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Vishvakarma

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Revision as of 11:25, 21 June 2013 by 84.142.170.191 (talk) (→History)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) For the Indian caste, see Vishwakarma (caste).

Viśwákarman (Template:Lang-sa is the Family Name or Surname from the sudra (in Nepal: Dalit) community and it is also said that they are from Schedule Caste in India. Those who are from this community have good position in the field of Technology as Goldschmidt, iron Schmidt as well as in the social community politics.

The Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) are two groups of historically-disadvantaged people recognised in the Constitution of India. During the period of British rule in the Indian subcontinent.

The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes comprise about 16.6 percent and 8.6 percent, respectively, of India's population (or about 25.2 percent altogether, according to the 2011 census). The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 lists 1,108 castes across 25 states in its First Schedule, and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 lists 744 tribes across 22 states in its First Schedule.

Since independence, the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (the three categories combined constitute about 60 percent of India's population) were given reservation in India. The reservation policy became an integral part of the Constitution through the efforts of Bhimrao Ambedkar, who participated in the Round Table Conferences and fought for the rights of the oppressed and depressed classes. The Constitution lays down the general principles of affirmative action for SCs and STs.

History

Since the 1850s these communities were loosely referred to as Adivasis ("original inhabitants"). The early 20th century saw a flurry of activity in the Raj assessing the feasibility of responsible self-government for India. The Morley-Minto Reforms Report, Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms Report and the Simon Commission were several initiatives in this context. A highly-contested issue in the proposed reforms was the reservation of seats for representation of the Depressed Classes in provincial and central legislatures.

In 1935 the British passed the Government of India Act 1935, designed to give Indian provinces greater self-rule and set up a national federal structure. The reservation of seats for the Depressed Classes was incorporated into the act, which came into force in 1937. The Act introduced the term "Scheduled Castes", defining the group as "such castes, races or tribes or parts of groups within castes, races or tribes, which appear to His Majesty in Council to correspond to the classes of persons formerly known as the 'Depressed Classes', as His Majesty in Council may prefer". This discretionary definition was clarified in The Government of India (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1936, which contained a list (or Schedule) of castes throughout the British-administered provinces.

After independence the Constituent Assembly continued the prevailing definition of Scheduled Castes and Tribes, giving (via articles 341 and 342) the president of India and governors of the states a mandate to compile a full listing of castes and tribes (with the power to edit it later, as required). The complete list of castes and tribes was made via two orders: The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1958, respectively.

Vishwakarma Puja

lord vishwakarma at the base of the kalpavriksha,worsipped by his sons brahma vishnu maheswara indra and surya alond with their consorts

Since Vishwakarma is the divine engineer of the world. As a mark of reverence, he is not only worshiped by the engineering and architectural community but also by all professionals. It is customary for craftsmen to worship their tools in his name.

Silpy Vishwakarma is attributed a putative birthday by the Hindu religion. The more philosophical minded argue that it is impossible for the original Creator of everything to be born on a particular day. In rig veda he is described as Swayambhu So it is a contradiction in terms since that presupposes another creator for Vishwakarma. The Vishwakarma Puja is celebrated in all parts of India, especially in Assam West Bengal Rajasthan Uttarakhand (Dehardun).

Even among those who believe that there is a birthday there is no agreement as to when it actually occurs. Visvakarma birthday is celebrated on two days under different names:

  • Rishi Panchami Dinam. "Rishi Panchami Dinam" literally means ‘the day of the solidarity of five rishis.’ Those who celebrate this day believe that Vishwakarma did not have a birthday like the mortals but only a commemoration day in which his five children (supposedly five rishis) came together to declare their solidarity and pray to their illustrious father. This day follows the rules of the Hindu calendar and changes with every year. The five groups among the Vishwakarma community also celebrate this as an auspicious day in commemoration of their patron god at present.
  • Visvakarma Jayanthi. Vishwakarma Jayanthi is celebrated by all industrial houses, artists, craftsmen, and weavers. The festival is observed on the Kanya Sankranti Day (September 17) which follows the Ganesh Puja. It was on this particular day that the forefathers of the present Visvakarma people invented the plough and gifted it to humanity. The plough represents both the artisan trade as well as agriculture and therefore becomes the representative symbol of the ancient Indian civilisation. It changed the course of human history altogether. This was a change from ‘local mob culture to universal human culture’ and Vishwakarmas of India pioneered it. Coincidentally, this also becomes the birthday of Rsi/Silpi Visvakarma. So Indians in the past celebrated this day of many illustrious conjunctions as an occasion to honor Vishwakarma and his descendants.

Architectural wonders

Hindu scriptures describe many of Vishwakarma's architectural accomplishments.

Through the four yugas (aeons of Hindu mythology), he had built several towns and palaces for the gods. Among them were, in chronological order, Svarga (Heaven) in the Satya Yuga, Lanka in the Treta Yuga, and Dwarka (Krishna's capital) in the Dwapara Yuga.

Lanka : The City Of Gold

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According to Ramayana, 'Sone ki Lanka' or Golden Lanka was ruled by Ravana during the Treta yuga. This is also the city where Ravana held Sita hostage. It is said that when Lord Shiva married Parvati, he asked Viswakarma to build a beautiful palace for them to reside in. Vishwakarma built a palace made of gold. For the housewarming ceremony, Shiva invited the wise Pulastya rishi (The Grandfather of Kuber and also Ravana) to perform the "Grihapravesh" ritual. After the sacred ceremony when Shiva asked Pulastya rishi to ask anything in return as "Dakshina", Pulastya, overwhelmed with the beauty and grandeur of the palace, asked Shiva for the golden palace itself. Shiva was obliged to accede to Pulastya's wish, and the Golden Lanka became his grandson Kuber's palace. Ravana who was born and brought up in South India banished his half-brother, Kuber. The city of gold is said to have fallen into Ravanas hands when he overthrew his half brother Kuber.

Dwarka

Maya Sabha on the inaugural day, with Pandava king Yudhisthira on the throne
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Viswakarma is also supposed to have built Dwarka overnight. During the time of the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna is said to have lived in Dwarka, and made it his "Karma Bhumi" (center of operation). This land now located in today's Gujarat has become a well known pilgrimage for the Hindus.

See also

Notes

  1. "Scheduled Caste Welfare - List of Scheduled Castes". Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  2. Census of India - India at a Glance : Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes Population
  3. Text of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, as amended
  4. Text of the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, as amended
  5. "The Government of India Act of 1935" (PDF).
  6. "Scheduled Communities: A social Development profile of SC/ST's (Bihar, Jharkhand & W.B)" (PDF).
  7. THE CONSTITUTION (SCHEDULED CASTES) ORDER, 1958]1
  8. 1THE CONSTITUTION (SCHEDULED TRIBES)
  9. Yo na pita janitha yo vidata , Rig veda
  10. Achary, Subramanian Matathinkal (1995).
  11. Archer, W. G. (2007). The Loves of Krishna in Indian Painting and Poetry. Echo Library. p. 44. ISBN 1406825409, 9781406825404. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)

Notable members

See also


References

  • Achary, Subramanian Matathinkal (1995): Visvakarmajar Rigvedathil, Sawraj Printing and Publishing Company, Aluva.
  • Coomaraswamy, Ananda K. (1979): Medieval Sinhalese Art, Pantheon Books Inc., New York.
  • Monier-Williams (1899).
  • Pattanaik, Devdutt (2009). 7 Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art. Westland, India. ISBN 978-81-89975-67-8.
  • Indian philosophy and religion by Bibhu/Minakshi Padhi

Further reading

External links

sriviratvishwakarma.jimdo.com www.viswakarmas.com

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