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Caste System
The Caste System, most famously implemented in India, was a social hierarchy based on family lineage, and occupation, that determined the place, role and importance of people within the society.
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Ganaka or Kaniyar is a caste name of traditional astrologers in south India . They are known by various other names such as Kanisan, Kanisu, kani, Kaniyar Panicker , Kalari Panicker,Kalari Kurup, kaniyan ,Balyaya etc as well, at different local regions.
Their ancestors were the first group of ancient Brahmins who reached in south Indian region,far ahead of the arrival of the alien Brahmins of pre medieval era.
Predecessors of Ganaka/kaniyar were earlier known by the name Arivor .More over they had a supreme status in social hierarchy by virtue of their excellent sense of past ,future and present (Trikaala ngani)and profound skills in guiding the society.
They are actually descendants of sakadwipi Brahmins. Origin dates back to vedic period ,Before 2000BC . Their ancestors were " Maga"people came from indo- Iranian region, eventually migrated and settled at various parts of ancient India .Some of them had taken up the practice and belief of heterodox groups (Ajivka , Jainism, Budhism) .
Later their predecessors become separated and segregated in to different groups by taking up different calling or names at different places. Ganak Brahmins in Assam , Acharya in Tripura , Graha Bipra in Bihar, Nakshtra Darsa, Jothishi in Orrisa, Joshi in western and central India, Kaniyar, Ganaka , Kaniyan kanikal, kaniyar panicker, kalari panicker in south India.
Ganaka were scholarly people and were traditionally engaged in intellectual vocations such as Astronomy Astrology,Literature, Ayurveda, Teaching , physicking etc. Kannassa Panickers, Ayyappilli asan, and Ezhuthachan are some of the noted personalities among them who set out the process of development of a regional language ''Malayalam'' .
Kaniyar or Ganaka people were the only media who enabled the sanskritasation of non Brahmins in the kerala region.Many historians including foreign travelers have noted their proficiency in mathematics and Sanskrit.
In general, they had taken up the role of astute physical and psychic healers ,as astrology is said to have a major role in social regulation by means of social and individual psychological intervention.
In Kerala region, they had many titles such as Bhata, kookaniyal, Nakaniyal, Panicker , Kurup, Asan, Kalari or Ezhuthu asan, Gurukkal, Viadyan or Vaidyar ,jyotsian or Jyotsiar confered to them by then local Royal authorities, in virtue of their eminence in the respective occupational fields such as royal court scholarship , martial art preceptior, teaching, Indian medicine and astrology.
Eventually such titles were adopted by the descendant family members and regarded themselves as different sub sects. From 18th century or so the privileged titles such as Asan, Vaidyar or Vaidyan, Jolsian or Jyolsiar , Panicker become no longer restricted to the arena of Kaniyar or Ganaka community ,but members of other castes and religion were also found eager to adopt and hold such surnames.
Many eminent and scholarly people among Ganaka had made tremendous contributions in astronomy, astrology , literature and ayurveda. It has enriched the Indian culture. { ex : Aryabhata Ganaka of 5th century AD, Kalidas Ganaka of AD 500 , Kumara Ganaka of 14thcentury AD,Ayippilli Asan of 14 th century AD (Ramacharitha pattu) ,Niranam poets (Kannassa panickers) ,Ezhuthachan (father of malayalam) ,Edakkadu Sankaran Kookaniyal etc}.
Ganaka or Kaniyar were indeed the guiding spirits of the society. Kaniyar were noted for their indispensability to the society .Opinion of Kaniyar were keenly sought by every individual at the moments of auspiciousness and at times of misfortunes alike. Hence they were highly respected by the society till 16th century.
But, due to their firm egalitarian attitude in providing astrological service to all in the society (for King and sudra alike) ,other Brahman groups considered the Ganaka as inferior . In addition to that, the intolerance of the then power enjoying priestly community towards Kaniyar people's excellence in ancient branches of science (astronomy, astrology and Ayurveda) and Sanskrit language is also believed to have paved the way to degrade them to lower status.
Different ocuppational groups were existed among them with different names such as Asan ,Ezhuthassan( Teaching reading writing and reciting ), Panicker, Ganaka, Kanisan(Hindu Astrology) Kalari panicker or Kurup (Martial art preception), Thinta(polluted) Kaniyan( exorcism ,palm leaf umbrella making) etc with each signifying their respective chief occupation.
The Thinta Kaniyan (polluting Kaniyan) sect was an endo gamous group separated themselves from Kaniyar proper or Ganaka community.They were believed to be non talented ( intellectual vocations) members and their families from Kaniyar proper . Since they had taken up other vocations (such as Palm leaf umbrella making, exorcism, Kolam making) rather than practicing pure astrology , they had to undergo degradation to the status of underprivileged class .
The higher social status of Ganaks was begun to lose since the medieval era, as the advances in modern science resulted in loss of relevance of Astrology Eventually they lost the significance of avocations such as traditional healers(Vaidyar) and Kalari sanskrit teachers (Asan) as the practice of western system of medicine and English teaching had pushed back the Ayurveda herbal healing and sanskrit eduaction . The British prohibition of traditional military practice has also made the kalari martial art preceptor (panickers) to lose their vocation.
Even though their predecessors had a uniform and unique cultural practice , generally they observed the rituals and customs of high caste Hindu. subtle variations from region to region are seen in following such cultural practice.The humbleness in their behavior as a trait is believed to be a marker of esteem in high level of knowledge.
No. They are derieved from the Lamha (Lava kingdom). Khatri is their original caste. Many migrated from North India and Now Pakistan (their original place of living thousands of years ago) and now have made several parts of India including South India their base. Hence you will find these surnames in some cases even in South India(surprisingly) perhaps some in Higher caste (Kshatriyas etc.) and some in lower castes (BCs etc). But their origin is with the Khatris in North India..
Why this caste belonged kaurav?
kaurav is a upper kshatriya caste
kaurav is a original kshatriya (thakur) caste
Can caste system be eradicated?
It can be, but only with the cooperation of the people and government working together.
Who are Regar and what is their profession by caste?
Regar is the most reputed caste in Rajasthan, MP, Punjab and in other states of India. It has many politicians, IAS officers, Goverment Servents and on Top level officers working in India and abroad. They have their on rituals and are well established.
NO,they are fake rajput they only use surname like original rajpoot.but they are totally false.by the caste they are not rajputs.
Is kshatriya raju caste a forward or backward caste?
the caste name is kshatriyas, raju is not name of the caste they are the only recoginsed vedic kshatriyas of south india
Is Ganaka a caste or community?
Ganaka or Kaniyar is the caste name of traditional astrologers with origins in the states of Kerala and Karnataka. They are known by various other names such as Kanisan, Kanisu, Kani, Kaniyar Panicker, Kalari Panicker, Kalari Kurup, kaniyan, Balyaya, etc. in different local regions.
Their ancestors were the first group of ancient Brahmins who reached into the south India region, far ahead of the arrival of the alien Brahmins of pre-medieval era.
Is parmar is higher than jatt?
yes ofourse dear...PARMAR/UJJAINIYA rajputs are very royal among all rajputs and have very high social status..they are bigger than jattss...
Who is upper caste thiYya or viswakarma?
One caste one god one religion. If we dies our body will be a decaying object. Very dirty,ugly one. So the god indide upper
Wadias belong to the KHATRI caste. They belong to both hindu and Sikhs. KHATRI means "The warriors".
Who is the most upper caste rajput?
parmar,ujjainiya rajputs are really most powerful and very wealthy rajputs.
What was namasudra caste profession?
Firstly Namasudra is not a caste and naturally they have no caste profession.
Secondly it is a avarna community.The abusing term was Chandala .Varna Hindus preferred the abusing term.
Thirdly A mythology was reported by the community members .Following that very recently the community has declared the name as "Namassej" or originated from Namas . There community religion is different.The son of the Prophet Harichand tried till 1937 to remove the bashing "sudra" tag but failed .
Fourthly in the British period their profession was agriculture and boatman.
Fifthly they lived in separation from both the Muslims and Varna Hindus.After their introduction in varna-Hindu samaj they were forced to take the "sudra" but the varna-Hindus insisted for more abusing "Chandala" term But the British Govt. forced them to accept it officially.But it must be said some Brahmins signed a Vyabastha earlier than the British.
CONCLUSION : THE QUESTION OF CASTE PROFESSION DOES NOT ARISE.
What caste do dhall belongs to?
Dhall belongs to the Khatri caste, meaning kshatriya in punjabi. Check wikipedia page for more details and history of khatris. Also called aryans or arya samajis.
