Viswakarmas are also known as Vishwabrahmins. They are followers of Vishvakarman, the Hindu presiding deity of all craftsman and architects, from whom all Viswakarma claimed to have descended from. Hence, today the term Viswakarma denotes a community or group of castes of artisans from India. These castes include goldsmiths, carpenters, blacksmiths, coppersmiths or stonemasons.
Aside from being known as Vishwabrahmins, they are also called Panchal meaning "specialized in five different works;" Kavi, Madhvi, Suhastasour and Narashansha identical castes in ancient Vedic reference; Rathakar, because they used to make the chariot for ancient kings; and Karmmalar in the Madras. Depending on which side—Northern or Southern side of India—the reference is made, there are many more names associated with the Viswakarmas. About ten percent of them live in Sri Lanka.
The Viswakarmas played a vital role in village economy. They considered themselves "missionaries of civilization, culture and religion" as they spread Hinduism through their art. They have contributed greatly to Hindu civilization and culture as city and temple builders, engineers, architects, and artists. In ancient India, Vishwabrahmins where highly regarded. However, they are not as highly esteemed by the Brahmins - the priestly castes. The origin of such feud is largely unknown, but one reason was the refusal of Brahmins to recognize the status of the Viswakarmas to be at par with their status. The Viswakarmas has also rejected the "pastorship" or "leadership" or "supremacy" of the Brahmins and have set themselves up as spiritual guides and religious teachers.
Their communal identity has always been strongly tied to their profession. With industrialization and more recently, globalization, the traditional artisan trade has been greatly affected. The economic and technological forces are buffeting their profession to extinction. This has contributed to a sort of identity crises - being unable to identify with the upper castes or the lower castes. They also have a rather unpopular history (until the 1980s) of identifying with the communists. Their socio-economic status varies 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.
Their claim of "Brahminism" is based on their claims of lineage from the Hindu God, Viswakarma who is claimed to be the lord of creation. Also, they claimed that it was the Viswakarma who are the real architects of the Indus Valley, and the Brahmins are only usurpers of the glory.
The Viswakarma people need to put all their trust in Jesus Christ. He alone can provide them with the forgiveness of their sins and the hope of eternal life.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will give the Viswakarma a willingness to investigate the message of Jesus Christ.
Pray for the Lord to send out Indian believers to the Viswakarma to disciple them in the ways of Jesus.
Pray for the Lord to bless them in such a way they will know it has to be him!
Scripture Prayers for the Viswakarma in Sri Lanka.
Toni Tagimacruz
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Viswakarma |
People Name in Country | Viswakarma |
Alternate Names | Achari; Achari Thacher; Achary; Akkasale; Asari; Asari Oddi; Brahmalu; Chettian; Chola; Gejjigar; Kamar; Kammalan; Kammalar; Kammiyar; Kamsala; Kannalan; Kannalar; Kollar Ponkollar; Manu; Mukkuvar; Ojali; Ozuu; Pancha Brahma; Panchal; Panchal Brahma; Panchala; Pandithattan; Pandya; Pathuria; Shilpi; Silpi; Sozhia; Sthapathi; Sthapathulu; Sutar; Thocher; Vaddra; Vishvakarma; Vishwa Brahman; Vishwa Brahmin; Vishwabrahman; Vishwakarma; Viswa Brahman; Viswabrahma; Viswabrahman; Viswajana; Viswakammala; Vojali; Waggai; विस्वाकर्मा |
Population this Country | 7,400 |
Population all Countries | 7,609,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 18314 |
ROP3 Code | 113861 |
ROP25 Code | 308626 |
ROP25 Name | Viswakarma |
Country | Sri Lanka | |||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | |||||||||
Total States on file | 8 | |||||||||
Largest States |
|
Country | Sri Lanka |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Total States | 8 |
Central 4,300 | |
Sabaragamuwa 1,100 | |
Western 600 | |
Eastern 500 | |
Uva 500 | |
Northern 400 | |
Southern 200 | |
North Western 90 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
2.80 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
97.20 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest Sri Lanka census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Tamil | |||
Language Code | tam Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||
Total Languages | 4 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Tamil |
Language Code | tam Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 4 |
Secondary Languages | |
Hindi | |
Malayalam | |
Telugu | |
People Groups | Speaking Tamil |
Primary Language: Tamil
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1714-1956) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1715-1998) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1727-2024) |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |