Vishwakarma (caste)

This article is about a Hindu community. For the Hindu deity, see Vishvakarman.

Vishwakarmas are a community or caste who have adopted engineering, art and architecture professions in India, and are followers of Lord Vishwakarma. They are found all over India. They comprise blacksmith, carpenter, metalcraftsmanstone-carver, goldsmith. Being largely descended from Brahmins, Hindu law permits them to wear the sacred thread, perform various priestly duties and accords them a position equal to that of Brahmins. Hence, they are also known as Vishwa Brahmin (विश्वब्राह्मण)

Different names of Vishwabrahmin and its meaning

Brahminism basically divided in to two groups.

• ARSHEYA BRAHMANEYAM
• PARUSHEYA BRAHMANEYAM.

It is only Vishwakarmabrahmins belong to PARUSHEYA Sect.Rest of all brahmins sects fall under Arsheya sect.

Vishwabrahmin are also known as Vishwakarma Brahmin since they have their origin from Lord Vishwakarma. They are called Panchal which means specialized in five different works; they are identical to Kavi, Madhvi, Suhastasour and Narashansha castes in ancient Vedic reference. They were called as rathakar because they used to make the chariot for ancient kings. In Madras they are called Kammalar. Vishwakarma Brahmins / Vishwa brahmins are called with the following names.

In South India:

• Achari
• Acharya
• Vishwakarma
• Vishwabrahmin
• Sharma
• Kammara,Kambara,Pathara,Shilpi, Bhadigere,Shilpi,Kancgara, Shett.
• Chari, South India

In North India:

• Panchal Brahmin
• Dhiman Brahmin
• Jangid Brahmin
• Maithil Brahmin
• Ramgarhia
• Mistry
• Maharana
• Sharma
• Viswakarma
• Tarkhan
• Kalsi
• Malik
• Mahule
• Sonar
• Swarnakar

Whilst many goldsmiths are descendants of Brahmin ancestry, people of the Kshatriya caste have also adopted the works of Vishwabrahmins, in particular, Goldsmith and Jewellery work. For example, in the Punjab region of North India, another group of Vishwakarmas/Goldsmiths exist, the Mair Rajputs, who have descended from the Rajput warriors of Rajasthan.

Consequently, Vishwabrahmins have surnames that are similar to those of the Brahmin or Kshatriya caste. For instance:

• Brahmin: Verma, Sharma, Rao, Rastogi, Acharya/Achari, Chari, Jha, Ranjan, Dixit, Dhiman, Panchal
• Kshatriya: Soni, Singh, Mair/Mayer/Mehr, Katta, Seth, Chauhan, Babbar, Rana, Sisodia, Gogna Shinh, Sehdev, Sudera, Kanda, Karwal

Origin

According to traditional belief, Vishwabrahmins are descended from five sons of lord Vishwakarma. They are Manu (blacksmith), Maya (carpenter), Thwastha (metal craftsman), Silpi (stone-carver) Vishvajnya (goldsmith). The community is spread widely throughout India and played a vital role in the village economy. Their socio-economic status varied from a very high level to the low level in different parts of India as they earned high wages in towns because of their factory employment and low in villages. About Vishwabrahmins Anand K. Coomaraswamy says ‘the Kammalar (i.e. Panchal) were known as Vishwa or Dev Brahman or Dev Kammalar. They spread gradually towards the south and then reached Ceylon, Burma & Java. The Kammalar claim to have been the spiritual guides and priests and their position in the society survives in the saying The Kammalar is guru to the world. They still have their own priests & do not relay on Brahman. They also perform priestly rites in connection with consecration of images. They both claim and possess various special privileges, which they always upheld with much vigour, in some cases they claim a rank equal to that of Brahmans.” He also mentions “throughout the rest of ceremony all priest officers had been performed by the craftsman themselves acting as Brahman priest” .

Dr. Krishna Rao says “The most highly organized & efficient of the industrial classes was Virpanchal comprising of Goldsmith, coiner blacksmith, carpenter and mason. In finest period of Indian art particularly between eighth and ninth century, they claimed and enjoyed a social status in the community, equal to Brahmans. The art of engraving & sculpture had attained a high stage of development. It was exclusively cultivated by Panchals who wore sacred thread & considered themselves as Vishwakarma Brahmans. The craftsman being deeply versed in national epic literature always figured in the history of India as missionaries of civilization, culture & religion. The intellectual influence being creative & not merely assimilative was at least as great as that of the priest and the author” .

Panchal are called as Missionaries of civilization, culture & religion because they spread Hindu Religion to the whole world through their art. Ernest B. Havell says “The northern quarter of (Patliputra) was assigned to Brahmans & certain of the higher craftsman such as armor, ironsmiths & workers in precious stones. The association of skilled craftsmen with Brahmans & Kshatriya is additional evidence that craftsmanship did not hold inferior status in Indo Aryan society. The Stapathy or master builder is described in the Shilpa Shastra as officiating at religious ceremonies which preceded the laying out of the Indo Aryan town or village and some of the metal worker& carpenter of the south of India still retains as their caste indication the name Acharya which denotes a teacher of religion”. In ancient India Vishwabrahmins had great importance. Only Vishwabrahmins could hold the degree Jagatgur i.e. Guru to whole world which can be seen in the saying ‘Kammalar is guru to the world’.

Lohars established the Lohara dynasty. Further information regarding this dynasty can be found at the following web site: http://www.kashmir-information.com/ConvertedKashmir/Chapter7.html

Panchal struggle

Though the Panchal had great importance in olden times some Brahmins refused to accept Panchal as Brahmins which lead to have bread hereditary feud between two groups of caste i.e. Panchal & other Brahmins. During Peshwa rule they suffered a lot. Since Peshwa were Brahmins. Peshwa even did not allowed Panchal to tide the dhoti or waist cloth up between legs and in at the waist a mark of Brahminic rank. The Peshwas belonged to the Chitpavan Brahmin caste and are later migrants to India from the Middle East and Central Asia. They were at odds with Vishwakarma Brahmins who identified themselves as the original Brahmins and builder of the Aryan Vedic civilization.

• Nelson Hindu Law “Page 139-140 says - “The refusal of many castes in ancient times to accept the Brahmans as their pastors and master would seem to have bread hereditary feud between two group of caste known as right hand and left hand. the origin and history of the feud at present are wholly unknown" but it seem to me to be not improbable that the feud sprang from rivalries & contention between the supporters & adherents of Brahmans on one hand & those of the Goldsmith & other artificers on the other hand. In south of India the Goldsmith’s appear as body strenuously to have resisted the aggressive supremacy of Brahmans & for ages to have claimed for themselves the right to be priest & spiritual guides styling themselves Acharyas (religious teacher) &wearing a sacred.”
• Meharban once British collector in his book ‘Bombay Gazetteer’ says “Solapur Vol XX page 125:-Panchals are composed of five classes" goldsmith, Blacksmith, carpenter and masons. They consider themselves equals if not superior to local Brahmans. Their family priest who are member of their own community are held in high respect. They grid their boys with sacred thread when they are between seven & nine. A feast called the Brahmans feast or Brahma Bhojan is held when Kin folic and caste follows are asked to dine.

Chittoor Judgement

Details about Chittoor District court judgement

In Chittoor district, some Brahmins tried to restrict the Viswabrahmins from conducting their marriages without the help of the Purohith Brahmin, and studying the VEDAS, so that we do not have the right to coduct Veda Adhikaram. It was a controversy between the panchangam gundaiah(brahmin) and the Margasahaya Achari(viswa brahmin). The brahmin community harrassed our community by claiming superiority. So Mr. M.S Achary put a case on the Brahmin community in the Adalath court Chittoor. The judge was Mr. Daker Dora. Mr.Achary showed direct evidence from the VEDAS proving Lord Viswakarma is superior to all gods. Mr. Gundappa attempted to show evidence from puranas, which was written by VYASA who was a not a brahmin (he is the son of a fisherman). But VEDAS are superior to secondary texts rewritten by vested interests. The Vedas repeatedly praise LORD OF LORDS Bhagwan VISWAKARMA. Mr.Achary provided logical arguments and bulletproof answers to the questions asked by the brahmins. Finally brahmins were forced to shut their mouths since the Judge agreed with the answers given by Mr.Achary. A total of 65 questions were asked by the brahmins and every single of them was answered by Mr. Achary with factual evidence from the Vedas.

Gotras

Vishwabrahmins are divided into five gotras or exogamous clans, each corresponding to a Rishi named in the Yajur Veda (4.3.3) 1. Sanaga Rishi, 2. Sanaathana Rishi, 3. Abhuvanasa Rishi, 4. Prathnasa Rishi and 5. Suparnasa Rishi. Each of the five gotras are also identified with a traditional occupation: 1. Manu (blacksmith), 2. Maya (carpenter), 3. Thwastha (metalcraftsman), 4. Silpi (stone-carver) and 5. Vishvajnya(goldsmith). The five gotras are further divided into a total of 25 sub-clans (upa-gotras). Because of their fivefold division, they are also known as Panchals. They are said to follow five Vedas (instead of the standard four), the fifth being the "Pranava Veda",

The Pranava Veda is a text that elucidates the process of energy (Brahmam) turning itself into matter (the material world). In this text, pure energy or consciousness goes through a process that can be observed as a mathematical order. That process can be emulated by humans through applying that mathematical order to dance, music, poetry, architecture and sculpture thus creating arts that vibrate in a way that causes the viewer, listener, inhabitant to vibrate with the Divine qualities that the art form does. This Pranava Veda was cognized by Brahmarishi Mayan about 10,000 years ago. One known copy exists today and it is in the hands of Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati of Chennai, TN, India, which is being translated to Tamil and English. A translation project is being sponsored by The America University of Mayonic Science and Technology under the guidance of Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati.

Many people believe that Pranava refers to the sound AUM. In fact, pranava comes from the roots Pirazh + Nava = Pranava. Turn/Flip or turn into Nine; Pranava means the transformation of 8 into 9. Brahmarishi Mayan says in the Pranava Veda that consciousness multiplies itself into 8 units or pulses (units of Time) of OM light and OM sound. One unit of TIME has 2 aspects, OM LIGHT and OM SOUND. OM LIGHT divides itself into 8 light atoms that become the raw material for all visual forms. OM SOUND divides itself into 8 sound atoms that become the raw material for all aural forms.

Yettin pirazhve navamenavagi - Maamuni Mayan The flipping or turning of 8 is nine.

This combination of 8 units of Light and Sound form the 'Three Gunas' which then form the five elements or 'Pancha Bhutas'.

The entire process unfolds a mathematical order which can be emulated for the upliftment of humanity.

The individuals in the various Gotras of Vishwabrahmins use this mathematical order in their work to create objects, forms - art that has a definite frequency or vibration that emulates positive qualities of Brahmam.

Pillars of Indian Culture and Civilization

The Vishwakarma Brahmins have contributed greatly to Indian civilization and culture as temple and city builders, architects, engineers and artists. Without their immense contribution, Indian civilization would be very poor indeed.

Contribution of Vishwakarma Brahmins to Indian culture and civilization:

1) Nalanda - Vishwakarma Brahmins built this giant educational complex accommodating over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers. The university was considered an architectural masterpiece, and was marked by a lofty wall and one gate. Nalanda had eight separate compounds and ten temples, along with many other meditation halls and classrooms. On the grounds were lakes and parks. The library was located in a nine storied building where meticulous copies of texts were produced. The subjects taught at Nalanda University covered every field of learning, and it attracted pupils and scholars from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and Turkey.

2) Iron pillar of Delhi - The pillar is made up of 98% wrought iron of pure quality, and is a testament to the high level of skill achieved by ancient Indian iron smiths in the extraction and processing of iron. It has attracted the attention of archaeologists and metallurgists as it has withstood corrosion for the last 1600 years, despite harsh weather.

3) Indus Valley civilization - The earliest known civilization in the Indo-Pak region of South Asia was the Indus Valley Civilization, comprising many urban settlements, including the large cities of Harrappa and Mohenjo Daro, and characterised by a variety of house types, many of which had private baths connected to public drainage systems. The cities consisted of a citadel raised above residential and production districts with streets laid out in a grid plan and lined by drains.The uniformity in urban layouts, house typologies and sizes as well as construction methods of the standard kiln-fired bricks, is evidence of significant social and political co-ordination.

4) Hindu architecture - A basic Hindu temple consists of an inner sanctum, the garbha griha or womb-chamber, in which the image is housed, often with space for its circumambulation, a congregation hall, and possibly an antechamber and porch. The sanctum is crowned by a tower-like shikara. At the turn of the first millennium CE two major types of temples existed, the northern or Nagara style and the southern or Dravida type of temple. They are distinguishable by the shape and decoration of their shikharas.

5) Buddhist and Jain architecture - Viharas (Buddhist monasteries) began to appear soon after the death of the Buddha, particularly during the Mauryan Empire (321 - 232 B.C) with characteristic stupa monuments; and chaityas (meditation halls housing a stupa). The same period saw the beginning of stone architecture, evidenced by palace remains at Pataliputra as well as the Ashoka Stambha - the monolithic free-standing columns inscribed with edicts put up by the Emperor Ashoka. The Ashokan period is also marked for the introduction of brilliant rock-cut architecture, which formed into the 1000-year-long tradition of cutting and sculpting vast, complex and multi-roomed shrines into natural rock, resulting in religious edifices belonging to Ajivika Buddhist, Hindu and Jain faiths.

6) South Indian architecture - South Indian architecture was a style of architecture that emerged thousands of years ago in the Indian subcontinent. They consist primarily of pyramid shaped temples which are dependent on intricate carved stone in order to create a step design consisting of numerous statues of deities, kings, and dancers.

7) Konark Sun Temple - Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century Sun Temple (also known as the Black Pagoda), at Konark, in Orissa. It was built in red sandstone (Khandolite) and black granite by King Narasimhadeva I (AD 1236-1264) of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. The temple is one of the most well renowned temples in India and is a World Heritage Site.

8) Vastu Shastra - Vishwakarmas are the creators of this ancient Indian system of architectural design that has gained national and international respect and following. Vaastu Shastra deals with various aspects of designing and building living environments that are in harmony with the physical and metaphysical forces.

9) Mahabodhi Temple - The Mahabodhi Temple (Literally: "Great Awakening Temple") is a Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya, the location where Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, attained enlightenment. Bodh Gaya is located about 96 km (60 miles) from Patna, Bihar state, India.

10) Indian rock-cut architecture - Indian rock-cut architecture is more various and found in greater abundance than any other form of rock-cut architecture around the world.

11) Ellora Caves - Ellora represents the epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture.The 34 "caves" – Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples and monasteries excavated out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills – were built between the 5th century and 10th century. The 12 Buddhist (caves 1-12), 17 Hindu (caves 13-29) and 5 Jain caves (caves 30-34), built in proximity, demonstrate the religious harmony prevalent during this period of Indian history.

12) Ajanta Caves - Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra, India are rock-cut cave monuments dating from the second century BCE, containing paintings and sculpture considered to be masterpieces of both "Buddhist religious art" and "universal pictorial art". Since 1983, the Ajanta Caves have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

13) Mahabalipuram - The monuments are mostly rock-cut and monolithic, and constitute the early stages of Dravidian architecture wherein Buddhist elements of design are prominently visible. They are constituted by cave temples, monolithic rathas (chariots), sculpted reliefs and structural temples. The pillars are of the Dravidian order. The sculptures are excellent examples of Pallava art. It is believed that this area served as a school for young sculptors. The different sculptures, some half finished, may have been examples of different styles of architecture, probably demonstrated by instructors and practiced on by young students. This can be seen in the Pancha Rathas where each Ratha is sculpted in a different style.

14) Badami Cave Temples - The Badami Cave Temples are composed of four caves, all carved out of the soft Badami sandstone on a hill cliff in the late 6th century. The four caves are simple in style. The entrance is a verandah with stone columns and brackets, a distinctive feature of these caves, leading to a columned mantapa and then to the small square shrine (sanctum sanctorum) cut deep into the cave. The temple caves represent different religious sects. Among them, two are dedicated to Lord Vishnu, one to Lord Shiva and the fourth is a Jain temple. The first three are devoted to the Vedic faith and the fourth cave is the only Jain temple at Badami.

15) Pancha Rathas - Pancha Rathas an example of monolith Indian rock-cut architecture dating from the late 7th century located at Mamallapuram, a tiny village south of Madras in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The village was a busy port during the 7th and 8th century reign of the Pallava dynasty. The site is famous for the rock-cut caves and the sculptured rock that line a granite hill, including one depicting Arjuna's Penance. It has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Pancha Rathas shrines were carved during the reign of King Mahendravarman I and his son Narasimhavarman I. Each temple is a monolith, carved whole from a rock outcropping of pink granite. The five monolithic pyramidal structured shrines are named after the Pandavas (Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishtra, Nakula and Sahadeva) and Draupadi. As noted, each shrine is not assembled from cut rock but carved from one single large piece of stone. It is likely their original design traces back to wood constructions.

16) Indian art - The vast scope of the art of India intertwines with the cultural history, religions and philosophies which place art production and patronage in social and cultural contexts.

17) Indian painting - Somewhere around 1st century BC the Sadanga or Six Limbs of Indian Painting, were evolved, a series of canons laying down the main principles of the art. Vatsyayana, who lived during the third century A.D., enumerates these in his Kamasutra having extracted them from still more ancient works. These ‘Six Limbs’ have been translated as follows : 1. Rupabheda The knowledge of appearances. 2. Pramanam Correct perception, measure and structure. 3. Bhava Action of feelings on forms. 4. Lavanya Yojanam Infusion of grace, artistic representation. 5. Sadrisyam Similitude. 6. Varnikabhanga Artistic manner of using the brush and colours. (Tagore.) The subsequent development of painting by the Buddhists indicates that these ' Six Limbs ' were put into practice by Indian artists, and are the .basic principles on which their art was founded.

18) Buddhist art - Buddhist art originated on the Indian subcontinent following the historical life of Gautama Buddha, 6th to 5th century BCE, and thereafter evolved by contact with other cultures as it spread throughout Asia and the world.

19) Indian coinage - The Vishwakarma Brahmins minted beautiful coins displaying great artistic talent.

20) History of metallurgy in the Indian subcontinent - History of metallurgy in the Indian subcontinent begins during the 2nd millennium BCE and continues well into the British Raj. The Indian cultural and commercial contacts with the Near East and the Greco-Roman world enable an exchange of metallurgic sciences.

21) History of Indian Science and Technology - The History of Science and Technology in India begins in the pre-modern era. Archaeological evidence from Mehrgarh (7000 BCE) shows construction of mud brick houses and granaries. Farming, metal working, flint knapping, bead production, and dentistry, are known to the people of Mehrgarh. The more advanced Indus Valley civilization yields evidence of hydrography, metrology and city planning being practiced on a sizable scale. Great attention to medicine, astronomy and mathematics is seen during the Vedic period (1500 BCE—400 BCE)—which also witnesses the first inquiry being made into the field of linguistics. Construction of stepwells and stupas, use of diamond as a gemstone, and plastic surgery operations become visible during later periods. Indian mathematicians made early contributions to the study of the decimal number system, zero, negative numbers, arithmetic, and algebra.

22) Jaivana cannon - The Jaivana cannon is the largest wheeled cannon ever constructed. It is located at the Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur.

23) Yantra Mandir - The Yantra Mandir (commonly known as the Jantar Mantar) is an equinoctial dial, consisting a gigantic triangular gnomon with the hypotenuse parallel to the Earth's axis. On either side of the gnomon is a quadrant of a circle, parallel to the plane of the equator. The instrument is intended to measure the time of day, correct to half a second and declination of the Sun and the other heavenly bodies.

24) Khajuraho Temples - The Khajuraho temples, constructed with spiral superstructures, adhere to a northern Indian shikhara temple style and often to a Panchayatana plan or layout. A few of the temples are dedicated to the Jain pantheon and the rest to Hindu deities - to God's Trio, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and various Devi forms, such as the Devi Jagadambi temple. A Panchayatana temple had four subordinate shrines on four corners and the main shrine in the center of the podium, which comprises their base. The temples are grouped into three geographical divisions: western, eastern and southern. With a graded rise secondary shikharas (spires) cluster to create an appropriate base for the main shikhara over the sanctum. Kandariya Mahadeva, one of the most accomplished temples of the Western group, comprises eighty-four shikharas, the main being 116 feet from the ground level. These temples of Khajuraho have sculptures that look very realistic and are studied even today. The Khajuraho temples are UNESCO World Heritage Site.

25) Wootz steel - Wootz is a steel characterized by a pattern of bands or sheets of micro carbides within a tempered martensite or pearlite matrix. It was developed in India around 300 BC.

Eminent Vishwabrahmin Individuals

Spiritual Saints

• Brahmarishi Mayan
• Siddhar Bhogar
• Saint Visobha Khecher (Guru of great Marathi saint Namadev)
• Saint Jalogi & Malogi Maharaj (Two brother saint from Maharashtra)
• Saint Changdev (Great saint from Maharashtra who believed to live for 1400 years)
• Saint Narahari Sonar (Famous saint from Maharashtra, India).
• Saint Sri Potuluri Veera Brahmendra Swami (AP, India. He is considered as Indian Nostradamous)
• Saint Sanari Viswaswara Swamy (AP, India. It is believed that from the past 100 years he is still in tapasya in Nallamala Hills, India)
• Saint Achalananda Yogi
• Saint Bendapudi Swamula Varu( From Andhra Pradesh)
• Saint Eeswaramma Varu( She is grand daughter of Veera Brahmam garu)
• Saint Tadakanapalle Ramayogi( He is From Andhra pradesh)
• Saint Bodabonda Timmagurudu Govinda Swamy ( He is from Andhra pradesh)
• Saint Shivarama Brahmendrula varu (Great saint from AP)
• Saint Ramamadugu Brahmendra swamula Varu
• Saint Mahayogi Yaganteeswara Swamy
• Saint Cherukuri.Shivarama Brahmendra Swamula Varu
• Saint Veeranarayanamma
• Saint Kommuri Balabrahma Ananda Dasu
• Saint Rajupalem Sree Sree Balayogini Amma Varu

Literature

• BrahmaSri Kandukuri Rudra Kavi- He is one of the Ashtadiggajas of Sree Krishnadevaraya dynasty. He has authored one of te great books of Telugu language NIRANKUSHOPAKHYANAM
• Brahmasri Repaka Ekamabaracharyulu
• Sunkoji Devendrachary, Legendary writer Currently in USA
• Bimal Kar- A well known Bengali writer and novelist and winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1975

Shilpacharyulu & Vaasthu

• Amarashilpi Jakanachari - A legendary sculptor credited with building many fine temples for the Kalyani Chalukyas and Hoysalas, including the famous sculptures at Belur and Halebidu
• Bisu Maharana(Vishwakarma Brahmins have Maharana as their last name in Orissa State. Bisu Maharana Is the prathana Shilpacharya of the world heritage temple KONARK)
• Ramappa Acharya (Any one from telangana area of Andhra pradesh would have heard Ramappa. The Siva temple sculpted in 12th century is called as Ramappa temple)
• Late Shree Narayan Sonaodekar (Famous artist who has created the statue of Swami Vivekananda at Kanya Kumari)
• Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati (A great living sage who is translating The Pranava Veda and has built the Thiruvalluvar Statue) - Rediff interview with Shri Ganapati Stapati: http://specials.rediff.com/news/2009/mar/13slid1-padma-bhushan-stapathi.htm
• Gorasa Veera Brahma charylu( He is a living legend in AP author of MAYA VAASTHU book)
• Arasivilli Kameshwara charyulu( He is a well renowned vaasthu siddanthi in AP and author of Kameshra vaasthu book)
• Shri Phani Bhooshanacharyulu - He is feliciated by the title UDDANDA PINDA STHAPATHI,He is known for Vigraha Prana pratishta
• Sri Payyannur Keshavachari - Living legend architect from Kerala
• Vastu Bhramha Melpadi Ragavachari-Writer of VASTURAGAVEYAM from Andhra Pradesh Chittor Dist.

Vishwakarma Brahmin Priests & Astrologists

• Sri Bantumilli Srirama Murthy Siddhanthi - Worked as Archaka and Purohit in Mandapeta. He trained many Viswabrahmin Purohits all over the state. He was feliciated by the AP state government with the Andhra Rashtra Ugadi Puraskaram by the chief minister Y. S. Raja Sekhar Reddy in the year 2005
• Shri LK Vishwakarma http://www.vishwakarmavaasthu.com/
• Shri Vangipurapu Veera brahma Daivagna - Famous panchangam writer & astrologer
• Gorasa Veera Bhadracharyulu - Famous panchangam writer & famous astrologer

Medicine

• Prof.Raveesha, Chairman and HOD,Dept. of Microbiology, University of Mysore,is a renowned plant pathologist in this world.

Film Industry

• M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (First Tamil super star of Tamil film industry also called as MKT)
• Dr.Brahmanandam (Guinness book of world record holder for the highest number of comedian roles in Telugu language)
• Jagjit Singh (Viswabrahmins have Dhiman as the last name in Northern India)
• Ramanand Sagar (Famous creator of television series Ramayana and Shri Krishna. Sagar is a common Vishwakarma surname in the state of MP and UP)
• Gulzar (Famous Indian poet, lyricist, film-maker, director - Winner of the Academy Award (Oscar) for best original song lyrics in 2008 for the song 'Jai Ho' from the movie Slumdog Millionarie, along with A.R. Rahman)
• Ajay Devgan (He is of Sikh Ramgarhia origin, Vishwakarma)
• Prakash Jha (He is of Vishwakarma caste from Bihar. Jha is usually a Brahmin surname but is used by Vishwakarmas too)
• Udit Narayan (He is of Vishwakarma caste from Bihar. Jha is usually a Brahmin surname but is used by Vishwakarmas too)
• Kadaru nagabhushanam (great producer and great director from telugu industry)
• Eswar (the famous and great artist publicity designer.)
• Anupoju brothers - famous still photographers in film industry.
• Haridas (famous malayalam film industry singer and judge of somany programs)
• Ammu (famous malayalalm film industry and TV child artist)
• Asha Parekh {Hindi movies superstar actress. Parekh are the Goldsmith caste from Gujarat state)
• Chalam and his son anand sai (famous art directors)
• JAGATHI famous cine camedian in malayalam film industry
• Chintada Girinadh produced movies in telugu film industry
• V Santharam famous hindi film director
• K Vijayabhaskar famous film Director telugu industry (directed mallisweri ,nuvvu naaku nachhav,jai chiranjeeva etc films)
• Chintada mohan basheer babu asst art director Tamil film industry
• Prabhakar famous T V anchor and film artist (father is traditional carpentor)
• KAVIYOOR PONNAMMA (well known actress in Malayalm movies since 1965, still in field and well known for Mother roles, especially Superstar Mohanlal's. She is my mother's 2nd cousine). Try the following link for details http://wiki.riteme.site/wiki/Kaviyoor_Ponnamma
• KAVIYOOR REVAMMA (Kaviyoor Ponnamma's younger sisiter- another well-known actress, passed away few years before)
• KP.Nanjundachar ( Film Financiar for Kannada Industry)
• Shruthi - Famous Kannada Actress
• Kaveri Zhaa - upcoming heroine
• Sharath - Famous malayalam music director/composer,judge of Asianet Idea star singer(music reality show)
• Charan
• Elanchezhian (A great patriot of karikala cholan dynasty and plays a major role in constructing kallanai dam)
• Jaya Suriya ( Malayalam actor )
• Veeru Devgan (Veteran Bollywood Action composer and father of Ajay Devgan)
• Preity Zinta (Indian Film Actress, Zinta is a Tarkhan Vishwakarma surname from Punjab)
• Ameet Channa (British Film Actor)
• Kulvinder Ghir (Actor/Comedian Goodness Gracious Me)
• Satnam Bhogal (Actor - Holby City)
• Vicky Bhogal (UK TV Chef & Author)
• Harbhajan Jabbal (TV/Theater artist)
• Kanwaljeet Singh (Punjabi film star, acted in a number of serials and Punjabi films with Harbhajan Maan)
• Kanwaljit Singh Virdi (Journalist at Chandigarh(Buerau Chief North with Standard World TV
• Dev Sagoo (TV/Theater actor and director)
• Jaikishen (Jaikishen Panchal of the famous Hindi music duo of Shankar Jaikishan fame)

Politics

• Giani Zail Singh (Former President of India)
• Dalip Singh Saund - He was the first Asian American, Indian American and Sikh member of the United States Congress
• Professor Kottapalli Jayashankar - He is Siddantha kartha for TRS party in Andhra Pradesh

Emperor

• Harshavardhana (The fourth pillar of Buddhism - Harsha belonged to the Vaishya caste. In Bengal, Vishwakarmas are classified as Vaishya and have the surname Kar.)
• Rama(since his ancester was the Sun who is a son of Vishwakarma)
• Maya(father-in-law of Ravana) and many more

Sports

• Harbhajan Singh (Great Indian spin bowler)
• Monty Panesar (Great spin bowler from the UK)
• Gursharan Singh (Played for the Indian test team)
• Virender Singh (Famous right-half of the Indian hockey team that won the 1975 World Cup)
• Joginder Singh Gindi (Member, Indian Hockey Team in the 60s)
• praveen pragnaan ozha - india's left arm spinner

Television Personalities

• Suzanne Virdee - Famous BBC News Presenter.
• Ravi Dhiman - Famous Star News India Presenter.

Artists

• Sobha Singh (painter) - Artist and Famous Religious Painter.
• Kirpal Singh (Artist par excellence who painted the bulk of the Sikh Museum at the Golden Temple, Amritsar)

Books on History of Vishwabrahmins

• Roberts, A.E. (1909). Visvakarma and his descendants. Calcutta: All-India Vishvakarma Brahman Mahasabha.
• Dr.Gnanananda, G. (Ed.) (1981). Sri Visvakarmayaya bhushanam (Kannada) original by K.P. Dixit (1878). KGF: Jnana Bhandara.Kashyapa Shilpa Shastram,Brahmeeya Chitra Karma Shastram.

• Sharma, A.S. (1989). Visvakarma Smaj ka sankshipt itihas (short history of Vishvakarma Society). New Delhi: Visvakarma Institute of Research and Education.
• Chinmayacharya, K. (2002), Devudu Manavudu (PDF), East Godavari.: Ramesh Kumar, K.
• ‘Shilpashastra’ (शिल्पशास्त्र In Marathi). It was written on Shake 1165 that is more than 700 years back & was published by B.S. Sutar (Igatpuri, Nasik 1906).
• Vaddepati Niranjana Shastry. Vishwakarma Brahmana Vamshagamamu. Lang.: Telugu.
• Swarna Subramanya Kavi. Vishwabrahmanulaku Prathama Satkara Arhatha. Lang.: Telugu.
• Phanidapu Prabhakara Sharma. Vishwabrahmana Gothra Gayathri. Lang.: Telugu.

Matrimony Site

Matrimony Site and info for Vishwakarma community is www.vishwakarmamarriage.com[[1]] .

References

• The Tribes & Caste of Bombay –Enthoven.
• Shree Scanda Puran (Sayadri Khandha)-Ed. Dr. Jarson D. Kunha, Marathi version Ed. By Gajanan shastri Gaytonde. Published by Shree Katyani Publication, Mumbai.
• Gomantak Prakrity & sanskriti –B. D. Satoskar. Shubhada Publication
• The Lohara dynasty of Vishwakarma Hindu Emperors: http://www.kashmir-information.com/ConvertedKashmir/Chapter7.html
• Sacred Writings, Volume 5, Hinduism: The Rig Veda. Edited by Jaroslav Pelikan. Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith. Published in 1992 in United States of America. Book of the month club, New York

(Pages 591 and 592. The 10th mandal of rig veda has two suktas 81 and 82. Each of these have 7 mantras each, making a total of 14 mantras exclusively talking about Vishwakarma.)

• Books from the publisher Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt Ltd:

1) Brahmavaivaryta Puran, refer to, Krishna Janma Khand, Adhyaya 47 2) Atharaveda, refer to, 19 Khand, Sukta 34 (10 Mantras) and 35 (5 Mantras) 3) Skanda Purana refer to Kashi Khand, Skanda Purana refer to Prabhas Khanda 4) Vayu Purana refer to Adhaya 22 5) Matsya Purana refer to Adhaya 5 6) Yajurved, refer to Adhaya 17, Mantra 17 to 34