|
The Kummari caste (also known as salivahana,kumhar and related to wodeyar caste in karnataka & tamilnadu and prajapathi caste in western india) comes under BC -b category in Andhra Pradesh. Who are they? The Kummaras/ kumhars are potters who make earthen vessels, water pots, decorative home wares, toys and idols of gods and goddesses. The name Kumhar denotes a maker of pots and pitchers or someone who creates. They are an integral part of Indian society because their creations are an integral part of daily life in ancient india. Location One of the largest castes, they are reportedly spread across 212 districts of India, predominantly in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Gujarat, Maharashtra, parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. They are known by different names in each state. Origin Each state has its own legend of their origin.They claim that they emerged on earth with the blessing of the Hindu trinity – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Brahma the creator gave them his art, Vishnu the preserver his wheel and Shiva the destroyer, his form. Their first product was a water pot. According to a legend prevalaent among them Once Brahma divided sugarcane among his sons and each of them ate his share, but the Kumhara who was greatly absorbed in his work, forgot to eat. The piece which he had kept near his clay lump struck root and soon grew into a sugarcane plant. A few days later, when Brahma asked his sons for sugarcane, none of them could give it to him, excepting the Kumhara who offered a full plant. Brahma was pleased by the devotion of the potter to his work and awarded him the title Prajapati. Why they are called as shalivahans? Salivahana caste is recognized as kummara caste by Govt of India and Govt of AP as per GpO.Ms.No. 28 BCW (M1) Dept., dated to 1995. It has been used in many Indian inscriptions and in ancient Sanskrit inscriptions in Indochina and Indonesia. The reformed calendar promulgated by the Indian government from 1957 is reckoned by this era. It is alleged to have been founded by King Kanishka. Salivahana era The Shalivahana era, also known as the Saka era, is used with Hindu calendars, the Indian national calendar, the Balinese calendar, the Javanese calendar and the Cambodian Buddhist calendar. Its year zero begins near the vernal equinox of the year 78. The Western Kshatrapas (35–405 BC) were Saka rulers of southwestern India (Saurashtra, Malwa modern Gujarat, Southern Sindh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka). They were successors to the Indo-Scythians who invaded Ujjain and established the Saka era and calendar, marking the beginning of the Saka Western Satraps kingdom. The satavahana king (Gautamiputra Satakarni was titled as Shalivahana) is credited with the initiation of the era known as Shalivahana Saka to celebrate his victory against the Sakas in the year 78 CE. Prior to this, in 56 BCE the Vikrama Samvat era was founded by the emperor Vikramaditya of Ujjain in a similar fashion following his victory over the Sakas. Some scholars contend that Saka era was founded by Kushana ruler Kanishka to commemorate his victory over Western Kshatrapas. Dating of Kanishka's accession remains contentious. Links to wodeyar caste Wodeyar caste is predominantly found in mysore state of erstwhile india being mysore as a royal seat to wodeyar dynasty.A golden potter wheel is even kept today at mysore palace reckoning the rulers skills in articraft. As time progressed exogamy between subgroups had increased resulting in wide spread of community in southern part of andhra pradesh, tamilnadu and predominantly karnataka. == References == 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Kummari caste」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|