The Kammalar (கம்மாளர்) is a
Tamil
Tamil may refer to:
* Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia
**Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils
**Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia
* Tamil language, nativ ...
caste group found in the
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
n state of
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...
and in northeastern part of
Sri Lanka. The Kammalars are involved in
crafting
A craft or trade is a pastime or an occupation that requires particular skills and knowledge of skilled work. In a historical sense, particularly the Middle Ages and earlier, the term is usually applied to people occupied in small scale pr ...
.
''Kammalar'' is a generic term that comprises the communities of Kannar (brass-workers), Kollar (blacksmiths), Tarar (goldsmiths), Tatchar (carpenters) and Kartatchar (sculptors).
kammalar's are classified and listed as backward class by both central government of India and State government of Tamil Nad
They worship various forms of this deity.
Etymology
The word Kammalar is derived from the
Tamil language, Tamil word ''Kam'' meaning "art" or "operation". The Kammalar finds mention in ancient
Sangam literature
The Sangam literature (Tamil: சங்க இலக்கியம், ''caṅka ilakkiyam'';) historically known as 'the poetry of the noble ones' (Tamil: சான்றோர் செய்யுள், ''Cāṉṟōr ceyyuḷ'') connotes ...
, 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.
Synonyms
Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka
In
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...
, Tamil Achari is known as ''Tamil Kammalars''. They are goldsmiths and landlords.
The Pather (Kammalar) community in
Nachiyar Koil town of Tamil Nadu are renowned for making the ornamental brass
Nachiarkoil lamp
The Nachiarkoil lamp, also called Annam lamp or Nachiarkoil Kuthuvilakku, is an ornamental brass lamp made of series of diyas, a handicraft product which is exclusively made by Pather ( Kammalar) community in Nachiyar Koil town in Tamil Nadu, I ...
s.
[PM Narendra Modi gifts Xi Jinping Annam lamp]
Times of India, 11 october 2019.
See also
*
Caste system in India
*
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
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