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Sunar (Hindi: "Goldsmith", alterately Sonar or Swarnkar) is a Hindu caste in India referring to the community of people who work as goldsmiths.
Sunar: The occupational caste of goldsmiths and silversmiths. The name is derived from the Sanskrit Suvarna kār, a worker in gold. In 1911 the Sunārs numbered 96,000 persons in the Central Provinces and 30,000 in Berār. They live all over the Province and are most numerous in the large towns.”
“The Sunārs also have a story that they are the descendants of one of two Rājpūt brothers, who were saved as boys by a Sāraswat Brāhman from the wrath of Parasurāma when he was destroying the Kshatriyas. The descendants of the other brother were the Khatris. This is the same story as is told by the Khatris of their own origin, but they do not acknowledge the connection with Sunārs, nor can the Sunārs allege that Sāraswat Brāhmans eat with them as they do with Khatris.”
“Owing to their association with the sacred metal gold, and the fact that they generally live in towns or large villages, and many of their members are well-to-do, the Sunārs occupy a fairly high position, ranking equal with, or above the cultivating castes.”
Factions
- Mair Kshatriya Sunar: From the warrior race of Rajputs who had originally migrated from Rajasthan.
- Kshatriya Sunar: People of this caste believe that they are Kshatriya (which means Warriors) descendants of Suryavanshi(Solar Dynasty) King Ambarish.
- Ayodhyawasi or Purabiya Sunar: These people believe they are sub caste of Vaishya(which means businessman).
- Kanujia Sunar:
- Mahawar or Mahaur Sunar:
- Khudabadi Sindhi Swarankar: people of this caste believe that they are Kshatriya descendants of Suryavanshi, affiliated with Lohana. They are devotees of the goddess Durga, and believe their goldsmithing profession was ordained by her.
- Rastogi Swarankar: It has mainly the gotras as are in Brahmins, to quote: Kashyap,kaushal,Bhardwaj,Sandilya, Vatsa.
References
- R.V.Russell assisted by Rai Bahadur Hira Lal; The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India; published under the orders of the Central Provinces Administration, McMillan and Co. Ltd., St. Martin Street, London, 1916
- R.V.Russell assisted by Rai Bahadur Hira Lal; The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India; published under the orders of the Central Provinces Administration, McMillan and Co. Ltd., St. Martin Street, London, 1916
- R.V.Russell assisted by Rai Bahadur Hira Lal; The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India; published under the orders of the Central Provinces Administration, McMillan and Co. Ltd., St. Martin Street, London, 1916
- Dr Pankaj Verma, United Kingdom/ Sirsa, India)