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Rathakāra or the Chariot maker is mentioned in several Hindu scriptures such as Rigveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda, Saṃhitas and in Shatapatha Brahmana Rathkar were among the 12 ratnis of king. entitled to perform all the holy sacrifices they were expert in the architectural lore, yajñavedī, yajña patra, statue, temple, crown and Chariot making.

Ratha or the chariot occupied a very important position in Vedic civilization. Many hymns are found in the Vedas 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.

Ṛgveda (10.85.20), Ṛgveda (3.53.19) 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)

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. According to the Śrautasūtras, Rathakāra is entitled to perform all the sacrifices. In many sacrifices like the Rājasuya, Rathakāra played a role of recipient of the offerings, e.g., Ratninaḥ in Rājasuya. Some sacrifices like Agnihotra, Darśapurṇamāsa are obligatory to them as they are entitled to place the holy fire in the sacrificial fire-altar.

Indra praises them in Ṛgveda (1.7.32), and are also praised for their dexterity. They are also identified with Tvaṣṭr and Rbhus (Ṛgveda (1.6.32).

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 Ṛbhus and Tvaṣṭr. Their origins could be found in the ancient Rigvedic tribes Anu. The Ṛbhus are mentioned as belonging to the race of Aṅgiras, it seems that Anus and Aṅgiras are the same.

The term Rathakāra also implies to Bhṛgus, some Ṛṣis belonging to the race of Bhṛgus who in the Ṛgveda are twice referred to as building chariots. As per Ṛgveda Tvaṣṭr known as Rathakāra belongs to clan of the Bhṛgus, similarly as mentioned in the epic Mahabharata Tvaṣṭr or the Rathakāra is Śukrācārya's son, Śukrācārya is Bhṛgu's grandson and Vāruṇibhṛgu's son.

These Rathakāras were called Brahmins, expert in the architectural lore, and were engaged in making what is called Brahmayāgādi, the making of sacrificial implements, statues, production of royal crowns and thrones, gold chariot or Ratha which were necessary for many of the sacrifices. Many hymns are found in the Vedas praising the Ratha and the Rathakāra.

Some Purāṇas identify them with Viśvakarman. As mentioned in the texts like Skanda purāṇa and Padma purāṇa, Tvashtra praised as Rathakāra is mentioned to have married sage Jaiminī's daughter Candrikā. The Vāyu purāṇa and the Matsya purāṇa mentioned him as belonging to the Bhṛgus.

See also

• Ṛgveda
• Yajña
• Ṛgvedic tribes
• Ratha

Citations

1. ^ Śiroḍkara, Paṇduraṅga Puruṣottama (1986-04-20). "Three:Varṇāñcā bandikhānā". Bhāratiya samājavighaṭaka jātivarṇa vyavasthā (in Marathi) (2 ed.). vasco da Gama: Gomantaka Daivajña Brāhmaṇa Samājotkarṣa Sansthā. pp. 38–56.
2. "Ṛgveda (10.85.20)". Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
3. "Ṛgveda (3.53.19)". Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
4. "Ṛgveda (6.61.13)". Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
5. Ghurye, Govind Sadashiv (1950). Caste and class in India (Edition: 2 ed.). p. 53.
6. Chakrabarti, Samiran Chandra (1980). The paribhāṣās in the śrautasūtras. p. 110.
7. Mookerji, Radhakumud. Ancient Indian Education: Brahmanical and Buddhist. p. 154.
8. Chakrabarti, Samiran Chandra (1980). The paribhāṣās in the śrautasūtras. p. 144.
9. Macdonell, Arthur Anthony; Arthur Berriedale Keith. Vedic index of names and subjects. Vol. 2. pp. 203, 204.
10. Hillebrandt, Alfred Hillebrandt. Vedische Mythologie (in German). Vol. 3. pp. 152, 153.
11. ^ The Mysore orientalist, Volumes. Vol. 3 (1 ed.). University of Mysore. Oriental Research Institute, University of Mysore. Dept. of Post-graduate Studies and Research in Sanskrit. 1967. p. 146.
12. "Anuśāsana parva". Mahābhārata (in Sanskrit).
13. Derrett, John Duncan Martin. Essays in Classical and Modern Hindu Law: Dharmaśāstra and related ideas. pp. 45, 46.
14. Derrett, John Duncan Martin. Essays in Classical and Modern Hindu Law: Dharmaśāstra and related ideas. p. 55.
15. Nārāyaṇaśastri Kṣirasāgara. "Three". विश्वब्रह्मकुलोत्साह;Vishwabrahmakulotsah (in Marathi). p. 37.
16. "4". Vāyu purāṇa (in Sanskrit).
17. "252". Matsya purāṇa (in Sanskrit).

• Rigveda