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{{Short description|Hindu caste}} | {{Short description|Hindu caste}} | ||
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}} | |||
{{Multiple issues| | {{Multiple issues| | ||
{{POV|date=April 2018}} | {{POV|date=April 2018}} | ||
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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}} | ||
{{infobox ethnic group | {{infobox ethnic group | ||
|group = Daivadnya | |group = Daivadnya Brahman | ||
|image= Shetgentleman.jpg | |image= Shetgentleman.jpg | ||
|caption = [[Shett|Shet]] gentlemen from Goa, from late 18th to early 19th century (Courtesy: Gomant Kalika, Nutan Samvatsar Visheshank, April 2002) | |caption = [[Shett|Shet]] gentlemen from Goa, from late 18th to early 19th century (Courtesy: Gomant Kalika, Nutan Samvatsar Visheshank, April 2002) | ||
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}} | }} | ||
The '''Daivadnyas''', (also known as '''Daivadnya Brahmins | The '''Daivadnyas''', (also known as '''Daivadnya Brahmins'''<ref name="K. S. Singh 1998 738">{{cite book|title=India's Communities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jw9uAAAAMAAJ|page=738|author=K. S. Singh|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1998|isbn=9780195633542|quote=DAIVADNYA BRAHMAN: A community located in Goa and Karnataka, they claim that they are the descendants of Vishwakarma, the Hindu architect god. They are also referred to by terms like Vishwa Brahman and Panchal .}}</ref> or '''Konkanastha Rathakara'''), are a [[Konkani people|Konkani]] Gold-smith community, who claim to have descended from [[Vishwakarma]], Hindu architect god and part of larger [[Vishwakarma (caste)|Vishwakarma community]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Scheduled Castes, Volume 21|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ORBOAQAAMAAJ|page=64|author=K. S. Singh|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1995|isbn = 978-0-19-563742-7|quote=The Daivadnyas in Goa claim that they are the descendants of the youngest son of Vishwakarma , Vishvadnya or Daivadnya.}}</ref> They are native to the [[Konkan]] and are mainly found in the states of [[Goa]] and [[Damaon]], [[Kanara|Canara]] (coastal [[Karnataka]]), coastal [[Maharashtra]], and [[Kerala]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=People of India: Goa Volume 21 of People of India, Anthropological Survey of India|last=Anthropological Survey of India|publisher=Anthropological Survey of India|year=1993|isbn=9788171547609|pages=64}}</ref> | ||
Daivadnyas are a subgroup of [[Sunar|Sonars]] (Gold Smiths) and hence they are called as Daivadnya Sonars or ''Suvarṇakara''{{efn|Suvarṇakara means gold-smith in [[Sanskrit]]}} or simply [[Sunar|Sonar]]{{efn|Sonar means gold-smith in [[Marathi language|Marathi]]}} | Daivadnyas are a subgroup of [[Sunar|Sonars]] (Gold Smiths) and hence they are called as Daivadnya Sonars or ''Suvarṇakara''{{efn|Suvarṇakara means gold-smith in [[Sanskrit]]}} or simply [[Sunar|Sonar]].{{efn|Sonar means gold-smith in [[Marathi language|Marathi]]}} Their occupation attracted groups of various very varied social status, and for a long period recent recruits were not accorded the same status in the caste as older families. Those with the highest status in the caste were the Devangas, and, under the Peshwas, they had claimed to be Daivadnya Brahmins, because of their intimate association with temple worship. Though this claim is recognized by the Poona Government in the eighteenth century, the Bombay Sonars persisted with it, and were encouraged by the prestige of their leader, Jagannath Shankarshet.|isbn=9780198218418}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Hinduism: A Reader|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h1YKAQAAMAAJ|page=325|author=Deepak Sarma|publisher=Wiley|date=14 January 2008|quote=Not only has the Hindu made no effort for the humanitarian cause of civilizing the savages, but the higher-caste Hindus have deliberately prevented the lower castes who are within the pale of Hinduism from rising to the cultural level of the higher castes. I will give two instances, one of the Sonars and the other of the Pathare Prabhus. Both are communities quite well-known in Maharashtra. Like the rest of the communities desiring to raise their status, these two communities were at one time endeavouring to adopt some of the ways and habits of the Brahmins. The Sonars were styling themselves Daivadnya Brahmins and were wearing their "dhotis" with folds in them, and using the word namaskar for salutation. Both the folded way of wearing the "dhoti" and the namaskar were special to the Brahmins. The Brahmins did not like this imitation and this attempt by Sonars to pass off as Brahmins. Under the authority of the Peshwas, the Brahmins successfully put down this attempt on the part of the Sonars to adopt the ways of the Brahmins. They even got the President of the Councils of the East India Company's settlement in Bombay to issue a prohibitory order against the Sonars residing in Bombay.|isbn=9781405149891}}</ref> However, Oliver Godsmark, a researcher on late colonial and early postcolonial South Asia, considers them a subcaste of the Brahmins that were originally from the coastal regions of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa.<ref name="Godsmark2018">{{cite book | author = Oliver Godsmark | date = 29 January 2018 | title = Citizenship, Community and Democracy in India: From Bombay to Maharashtra, c. 1930 - 1960 | publisher = Routledge | pages = | isbn = 978-1-351-18821-0 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=CCpKDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT203|quote=daivadnya: brahman sub-caste originally from coastal Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa}}</ref> They are popularly known in [[Goa]] as ''[[Shett|Shet]]s''. This word is derived from the word ''Shrestha'' or ''Shresthin''<ref name="gom">"Gomantak Prakruti ani Sanskruti", Part-1, p. 224, B. D. Satoskar, Shubhada Publication</ref><ref name="san">{{Citation|url=http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/MWScan/index.php?sfx=pdf|format=PDF|title=Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries |last=Williams |first=Monier|work=Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary|language=Sanskrit, English|accessdate=29 July 2009}}</ref> They come under Open Category (OC) or [[Forward caste]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Cabinet okays 10% quota for upper caste poor in the State|url=https://www.thegoan.net//cabinet-okays-10-quota-for-upper-caste-poor-in-the-state/52106.html|publisher=The Goan|date=11 June 2019}}</ref> | ||
==Names== | ==Names== | ||
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==Traditional history== | ==Traditional history== | ||
Though their history is obscure, Daivadnyas claim to have descended from Davidnya or Vishvadnya the younger son of [[Vishwakarma]], the Hindu architect god.<ref name="K. S. Singh 1998 738"/><ref>{{cite book|title=The Scheduled Castes, Volume 21|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ORBOAQAAMAAJ|page=64|author=K. S. Singh|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1995|isbn = 978-0-19-563742-7|quote=The Daivadnyas in Goa claim that they are the descendants of the youngest son of Vishwakarma, Vishvadnya or Daivadnya.}}</ref> Shets or Daivadnyas also claim Brahmin varna status, however, this is accepted by local Brahmins and other communities of the region.<ref>''Maharashtriya Jnanakosha'', Part-1, pp. 198–226</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Maharashtriya Dnyanakosh:Prachin Maharashtra|last=Ketkar|first=Shridhar|publisher=MAharashtriya Dnyanakosh Mandal|year=1935|location=Mumbai|pages=195–206}}</ref> There is also a claim that Daivdnyas are descent from the Vedic [[Rathakara]] as mentioned in [[Taittiriya Shakha|Taittiriya Brahmana]] of [[Yajurveda]], and [[Smriti]]s , however Daivadnya community deny this.<ref>{{Citation|last=Israel|first=Milton|author2=Narendra K. Wagle|title=Religion and society in Maharashtra |year=1987}}</ref> Hindu doctrines ''Hiraṇyakeśisutra'', ''Bṛhajjātiviveka'', ''Jātiviveka'', ''Saṅkha smṛti'', and ''Añjabila'' mention different types of Rathakaras. Most of them can be called Saṅkara Jāti or mixed caste, and their social status varies from those with high social status, who are ritually pure and have the right to perform "strata-smarta" rituals and to those considered fallen or degraded.<ref>{{Citation| title=विश्वब्रह्मकुलोत्साह;Viśvabrahmakulotsaha| author=Nārāyaṇaśastri Kṣirasāgara}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Chitpavans: social ascendancy of a creative minority in Maharashtra, 1818-1918|last=Gokhale|first=Sandhya|publisher=Shubhi Publications|year=2008|isbn=9788182901322|pages=207}}</ref><ref name="wag3">{{Citation|last=Israel|first=Milton|author2=Narendra K. Wagle|title=Religion and society in Maharashtra |year=1987|page=159}}</ref> Daivadnyas (during the conflicts that arose in the 19th century) refuted this claim, which called them Rathakaras of impure descent, on the basis of ''Shastra'', and they were supported by ''Shringeri Shankaracharya'', and Brahmin councils of [[Varanasi|Kashi]] and [[Paithan]].{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}{{Needs independent confirmation|reason= sounds very suspect. Shankaracharya, Kashi councils and Paithan councils were the highest authorities on such disputes. Even Peshwas would have had to obey their verdict. We need to verify this from the academic source such as ''Images of Maharashtra''|date=April 2022}} | Though their history is obscure, Daivadnyas claim to have descended from Davidnya or Vishvadnya the younger son of [[Vishwakarma]], the Hindu architect god.<ref name="K. S. Singh 1998 738"/><ref>{{cite book|title=The Scheduled Castes, Volume 21|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ORBOAQAAMAAJ|page=64|author=K. S. Singh|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1995|isbn = 978-0-19-563742-7|quote=The Daivadnyas in Goa claim that they are the descendants of the youngest son of Vishwakarma, Vishvadnya or Daivadnya.}}</ref> Shets or Daivadnyas also claim Brahmin varna status, however, this is not accepted by local Brahmins and other communities of the region.<ref>''Maharashtriya Jnanakosha'', Part-1, pp. 198–226</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Maharashtriya Dnyanakosh:Prachin Maharashtra|last=Ketkar|first=Shridhar|publisher=MAharashtriya Dnyanakosh Mandal|year=1935|location=Mumbai|pages=195–206}}</ref> There is also a claim that Daivdnyas are descent from the Vedic [[Rathakara]] as mentioned in [[Taittiriya Shakha|Taittiriya Brahmana]] of [[Yajurveda]], and [[Smriti]]s , however Daivadnya community deny this.<ref>{{Citation|last=Israel|first=Milton|author2=Narendra K. Wagle|title=Religion and society in Maharashtra |year=1987}}</ref> Hindu doctrines ''Hiraṇyakeśisutra'', ''Bṛhajjātiviveka'', ''Jātiviveka'', ''Saṅkha smṛti'', and ''Añjabila'' mention different types of Rathakaras. Most of them can be called Saṅkara Jāti or mixed caste, and their social status varies from those with high social status, who are ritually pure and have the right to perform "strata-smarta" rituals and to those considered fallen or degraded.<ref>{{Citation| title=विश्वब्रह्मकुलोत्साह;Viśvabrahmakulotsaha| author=Nārāyaṇaśastri Kṣirasāgara}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Chitpavans: social ascendancy of a creative minority in Maharashtra, 1818-1918|last=Gokhale|first=Sandhya|publisher=Shubhi Publications|year=2008|isbn=9788182901322|pages=207}}</ref><ref name="wag3">{{Citation|last=Israel|first=Milton|author2=Narendra K. Wagle|title=Religion and society in Maharashtra |year=1987|page=159}}</ref> Daivadnyas (during the conflicts that arose in the 19th century) refuted this claim, which called them Rathakaras of impure descent, on the basis of ''Shastra'', and they were supported by ''Shringeri Shankaracharya'', and Brahmin councils of [[Varanasi|Kashi]] and [[Paithan]].{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}{{Needs independent confirmation|reason= sounds very suspect. Shankaracharya, Kashi councils and Paithan councils were the highest authorities on such disputes. Even Peshwas would have had to obey their verdict. We need to verify this from the academic source such as ''Images of Maharashtra''|date=April 2022}} | ||
===Medieval and modern history=== | ===Medieval and modern history=== | ||
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The Portuguese imposed heavy restrictions on all Goan Hindus, but the Shetṭs were granted exemption from certain obligations or liabilities. It is rare to find a Christian Goan Shetṭ, while all the other castes find some representation in the convert society;<ref name="shet">{{Citation|title=The Indian historical review|publisher=Indian Council of Historical Research |year=2004|volume=30|page=38}}</ref> this is because the economic power the Śeṭs wielded in the sixteenth century enabled them to live and work in Goa on their own terms or emigrate with their religion intact.<ref name="shet" /> Their commercial knowledge and skills were held in high esteem by the Portuguese;<ref name="shet" /> because of the protection the Portuguese gave them, they had a little religious freedom.<ref name="r1" /> For example, they were permitted to wear the horizontal [[Vibhuti#Sacred ash|Vibhutī]] caste-mark on the forehead, and were even exempted from punishment when they committed crimes.<ref name="r1">''Hidden Hands: Master Builders of Goa'' By Heta Pandit, Farah Vakil, Homi Bhabha Fellowships Council Published by Heritage Network, 2003, p. 19</ref> The very few who converted were assigned the caste of ''[[Roman Catholic Brahmin|Bamonn]]'' among the [[Goan Catholics]].{{citation needed|date=April 2014}} According to the gazetteer of Goa state they are called Catholic Śeṭs,<ref>{{Citation|last=Gune|first=Vithal Trimbak |title=Gazetteer of the Union Territory Goa, Daman and Diu |publisher=Goa, Daman and Diu (India). Gazetteer Dept |year=1979|volume=1|page=238}}</ref> but no such distinction is found amongst [[Goan Catholics]]. A detailed study of ''[[Comunidade]]s''{{Ref label|h|h|none}} shows that baptised Śeṭs were categorised as ''Bamonns''.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}} Whether Hindu or Catholic, the community always enjoyed their social status, and were permitted to remain in Christianised parts of Goa, provided they kept a low profile, observed certain disciplines, and paid a tax of three ''xeraphims'' of (gold [[mohor]]) annually to the Portuguese.<ref name="xera">{{Cite book|last= Malgonkar|first=Manohar|title=Inside Goa|year= 2004 |publisher=Architecture Autonomous |isbn=978-81-901830-0-0 |page=40}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=Author was a prolific writer but had a degree in English and later joined the army. Is he [[WP:HISTRS]]? |date=June 2022}} | The Portuguese imposed heavy restrictions on all Goan Hindus, but the Shetṭs were granted exemption from certain obligations or liabilities. It is rare to find a Christian Goan Shetṭ, while all the other castes find some representation in the convert society;<ref name="shet">{{Citation|title=The Indian historical review|publisher=Indian Council of Historical Research |year=2004|volume=30|page=38}}</ref> this is because the economic power the Śeṭs wielded in the sixteenth century enabled them to live and work in Goa on their own terms or emigrate with their religion intact.<ref name="shet" /> Their commercial knowledge and skills were held in high esteem by the Portuguese;<ref name="shet" /> because of the protection the Portuguese gave them, they had a little religious freedom.<ref name="r1" /> For example, they were permitted to wear the horizontal [[Vibhuti#Sacred ash|Vibhutī]] caste-mark on the forehead, and were even exempted from punishment when they committed crimes.<ref name="r1">''Hidden Hands: Master Builders of Goa'' By Heta Pandit, Farah Vakil, Homi Bhabha Fellowships Council Published by Heritage Network, 2003, p. 19</ref> The very few who converted were assigned the caste of ''[[Roman Catholic Brahmin|Bamonn]]'' among the [[Goan Catholics]].{{citation needed|date=April 2014}} According to the gazetteer of Goa state they are called Catholic Śeṭs,<ref>{{Citation|last=Gune|first=Vithal Trimbak |title=Gazetteer of the Union Territory Goa, Daman and Diu |publisher=Goa, Daman and Diu (India). Gazetteer Dept |year=1979|volume=1|page=238}}</ref> but no such distinction is found amongst [[Goan Catholics]]. A detailed study of ''[[Comunidade]]s''{{Ref label|h|h|none}} shows that baptised Śeṭs were categorised as ''Bamonns''.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}} Whether Hindu or Catholic, the community always enjoyed their social status, and were permitted to remain in Christianised parts of Goa, provided they kept a low profile, observed certain disciplines, and paid a tax of three ''xeraphims'' of (gold [[mohor]]) annually to the Portuguese.<ref name="xera">{{Cite book|last= Malgonkar|first=Manohar|title=Inside Goa|year= 2004 |publisher=Architecture Autonomous |isbn=978-81-901830-0-0 |page=40}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=Author was a prolific writer but had a degree in English and later joined the army. Is he [[WP:HISTRS]]? |date=June 2022}} | ||
A few Daivadnya families who converted to Catholicism migrated to [[Mangalore]] due to attacks by the [[Maratha]]s in Goa during the late 17th and early 18th century.<ref name="dm">{{Citation|url=http://www.dioceseofmangalore.org/history.asp|title= Christianity in Mangalore|access-date=30 July 2008|publisher=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Mangalore|Diocese of Mangalore]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080622155343/http://www.dioceseofmangalore.org/history.asp |archive-date = 22 June 2008}}</ref><ref name="pin5">{{ | A few Daivadnya families who converted to Catholicism migrated to [[Mangalore]] due to attacks by the [[Maratha]]s in Goa during the late 17th and early 18th century.<ref name="dm">{{Citation|url=http://www.dioceseofmangalore.org/history.asp|title= Christianity in Mangalore|access-date=30 July 2008|publisher=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Mangalore|Diocese of Mangalore]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080622155343/http://www.dioceseofmangalore.org/history.asp |archive-date = 22 June 2008}}</ref><ref name="pin5">{{citation |surname=Pinto |given=Pius |author-link=Pius Fidelis Pinto |year=1999 |title=History of Christians in coastal Karnataka, 1500-1763 A.D |publisher=Samanvaya Prakashan |place=Mangalore |page=124}}</ref> | ||
=====Relationships with other communities===== | =====Relationships with other communities===== | ||
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====Ishtadevata==== | ====Ishtadevata==== | ||
{{ | {{Main list|List of Daivajna temples and other affiliated temples}} | ||
[[Iṣṭa-deva(tā)|Ishta-devata]] is a term denoting a worshipper's favourite deity.<ref>V. S. Apte, ''A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary'', p. 250.</ref> Ganesha is ishta-devata of all the Śeṭs. [[Ganesh Chaturthi]] or ''Siddhivināyaka Vrata'' is a major festival of the Daivadnyas. | [[Iṣṭa-deva(tā)|Ishta-devata]] is a term denoting a worshipper's favourite deity.<ref>V. S. Apte, ''A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary'', p. 250.</ref> Ganesha is ishta-devata of all the Śeṭs. [[Ganesh Chaturthi]] or ''Siddhivināyaka Vrata'' is a major festival of the Daivadnyas. | ||
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====Shankara or Smarta sect==== | ====Shankara or Smarta sect==== | ||
*Shets of Goa,<ref name="ReferenceB">"People of India: Goa" By Kumar Suresh Singh, Prakashchandra P. Shirodkar, Pra. Pā Śiroḍakara, Anthropological Survey of India, H. K. Mandal, p. 64</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books? | *Shets of Goa,<ref name="ReferenceB">"People of India: Goa" By Kumar Suresh Singh, Prakashchandra P. Shirodkar, Pra. Pā Śiroḍakara, Anthropological Survey of India, H. K. Mandal, p. 64</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=I0xuAAAAMAAJ&q=smarta "Goa" By Kumar Suresh Singh, Pra. Pā Śiroḍakara, H. K. Mandal, Anthropological Survey of India, p. 64]</ref> Maharashtra and some parts of Karnataka follow the religious rules of the [[Smriti]]s and are thus called Smarta,{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} i.e. the followers of the Smṛitis. They were followers of [[Sringeri Sharada Peetha]]<ref name="gune" /><ref name="gom" /><ref>"Mahan Daivadnya Sant ani Vibhuti" by P. P. Shirodkar, p. 73, published by Kalika Prakashan VishwastMandal</ref><ref name="ReferenceB" /><ref name="ReferenceC">"A socio-cultural history of Goa from the Bhojas to the Vijayanagara" By Vithal Raghavendra Mitragotri Published by Institute Menezes Braganza, 1999, Original from the University of Michigan, Pages:108.</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Mitragotri |first=Vithal Raghavendra |title=A socio-cultural history of Goa from the Bhojas to the Vijayanagara |publisher=Goa University|year=1999|page=108|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AGBuAAAAMAAJ&q=shaivite}}</ref> | ||
*Due to some unavoidable conflicts between the two sects in the community a new maṭha was established in Sri Kshetra Karki, Honnāvara, in North Canara district. The maṭha is called Jnaneshwari Peeth.<ref>{{Citation|last=Kamat|first=Suryakant|title=Karnataka State gazetteer|publisher=Gazetter Dept|year=1984|volume=3|page=106}}</ref> | *Due to some unavoidable conflicts between the two sects in the community a new maṭha was established in Sri Kshetra Karki, Honnāvara, in North Canara district. The maṭha is called Jnaneshwari Peeth.<ref>{{Citation|last=Kamat|first=Suryakant|title=Karnataka State gazetteer|publisher=Gazetter Dept|year=1984|volume=3|page=106}}</ref> | ||