Kammalar is a
Tamil
Tamil may refer to:
People, culture and language
* Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia
**Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka
** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...
caste group found in the
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
n state of
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
and in northeastern
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...
. The Kammalars are involved in
crafting.
''Kammalar'' is a generic term that comprises the communities of Kannar (brass-workers), Kollar (blacksmiths), Tatar (goldsmiths), Tatchar (carpenters) and Kartatchar (sculptors).
Kammalars are classified and listed as Backward Class by both the central government of India and the State governments of Tamil Nadu and
Kerala
They worship various forms of this deity.
Etymology
The word Kammalar is derived from the
Tamil
Tamil may refer to:
People, culture and language
* Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia
**Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka
** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...
word ''Kam'' meaning "art" or "operation". The Kammalar finds mention in ancient
Sangam literature
The Sangam literature (Tamil language, Tamil: சங்க இலக்கியம், ''caṅka ilakkiyam''), historically known as 'the poetry of the noble ones' (Tamil language, Tamil: சான்றோர் செய்யுள், ''Cā ...
, mentioning them by the name ''Kammiyar.''
Their name is said to be derived from the phrase "one who gives the eyes", referring to their providing the eyes for statues of
deities
A deity or god is a supernatural being considered to be sacred and worthy of worship due to having authority over some aspect of the universe and/or life. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines ''deity'' as a God (male deity), god or god ...
.
Synonyms
Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka
In
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
, Tamil Achari is known as ''Tamil Kammalars''. They are goldsmiths and landlords.
The Kammalar community in
Nachiyar Koil town of Tamil Nadu are renowned for making the ornamental brass
Nachiarkoil lamps.
[PM Narendra Modi gifts Xi Jinping Annam lamp]
Times of India, 11 october 2019.
See also
*
Caste system in India
The caste system in India is the paradigmatic ethnographic instance of social classification based on castes. It has its origins in ancient India, and was transformed by various ruling elites in medieval, early-modern, and modern India, espe ...
*
Caste system in Sri Lanka
The caste systems in Sri Lanka are social stratification systems found among the ethnic groups of the island since ancient times. The models are similar to those found in Continental India, but are less extensive and important for various reasons. ...
References
Indian castes
Social groups of Tamil Nadu
Sri Lankan Tamil castes
South Indian communities
Ethnic groups in India
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