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| ⚫ | '''Rathakāra''' or the ''Chariot maker'' is mentioned in several ] scriptures such as ], ], ], ]s etc. There are various types of Rathakāras mentioned in the texts, whose social status was not uniform, some enjoyed a very high status and some were degraded. Recent inscriptions found by Archeological department says Rathakaras are artisans, who were born out of ] and ]. | ||
| ⚫ | '''Rathakāra''' or the ''Chariot maker'' is mentioned in several ] scriptures such as ], ], ], ]s etc. There are various types of Rathakāras mentioned in the texts, whose social status was not uniform, some enjoyed a very high status and some were degraded. Recent inscriptions found by Archeological department says Rathakaras are artisans, who were born out of ] and ].{{cn|date=March 2023}} | ||
| '']'' or the chariot occupied a very important position in Vedic civilization.<ref name="pps"/> Many hymns are found in the ] praising the Ratha and the creator of the Ratha or the Rathakāra, who occupied an important role in the sacrifices or even day today life.<ref name="pps"/> | |||
| Ṛgveda (10.85.20),<ref name="rig1">{{cite web|url=http://en.wikisource.org/The_Rig_Veda/Mandala_10/Hymn_85|title=Ṛgveda (10.85.20)|translator=]|accessdate=2009-08-18}}</ref> Ṛgveda (3.53.19)<ref name="rig2">{{cite web|url=http://en.wikisource.org/The_Rig_Veda/Mandala_3/Hymn_53|title=Ṛgveda (3.53.19)|translator=]|accessdate=2009-08-18}}</ref> consist of hymns praising and describing Rathas. Even various deities are compared with Rathas and the deities riding them are also praised e.g., Ṛgveda (6.61.13)<ref name="rig">{{cite web|url=http://en.wikisource.org/The_Rig_Veda/Mandala_6/Hymn_61|title=Ṛgveda (6.61.13)|translator=]|accessdate=2009-08-18}}</ref> | |||
| {{wikisourcelang|oldwikisource|ऋग्वेदः|Original Sanskrit text in Devanagari}} | |||
| ==Inscriptions== | ==Inscriptions== | ||
| Some inscriptions refers to artisans as Rathakara and are said to have been born as ] and ]. Anulomas are described as those who were the sons of high caste father and a low caste mother whereas Pratilomas means the sons of low caste father and a high caste mother.<ref>{{cite book|title=Art Panorama of Tamils|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h7DWAAAAMAAJ|page=16|author=Auvai Naṭarācan̲|publisher=State Department of Archaeology|year=1992|quote=This inscription also refers to artisans as Rathakara . They are said to have been born as Anuloma and Pratiloma . Anulomas are described as those who were the sons of high caste father and a low caste mother.}}</ref> | Some inscriptions refers to artisans as Rathakara and are said to have been born as ] and ]. Anulomas are described as those who were the sons of high caste father and a low caste mother whereas Pratilomas means the sons of low caste father and a high caste mother.<ref>{{cite book|title=Art Panorama of Tamils|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h7DWAAAAMAAJ|page=16|author=Auvai Naṭarācan̲|publisher=State Department of Archaeology|year=1992|quote=This inscription also refers to artisans as Rathakara . They are said to have been born as Anuloma and Pratiloma . Anulomas are described as those who were the sons of high caste father and a low caste mother.}}</ref> | ||
| ==Rathakāra in the Ṛgveda and the Purāṇas== | |||
| The Rathakāra mentioned in Ṛgveda (1.6.32) indicates high status, and is associated with the formulae of placing the holy sacrificial fire in the ''Yajñakuṇḍa''.<ref name="ghurye">{{cite book|last=Ghurye|first=Govind Sadashiv |title=Caste and class in India |year=1950|edition= Edition: 2 |pages=53}}</ref> According to the ], Rathakāra is entitled to perform all the sacrifices.<ref name="e">{{cite book|last=Chakrabarti|first=Samiran Chandra|title=The paribhāṣās in the śrautasūtras |year=1980|pages=110}}</ref> In many sacrifices like the '']'', Rathakāra played a role of recipient of the offerings, e.g., ''Ratninaḥ'' in Rājasuya.<ref name="murr">{{cite book|last=Mookerji|first=Radhakumud |title=Ancient Indian Education: Brahmanical and Buddhist |pages=154}}</ref> Some sacrifices like ''Agnihotra'', ''Darśapurṇamāsa'' are obligatory to them as they are entitled to place the holy fire in the sacrificial fire-altar.<ref name="c"/> | |||
| ] praises them in Ṛgveda (1.7.32),<ref name="pps"/> and are also praised for their dexterity. They are also identified with ] and ] (Ṛgveda (1.6.32).<ref name="pps"/> | |||
| The progeny of this Tvaṣṭr is called Rathakāra in the ''Medini Koṣa'' Ṛgveda (1.6.32) and seems to have stand as an industrial population, and are associated with worship of the celestial beings like ] and Tvaṣṭr.<ref name="mac">{{cite book|last= Macdonell|first=Arthur Anthony|author2=Arthur Berriedale Keith|title=Vedic index of names and subjects |volume=2|pages=203, 204}}</ref> Their origins could be found in the ancient ] ].<ref>{{cite book|last=Hillebrandt|first=Alfred Hillebrandt|title=Vedische Mythologie|language=German|volume=3|pages=152, 153|authorlink=Klaus Hildebrand}}</ref> The Ṛbhus are mentioned as belonging to the race of ], it seems that Anus and Aṅgiras are the same.<ref name="mys"/> | |||
| The term Rathakāra also implies to ], some Ṛṣis belonging to the race of Bhṛgus who in the Ṛgveda are twice referred to as building chariots.<ref name="mys">{{cite book|title=The Mysore orientalist, Volumes |publisher=University of Mysore. Oriental Research Institute, University of Mysore. Dept. of Post-graduate Studies and Research in Sanskrit|year=1967|edition=1|volume=3|pages=146}}</ref> As per Ṛgveda Tvaṣṭr known as Rathakāra belongs to clan of the Bhṛgus, similarly as mentioned in the epic ] Tvaṣṭr or the Rathakāra is ] son, Śukrācārya is Bhṛgu's grandson and ''Vāruṇibhṛgu's'' son.<ref>{{cite book|title=Mahābhārata|chapter=Anuśāsana parva|language=Sanskrit}}</ref> | |||
| These Rathakāras were called Brahmins, expert in the architectural lore,<ref name="er">{{cite book|last=Derrett|first=John Duncan Martin |title=Essays in Classical and Modern Hindu Law: Dharmaśāstra and related ideas |pages=45, 46}}</ref> and were engaged in making what is called ''Brahmayāgādi'', the making of sacrificial implements, statues, production of royal crowns and thrones,<ref name="edr">{{cite book|last=Derrett|first=John Duncan Martin |title=Essays in Classical and Modern Hindu Law: Dharmaśāstra and related ideas |pages=55}}</ref> gold chariot or ''Ratha'' which were necessary for many of the sacrifices.<ref name="pps"/> Many hymns are found in the Vedas praising the Ratha and the Rathakāra. | |||
| Some Purāṇas identify them with '']''. As mentioned in the texts like ] and ], Tvashtra praised as Rathakāra is mentioned to have married sage '']'s'' daughter ''Candrikā''.<ref name="pps">{{cite book|last=Śiroḍkara|first=Paṇduraṅga Puruṣottama|title=Bhāratiya samājavighaṭaka jātivarṇa vyavasthā|publisher=Gomantaka Daivajña Brāhmaṇa Samājotkarṣa Sansthā|location=vasco da Gama|date=1986-04-20|edition=2|pages=38–56|chapter=Three:Varṇāñcā bandikhānā|language=Marathi|authorlink=Pandurang Purushottam Shirodkar }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | |||
| | title = विश्वब्रह्मकुलोत्साह;Vishwabrahmakulotsah | |||
| | author = Nārāyaṇaśastri Kṣirasāgara|pages=37|chapter=Three|language=Marathi}}</ref> The ]<ref>{{cite book|title=Vāyu purāṇa|chapter=4|language=Sanskrit}}</ref> and the ]<ref>{{cite book|title=Matsya purāṇa|chapter=252|language=Sanskrit}}</ref> mentioned him as belonging to the Bhṛgus. | |||
| ==Niṣādapati== | ==Niṣādapati== | ||
| The Rathakāra's ways of earning a livelihood are stated as comprising chariots, carts and the like.{{cn|date=March 2023}} | |||
| According to ''Hiraṇyakeśisutra'' by ], a son begotten to a ] lady by a Brahmin was called as ''Niṣāda Rathakāra'' and was considered as ''Anārya'' or non aryan.<ref name="pps"/> If daughter of this Rathakāra is again married to a Brahmin and their daughter is married to a Brahmin, and a daughter born to them again married to a Brahmin, and so on till seven generations, then the son of the seventh Niṣāda Rathakāra's daughter attains brahminhood.<ref name="pps"/> The uplifted Niṣādapati and his progeny were entitled to perform the sacrifices and even the Brahmayāgādi.<ref name="edr"/> This Rathakāra's ways of earning a livelihood are stated as comprising chariots, carts and the like.<ref name="edr"/> | |||
| ==Rathakāra in the Atharvaveda== | |||
| This systems regards the Rathakāra as an offspring of ''Māhiṣya'', or the son of ] husband and ] and ''Karaṇi'' or the daughter of Vaiśya husband and Śudra wife.<ref name="mac"/> Although such an origin cannot be considered as accurate historically.<ref name="mac"/> | |||
| ==Other scriptures== | ==Other scriptures== | ||
| According to some doctrines these Rathakāras have no right to take part in any of the sacrifices as they are degraded to Śudra. A Śudra is not initiated to Vedic studies hence no ], as the sacrificer has to know Vedas, hence Śudra cannot participate in any kind of Yajña.<ref name="sz">{{cite book|last=Chakrabarti|first=Samiran Chandra|title=The paribhāṣās in the śrautasūtras |year=1980|pages=62,143}}</ref> Baudhāyana on the other hand admits this degraded Rathakāra to the ceremony of Upanayana, according to him fallen Rathakāra ought to perform this ceremony the rainy season.<ref name="mukr">{{cite book|last=Mookerji|first=Radhakumud |title=Ancient Indian Education: Brahmanical and Buddhist |pages=174}}</ref> But some text mention that even a Śudra was allowed to participate in few sacrifices, and was even entitled to perform certain sacrifices like ''Pākayajñas'', ''Śradhayajñas''.<ref name="muk"/> But they were not entitled to perform the sacrifices which were strictly vedic.<ref name="muk">{{cite book|last=Mookerji|first=Radhakumud |title=Ancient Indian Education: Brahmanical and Buddhist |pages=328}}</ref> Sage Jaimini mentions another Rathakāra whose social status is inferior to Vaiśya but superior to that of a Śudra, and calls them ''Saudhavanas''.<ref name="c">{{cite book|last=Chakrabarti|first=Samiran Chandra|title=The paribhāṣās in the śrautasūtras |year=1980|pages=144}}</ref> | |||
| ==The confusion about the term ''Rathakāra''== | |||
| The ] of Rathakāra is not explicitly mentioned in Ṛgveda, ] maintains that Rathakāra is not a separate caste, but one of the three high castes viz. Brāhmaṇa, Kṣtriya, Vaiśya, who has embraced the occupation of chariot making.<ref name="b">{{cite book|last=Chakrabarti|first=Samiran Chandra|title=The paribhāṣās in the śrautasūtras |year=1980|pages=109, 143}}</ref> Ṛgvedic Rathakāra to belongs to Brahmaṇa varṇa, as rest four varṇas were not entitled to place the sacrificial fire in the pyre.{{dubious|date=November 2014}}<ref name="pps"/><ref name="ghurye"/> | |||
| For all above obvious reasons the ''Śāstric'' materials did not conclusively distinguish between them as a result foreign scholars and '']'' like ] (cf. Indische Studien) and his followers have misinterpreted the meaning of the word Rathakāra.<ref name="pps"/> | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | *] | ||
Latest revision as of 06:38, 20 January 2024
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Rathakāra or the Chariot maker is mentioned in several Hindu scriptures such as Rigveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda, Saṃhitas etc. There are various types of Rathakāras mentioned in the texts, whose social status was not uniform, some enjoyed a very high status and some were degraded. Recent inscriptions found by Archeological department says Rathakaras are artisans, who were born out of Anuloma and Pratiloma.
Inscriptions
Some inscriptions refers to artisans as Rathakara and are said to have been born as Anuloma and Pratiloma. Anulomas are described as those who were the sons of high caste father and a low caste mother whereas Pratilomas means the sons of low caste father and a high caste mother.
Niṣādapati
The Rathakāra's ways of earning a livelihood are stated as comprising chariots, carts and the like.
Other scriptures
According to some doctrines these Rathakāras have no right to take part in any of the sacrifices as they are degraded to Śudra. A Śudra is not initiated to Vedic studies hence no Upanayana, as the sacrificer has to know Vedas, hence Śudra cannot participate in any kind of Yajña. Baudhāyana on the other hand admits this degraded Rathakāra to the ceremony of Upanayana, according to him fallen Rathakāra ought to perform this ceremony the rainy season. But some text mention that even a Śudra was allowed to participate in few sacrifices, and was even entitled to perform certain sacrifices like Pākayajñas, Śradhayajñas. But they were not entitled to perform the sacrifices which were strictly vedic. Sage Jaimini mentions another Rathakāra whose social status is inferior to Vaiśya but superior to that of a Śudra, and calls them Saudhavanas.
See also
Citations
- Auvai Naṭarācan̲ (1992). Art Panorama of Tamils. State Department of Archaeology. p. 16.
This inscription also refers to artisans as Rathakara . They are said to have been born as Anuloma and Pratiloma . Anulomas are described as those who were the sons of high caste father and a low caste mother.
- Chakrabarti, Samiran Chandra (1980). The paribhāṣās in the śrautasūtras. pp. 62, 143.
- Mookerji, Radhakumud. Ancient Indian Education: Brahmanical and Buddhist. p. 174.
- ^ Mookerji, Radhakumud. Ancient Indian Education: Brahmanical and Buddhist. p. 328.
- Chakrabarti, Samiran Chandra (1980). The paribhāṣās in the śrautasūtras. p. 144.
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