Twashta Kasar
Twashta Kasar (also known as Tambat or Kasar) is a Hindu artisan caste of coppersmiths (tamrakar and tamta), predominantly residing in the Indian state of Maharashtra. In Goa, they call themselves Twashta Kasar Brahmin. According to Herbert Hope Risley, they are a branch of the Suvarna Banik, who became degraded because they took to working in metal.[1][2]
They are included in the Other Backward Class category by the Government of Maharashtra.[3][4]
EtymologyEdit
The word Tambat comes from "tamba" in Marathi or copper in English. The community claims descent from Twashta, third son of Vishwakarma, divine architect of universe.[citation needed]
TraditionsEdit
Traditionally, Twashta Kasars have been known to be the manufacturers of variety of copper and brass vessels and artifacts. These include copper and brass utensils, holy artifacts and more popularly the copper Bamba (a copper boiler like vessel used to heat bathing water for the family). Over the time these artisans diversified their businesses across designer showpieces of copper and brass.
The primary religion of Twashta Kasar is Hindu. The community worships Kalika as a guardian deity. They have established "Twashta Kasar Samaj Sanstha Kalika Mandir" in a few cities across Maharashtra, mainly where they have a sizable population - these include Mumbai and Pune. In Pune, the community has been celebrating Ganeshotsav since 1893.[5][6]
Twashta Kasars' customs are akin to Brahmins which is evident from the rituals like Upanayana, a threading ceremony as a Sanskar. Most of them converse in marathi. Historically, they were said to be vegetarians. However, most of them are non-vegetarians today.[2] Due to their artisanal history, it is no surprise that this community has a sizable population working in industries like films, television (art direction and make-up), sculpting, civil engineering and architecture.
Family Names found in Twashta KasarsEdit
Arte, Ashtamkar, Borlikar, Bothare, Dakhawe, Dandekar, Dere, Godambe, Hajare, Kadu, Karde, Kawle, Khule, Kosamkar, Lanjekar, Mulay, Nijampurkar, Patil, Pimple, Potphode, Purohit, Salvi, Samel, Sandhane, Sapte, Shete, Soste, Tambat, Tribhuvane, Wadke, etc.
Other names of the community include:[citation needed]Edit
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ Sharma, Shish Ram (2002). Protective Discrimination: Other Backward Classes in India. p. 124. ISBN 9788186208236.
Risley (1891) refers to them as an offshoot of the Subarnabanik, who became degraded because they took to working in Kansa or bell -metal. They are also known as Kangabanik in West Bengal. They are known as Kansara in Gujarat and Twasta Kasar or Tambat in Maharashtra. They are known as Tamrakar in Madhya Pradesh. In Goa they call themselves Twashta Kasar Brahmin. In Bihar they are also known as Kanskar. Traditional occupation of Kansari is working on bell-metal.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 K.S.Singh (1998). India's Communities, Volume 5. Oxford University Press. p. 1558. ISBN 978-0-19-563354-2.
They enjoy civic amenities and derive benefits from other developmental programmes. In Goa, the Kasar call themselves Twashta Kasar Brahman. They are also referred to as Kasar or Tambat (coppersmith) by the local people. Konkani is their mother tongue, but most of them converse in Marathi. They use the Devanagari script. The Kasar are non-vegetarian...
- ↑ "CENTRAL LIST OF OBCs FOR THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA" (PDF).
- ↑ "Central nod for OBC list modification". The Hindu. 2006.
They also include `Aryakshatriya' and `Sarige' as synonyms of Somavamsha Arya Kshatriya and `Hindu Sadaru' castes/communities of Karnataka, Twashta Kasar, Kansar as synonym of `Tambat', `Kurmi' as synonym of Kunbi and `Yellam/Yelam' castes in Maharashtra
- ↑ "These coppersmiths' faith glow in tradition". DNA. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
- ↑ Supriya Shelar (15 September 2010). "Twashta Kasar: ruling devotees' hearts". Sakaal.