS GENERAL FEATURES AND THEIR POSITION IN THE SOCIETY. Journal of Dharma, 26(3), 393–416. Retrieved from https://dvkjournals.in/index.php/jd/article/view/683