[18] The name ‘Uray’ is said to have been derived from the Sanskrit term “upāsaka” meaning “devout layman”. Along with the Shakyas they have the right of hereditary membership of the bahas or viharas. For Hindu Newars, Brahmans had formal precedence with Kshatriyas, which included the royal family and the various groups now known as Srēṣṭha who ran the administration of the Malla courts. Untouchability was encouraged, Class of Idlers was created, Opression of Low Caste people started taking place. Rājopādhyāya Brahmins are on top of the Hindu Newar social hierarchy. Other rules further restrict social intermingling between the castes, but they tend to be treated more casually.[2]. Rajopadhyaya and higher Shrestha clans also try to avoid “Sa-Gotra” marriages; marrying someone of the same gotra. Chitrakar (Devanagari: चित्रकार) is a caste within the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal.The Newar caste system is divided according to profession. Nepalese society was ethnically diverse and complex in the early 1990s, ranging in phenotype (physical characteristics) and culture from the Indian to the Tibetan. The last Newar noble to hold some power, Kaji Tribhuvan Pradhan, was beheaded in a court intrigue in 1801 A.D. Similarly, the Buddhamargi castes can be broadly divided into four major groups. [18] However, while the Bajracharyas' exclusive occupation is priesthood, the Shakyas follow the hereditary occupation of Goldsmiths. Jyapus are among the most progressive farmers in Nepal. Srēṣṭha also maintain their superior status over others with the claim that they firmly belong to the mainstream Brahmanic Hindu cultural world than the Jyāpu and others, and are in much more intimate contact with the Brahmans. The Newar line of kings was deposed in 1769 by the Shah dynasty of Gorkha, warrior caste Pahari Hindus. Similarly, the Buddhamargi castes can be broadly divided into four major groups, viz. For the non-Mongoloid hill 'Khas' tribe of the west who are in large part associated with the Gorkhali invaders, the term Partyā or Parbaté meaning hill-dweller is used in polite reference. [18] In some areas the rule of "seven generations" of descent is observed; members who fall within the common descent group of seven generations are restricted from intermarriage. The case of Newār is ex­cep­tional. The Gubhaju (Vajracharya) and the Bare (Shakya) form the priestly functionaries. The Urāy/Udas group is composed of the castes of hereditary merchants and artisans. The Gubhaju (Vajracharya) and the Bare (Shakya) form the priestly functionaries. The Brahmins were like all other specialized service providers, except that they were considered higher to others in ritual purity. They are a prominent community in the business and cultural life of Kathmandu and have played key roles in the development of trade, industry, art, architecture, literature, and Buddhism in Nepal and the Himalayan region. They have provided significant contribution to Nepali society and have been seen as the backbone of the Newar community. (1) Rājopādhyāya Brahmins are on top of the Hindu Newar social hierarchy. Chārtharīya Shrestha are even lowered in the social status and consists of those from non-Srestha background who try to emulate or establish the Srestha (Chatharīya and Pañchthariya) status by pretending their norms or simply, in many cases, adopting the general caste-denoting surname like ‘Shrestha’ or in other instances ‘Joshi’, ‘Singh’, ‘Achaju’, or ‘Pradhan’. Mongoloid peoples, thought generally to have Tibetan connections, are called “Sae(n)” This term is said to derive from an old Newari term for a Tibetan or, according to some, for Lhasa. Along with the Shakyas, they have the right of hereditary membership of the bahas or viharas. They are the indigenous people of the Kathmandu valley the and its surrounding areas in Nepal and the creators of its historic civilization. Caste system in Newar community: There is also hierarchal division of caste system on the basis of occupation and their social position among the Newars which was started by a Malla king. This is followed by the Hindu Kshatriya nobility (Chatharīya) and the Vaishya merchant and traders castes. The parents traditionally arrange marriages for their sons and daughters, although, with the modernization of Nepali society, an increasing number of young people choose their own partners. Most Newars are Hindu, however the culture is a mingling between Hinduism and Buddhism. Referred to as ‘Dhyo Brahman'(God Brahmin) or colloquially as ‘Dhyo Baje'(God Grandfather), these Brahmins with surnames Rajopadhyaya, Sharma, Acharya, Subedi, among others, serve as family priest (purohit) primarily to the Hindu Srēṣṭha clans. The southern plains Terai dwellers who are referred as Marsyā, which is a colloquial corruption of the word Madhesiyā. He became the first of the Ranas and his task was to establish the legitimacy of Ranas and secure his control over the land. It is widely believed that the present Rajopadhyaya Brahmins are the descendants of those immigrant groups. Also listed is the approximate percentages [21] of the major castes of Newars sampled within Kathmandu Valley. and form close to 45% of the entire Newar population. The Rajopadhyayas still keep a strong tradition of Vedic and Tantric rituals alive, a fact exemplified for instance at the recent Lakhhōma, performed with contributions of the whole town of Bhaktapur. We all live here with a great love, with equal rights. First introduced at the time of the Licchavis (A.D. 300 – c. 879), the Newar caste system assumed its present shape during the medieval Malla period (A.D. The Chatharīya or sometimes shortened to Chatharī are the high-caste Sresthas and the clans within this group correspond as Kshatriya varna since they claim descent from Suryavansha, Agnivansha, Chandravanshi houses of Kshatriya kings from the south, most of whom entered Nepal Valley during the Malla era, and indeed many trace their roots to Malla royalty or the nobility during the Malla era. [13] Similarly, Newar untouchables and the clearly water-unacceptable but touchable groups are also untouchable or water-unacceptable to the Khas Brahmans and Chetris. Jyāpu group, consisting of several sub-castes or clans, kawan, viz Maharjan, Dangol, Awale, Suwāl, Duwal, Singh, Kumha/Prajāpati, Khusa/Tandukār, etc. The Sae(n) were generally treated as water-unacceptable by Brahmans. Today, they picture themselves as the most genuine Newars, the epitome of their society and culture. The Shakyas, who are next to the Bajracharyas in the caste hierarchy, can also be called vihar priests. The Chha-thare are the highest class among them and in fact consider themselves above almost all Newars. Caste system came into existence and one's behaviour towards to the other became dependent to what caste the other belongs to. [6] This is followed by the Hindu Kshatriya nobility (Chatharīya Srēṣṭha) and the Vaishya merchant and traders castes. Urāy or Udās, consists of nine main subgroups, viz Tuladhar, Bania, Kansakar, Tamo (Tamrakar), Sthapit, Shikhrakar, Silakār, Selālik, Sindurākār etc. Furthermore, other non-Mongoloid hill groups who may be of dubious historical Khas connections, such as the Gaine, are included as Khae(n). Newar caste system is the system by which Newārs, the historical inhabitants of Kathmandu Valley, are divided into groups on the basis of Vedic varna model and divided according to their hereditary occupations. Various existing and immigrant population of Kathmandu Valley have assimilated among the four varnas accordingly. Rajopadhyaya and higher Chatharīya clans also try to avoid "Sa-Gotra" marriages; marrying someone of the same gotra. [12] Many scholars argue that the local term “Chatharīya” is a corruption of the word “Kshatriya”, the traditionally warrior and ruling class of traditional Hindu soceities. [16] Within the Sresthas there are three hierarchically ranked, traditionally endogamous groups which describe themselves as i. Kshatriya or colloquially Chatharīya, ii. According to the 2001 census, Nepal was 81.8% Hindu, 11% Buddhist, and the remainder is a combination of Kirat, Christian, Jains, and Sikhs (Central Bureau of Statistics 29). A Study of Contemporary Newar Domesticity in Post-Earthquake Kathmandu ... ranks of caste or class; and furthermore, that this “ideal” is rooted in practices that have been (or are thought to ... the differential developmental and family experience of people of both high and low status.

They speak Newari, follow most Newar traditions, and also serve as temple priests and as purohits for some Newars. Required fields are marked *. [4] Jyapu and lower clean occupational groups accept water as well as boiled rice and lentils from them. If you agree to these terms, please click here. Newars are di­vided in­ter­nally into dis­tinct cul­tural groups of over 25 oc­cu­pa­tion… Through their community organisations, they increasingly speak on behalf of all Newars. The most things which are seen in all the Nepalese heart is about the thought of patriotic. They speak Newari and follow Newar traditions but always retained matrimonial and other relations with the Terai. Marriage is, as a rule, patrilocal and monogamous. Some also claim to have been descended from those Brahmins who came to Nepal as late as 17th CE as respected guests and royal priests of the Malla kings. (3) Jyāpu group, consisting of several sub-castes, viz Maharjan, Dangol, Suwāl, Prajāpati, etc. Iron equipment makers, specially worked on cast iron. Their upper status is maintained by their exclusive entitlement to secret Tantric initiation rites (āgama and diksha rituals) which cannot be conducted on castes other than the three upper varnas. Many Newars, in fact, participate in many of the observances of both religions. This group include among them highly differentiated and specialized castes – agriculturalists, farmers, potters, painters, dyers, florists, butchers, tailors, cleaners, etc. But despite of having small population, Newar people have great impact in Nepali society. Of these four groups the first two—the Gubhaju-Bare group and the Uray group—form the core of the Buddhamargi Newars. Marriage is, as a rule, patrilocal and monogamous. The Sae(n) were generally treated as water-unacceptable by Brahmans. Your email address will not be published. How can you ask this question? [22] Some Udasas, like the Tuladhars, are among the most prosperous and wealthy people in Nepal, and used to have property interests in places like Lhasa, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and various other trade centres outside Nepal. The highest class is obviously the priestly classes that are Shakya and Bajracharya and the priesthood is handed down to the sons by the fathers. Some Udasas, like the Tuladhars, are among the most prosperous and wealthy people in Nepal, and used to have property interests in places like Lhasa, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and various other trade centres outside Nepal. They had a long history and strong internal social organization. Historically, Newars in general divided non-Newar Nepalis into three general groups: Sae(n), Khae(n), Marsyā. Boiled Rice and Dal (a sauce made of lentils), in particular, must not be accepted from a person of lower caste. Buddhist Newars living in a baha – a residential quadrangle around a central court with Buddhist shrines and temples – consider themselves to be of common descent, making intermarriage a taboo. Newar can never be considered as a single homogeneous caste. While inter-caste marriage is increasingly popular and allowed in families, they have a long way to go. Through their community organisations, they increasingly speak on behalf of all Newars. [2] The social structure of Newars is unique as it is the last remaining example of a pre-Islamic North Indic civilisation in which Buddhist elements enjoy equal status with the Brahmanic elements.

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