Chari- Vishwakarma or Panchal Brahmins of Goa.

Chari- Vishwakarma or Panchal Brahmins of Goa.

Goa is alos known as the Konkan Kashi, one of the important place in India. Present boundaries of it spread from Pedne to Canacona talukas. But in olden days it was stretched from Achra River to Gngavalli river. Chari (‘च्यारी/चारी’) is a community of artist in Goa. They are the traditional Hindu carpenter in Goa. In this community every person has the surname as Chari.

History

Chari belong to Panchal Brahmans which is also known as Viswakarma Brahmins. They were also called as ‘Shivabrahman’. ‘Saiyadri Khanda’ of ‘Scanda Puran’- puran that gave Puranic importance of Goa says artist of ancient Goa were called as ‘Shaivagayatri Brahmins’. Those Chari who fled Goa during Portuguese time to prevent them being getting converted to Christianity & settled in Solapur district are still known as ‘Shiva Brahma Sutar’

Since Chari are traditional carpenters of Goa their main occupation is carpentry. They do smithery also. In fact, they are master in most of the technical work; so they are also referred as a borne engineers.

Panchal Brahmin of Goa.

Traditionally caste wise Panchal Brahmin of Goa Categorized in 3 different castes. They are Vishwakarma Brahmin Chari, Daivadnya Brahmin or Sonar & Twasta brahmin or Kasar Community. Meticulously studying these three castes we find Chari & both Daivadny & Twasta kasar it conclude that have not developed & originated from the same ethnic group but are belongs to different people migrated at different time. Though all the above groups are Panchal Brahmin by caste but do not shared any relation since from their migration to Goa. There was exchange of food or the matrimonial relation seen in these above caste. This clearly indicates that they are not from common origin. Secondly the Gurupith of Chari i.e. Lohamath set up 778 AD did not accepted both Daivadny & Twasta kasar as the disciple of the Math. This clearly indicates that there was no relation of any kind between Chari & Daivadny & Twasta kasar since 778AD or before. This math had disciple from Carpenter & Ironsmith family then why people doing work on gold & brass were not accepted.  As per history dates of saraswat migration in Goa is 700AD. So it seems that both Daivadny & Twasta kasar must have migrated to Goa during this time.

Recently many Daivadnya youth are claiming themselves that they are not Vishwakarma Brahmin but Daivadnya Brahmin itself is a total different caste & do not have any link with Vishwakarma Brahmins. Article on such claim are mostly seen on the internet. 

Chari- Original Panchal Brahmin of Goa.

Chari are the original Panchal Brahmins of Goa. Since the earlier times they do works iron, wood stone, copper & even gold & silver. Later after the migration of the Daivadny & Twasta Kasar they adhere themselves only to Iron smithery & wood work. Due to Gramsanstha an old village association in Goa they are only restricted themselves to the carpentry & iron smithery. But in reality Chari are masters of all works & are panchal that is having people working on all five profession. They are not only decedent of Manu & Maya the first two sons of Lord Vishwakarma but do have progeny Twasta Shipli & Daiwadny too. Till today we see the Chari Practicing all the five crafts in the Goa Society. 

Different names of Chari popular in Goa.

Chari were known with the different names since ancient Times. Following are some of the name.

• Acharya- Meaning teacher of religion. Today it changed Acharya-Achari-Chari.
• Mest/Mestri -At many place where  Chari stays is known as Mestawado. There is Mestawado in Mandre, Vasco, Betoda, Kurti, Usgaon etc. In Goa there are places in known as Mestbhat in Mershi & Madgaon.
•  Kumbhar - The word Kumbar is derived from the Sanskrit word Stambh meaning piller. A good piller carver are termed as Kumbar .At some places in Goa there are paddy field Qumarachi Namshi allotted to old Chari resident.This word is fond for Vishwakarma artist in Sahyadrikhanda.
• Shiva Brahmin - Chari was called Shaiva brahmin in Goa during ancient times.Skanda Purana antargat Sahyadri Khanda refers artist of Goa as Shivagaytri Brahmin. 
• Sutar - The word Sutar has derived from the word Sutradhar. There are Sutarwado at many places in Goa.
• Vinani - Vinani in old Konkani meaning blacksmith & was adhered to Chari. There are lands allotted by the Gaunkari to Chari in many of the villages of Goa with the name Vinani.
• Zo Ferrieiro - All the Portuguese documents refers Chari with surname as Zo Ferreiro. The word Ferreiro has been derived from latin ferrarius meaning blacksmith. Zo can be from the word Oja. Zo word got corrupted from Oja-OJo-Zo. Oja means Upadhya. Name mostly found among the ancient artist of Karnataka. In Goa reference of Oja dates back to 7th century in the inscription found at Chandor. 

Etymology of the word Chari & other names.

The Chari is corrupt form of the word Acharya (Sanskrit: आचार्य) which means the teacher of religion. Surname Acharya is still present in Chari in some part of south India. Those Chari who has left Goa long ago has a surname as Charya (Sanskrit: चार्य). So in short Chari derived from Acharya –Charya/Chari. Since Portuguese ruled Goa for 450 years the surname Chari is only present in Goa .They are also referred as ‘Sutar’ which has derived from Sanskrit word ‘Sutradhar’ which means the designer in Ancient India. Sometimes they are referred as ‘mest’ or ‘thavoi’ which means carpenter & stapathi respectively. Those who were good artist were called ‘Fishal’ by the Portuguese. For some Chari Portuguese gave surname as Zo. Portuguese used to refer Chari as Zo Ferreiro. Earliest reference of the name is found in Portuguese document Dated 18^th September 1781 where Mr. Vito Zo Ferreiro from Verem was given land on lease for three generation. Ferreiro meaning ironsmith.

Chari Male

Chari Women (1940)

Goa Gavkari & temple rituals.

Goan village administration in olden was basically controlled by the old village association called Gavkari that was referred later as communidade by Portuguese. This had the same work as what is done by today’s village Panchayat. One who established village & sets its administration association were named as Gaunkar. Gaunkar were bascically of caste Saraswat, Kharade, Daivadnya, Kshatriya Maratha, Bhandari, Vaishya, Gawade. In Goa only Nasnode of Bardez taluka we find Chari were the Gaunkar.  Chari are the traditional carpenter & Blacksmith of Goa so they were adopted by the village Gaunkari as the artist to support the village agriculture in the form the tools & equipment they produce. They were specifically reserved with the tax free land named Namshi. Chari were getting land Vinaniche Namashi. Vinani meaning blacksmith in Old Konkani Language. Chari being an artist most of the temples were done by them. So in Goan society they had much importance. They have been given rights in many of temples of Goa as sevekari meaning servant of the temple. Without Chari many of rituals performed in temples cannot complete. Place like the Sal Gade which is very famous all over Goa & in India, Chari shares one of the integral part of the overall rituals performed in the temples & the village. Same is case in the village temples spread all over Goa & Sindudurga district of Maharashtra. Rampurush or Sutarpurush is worshipped by the Chari. Its referred as Kulapurush i.e ancestral God of the community.  Rampurush is among the 12 deity that has role in the temples rituals. 

Tarang one is hold by cha

Image Rampurush or Sutardev

Culture & Religion

Chari are predominantly Devi worshipers. The village where they settled they accepted village deity as their family deity. Chari are followers of Shiva. Being a shaiva or follower of Shiva they are called ‘adave’ in local language. In olden times they were referred as Shaiva Brahmins. Even the Sahyadri Khanda of Scanda Purana has the reference of it. They worship Vishwakarma since they have descended from him. Chari are Shaiva still their main community deity is ‘Shree Ragunath (Ram)’ of Gimoney. This temple has history of more than 500 years. It was destroyed by Moghal aggression in 1684 by Shaijada Shaha Alam.  Chari reconstructed it. They have Shree Ram’s temples at Mayade & Vasco. Also the main goddess to whom every Vishwakarma people worships is Kalika or Kalamba. Her temple is situated at & Merce Goa & Ancola in Karnataka where she is known as Kallama. The main temple is situated at Shirsangi at Belgaum district of Karnataka.

Kalika, Shirsangi, Belgaum.

Kalamba at Mershi, Goa.

Lohamath

Lohamath is the oldest math belonging to Vishwakarma community of Goa. It is also oldest know math of Goa. This math is situated at the Mazali (Mhajali) village, on the border of Goa Karnataka. The math was established in shalivahan shake 700 khar sawantsar. Till now oldest math belonging to Vishwakarma community ever known.

The first pontiff of this math was Shree Virupaksha Mahaswami. After him total 66 swami pontiff continue his heritage. 66th swami was shree Kanakacharya. After him the Guruparampara or the long lineage of the swami came to an end. Kanakacharya became the swami of the math in the year 1898.

Swami of the math was synonymous to Manu the eldest son of Lord Vishwakarma. The Swami of the Lohamath were also referred as ‘Shilpimashastrakar’ which means the highest religious authority for the shilpi community i.e. Vishwakarma community.

Lohamath At Mazali, Karwar, Karnataka.

Guruparampara of the Lohamath.

Guruparampara of the Lohamath is as follows.

1.     Virupaksha Swami.

2.     Mangalnath Swami.

3.     Kanakanath Swami.

4.     Jathanath Swami.

5.     Kasturinath Swami.

6.     Pathanath Swami.

7.     Kurmanath Swami.

8.     Dhananath Swami.

9.     Mandarnath Swami

10.  Martandanath Swami.

11.  Champikanath Swami.

12.  Kaivalyanath Swami.

13.  Maharmanath Swami.

14.  Mahagananath Swami.

15.  Suryakshanath Swami.

16.  Nagarakshakanath Swami.

17.  Sakaltirthanath swami

18.  Durvakshanath Swami.

19.  Jwalanath Swami.

20.  Gadadharnath Swami.

21.  Gangagitanath Swami.

22.  Myanath Swami.

23.  Mahamayanath Swami.

24.  Nityanandanath Swami.

25.  Shantanath Swami.

26.  Vishwanath Swami.

27.  Kamananath Swami.

28.  Umanath Swami.

29.  Shreepalnath Swami.

30.  Chumbakanath Swami.

31.  Mahalaxminath Swami.

32.  Vidhyanath Swami.

33.  Chandanath Swami.

34.  Antarikshanath Swami.

35.  Sidhanath Swami.

36.  Shardanath Swami.

37.  Anantnath Swami.

38.  Ullakanath Swami.

39.  Trailokyanath Swami.

40.  Bhimanath Swami.

41.   Naganath Swami.

42.  Mallikanath Swami.

43.  Prachndanath Swami.

44.   Anaghanath Swami.

45.  Anabhinath Swami.

46.  Nandininath Swami.

47.  Sundarnath Swami.

48.  Vishveshwarnath Swami.

49.  Damarnath Swami.

50.  Kalnath Swami.

51.  Abhaynath Swami.

52.  Vikranath Swami.

53.  Mahavikrnath Swami.

54.  Sugalnath Swami.

55.  Mahatanunath Swami.

56.  Sharwarinath Swami.

57.  Viyomnath Swami.

58.  Niyomanandanath Swami.

59.  Ramanath Swami.

60.  Anantnath Swami.

61.  Kanakanath Swami.

62.  Anantnath Swami.

63.  Kanakanath Swami.

64.  Padmanabh Swami.

65.  Virupaksha

66.  Kanakanath Swami.

Samadhi of Kanaknath Swami.

Lohamath played an important role in the religious & social life of the community. Earlier conflict between two castes on the religious supremacy was common. If any such conflict occurs between any Chari & the other caste then Lohamath use to interfere for getting community person or any family for justice.  One such incidence occurred in case of Lohamath swami himself. In 15^th century when Nandinicharya was the pontiff of the math. Other caste Brahmin object Lohamath Swami on some religious issue. That time Swami of Lohamath took the matter to King Raja Ramrai. Debate took place in the presence of other Brahmins & Lohamath & the representative appointed by Shree Shankaracharya of Shringeri math. By ancient scripture & other evidence proved the rights of Lohamath Swami & Shree Shankaracharya ordain not to trouble the Lohamath Swami. If someone does he will have sin of killing a Brahmin & cow.

Samadhi at Lohamath

Samadhi at Lohamath

Lohamath had its branch at Madgaon name as Pandurang devastan. The math got its name due to worship of deity Pandurang. It was situated near present Pimpalkatta devastan, the place is still today known as Mestabhat. This math was destroyed by one hindu miscreants on November 1906. The deity Pandurang which was worshipped in the math is still seen in the Chari Shivolkar family of Madgaon.

Unfortunately the long lineage & tradition of the math came to end during starting of the last century.

Panduranga from Madagaon Math,
Now worshiped by Chari Shivolkar family
 of madgaon 

Goa inquisition.

One of the blackest period in the history of Goan Hindus. Immediately after conquering of Goa by Portuguese, their religious zeal made them to impose the Christianity on the Goan Hindus. Many Hindus were converted to Christianity. Many temples were destroyed by them. Portuguese ban on Hindu marriages & carrying out any Hindu rituals. Brahmin were expelled from Goa. Charis were banned to carry out any Idols made of wood, brass, and stone.  If somebody finds such Chari he was given rigorous punishment. Sometime he was sent on the galley. Lands donated by the village Gaunkari was confiscated & were transferred to Churches or any Christian converted. In 1560 Portuguese established Inquisition in Goa. It is one of the worst ever institution ever experienced in the World. Inquisition established from 1561 to 1774 & 1779 to 1812. Total 266 years Goan Hindu & new converts were tortured.

Artistic excellence of Chari.

Chari are the traditional artist of Goa. There artistic talent was always found incredible. Referring to history Afonso de Albuquerque, the first Portuguese governor general of Goa has referred in one of his letters that there is no need to send carpenter to Goa as the carpenter here are more & are much fine artist then found in the Portuguese. In other letter he referred that guns manufactured by the blacksmith (Chari) in Goa are better than those made in Germany. First Goan to visit Portugal or probably the Europe was Chari. As Alfonso the Albuquerque sent a Gun maker to Europe in the year 1513. Century later the Viceroy D. Jeronymo dl Azevedo banned the manufacture of guns in village of Cuncoli or anywhere in Salcete under penalty of four years in the galleys and even hanging. In Goa they played an important role in history. There were many temples in Goa. Many artistic temple work was carried out in Goa was done by Chari. It could silver work in many of the temple of Ponda or carved wooden pillar work for other temple. At Madakai village of Ponda Taluka Chari were specifically called from Satarde village to do work for Navadurga temple. Descendent of this Charis later settled in Madakai only. Portuguese destroyed more than thousands of temples, out of which some had marvelous beauty. Recently then the Defence minister of India Hon. Manohar Parrikar admired in one of his speech the gun making capability of Chari. Portuguese used to call Chari as Santeiros that means makers of saint. Chari carved the Christian saint images with same accuracy & beauty. One would never able to find that these are made by any Hindu artist.

Notable Chari.

·       Late Mr. Govind Zo – Artist who was entrusted in 1871 with engraving the metal plates for the first postal stamp issued by Portuguese India.

·       Late Raghunath Zo – in 1840 he restore the statue of Alfonso de Albuquerque sculpted in 1515. It is now display in ASI museum Old Goa.

·        Late Bushan Zo- Chimbal (17 Century) - made life size rococo statue of St. Francis Xavier at the Basilica of Bom Jesus old Goa.

·       Late Bhiku Shanu Zo (1846)- carved different statue in the private chapel of Bernedo Alexo lemos e Faria, Chimbal.

·       Vamon Zo (1934-1999) one of the finest artist on wood and ivory. In 1969 he was felicitated by the President of India Dr. Zakir Hussain.

·       Late Narayan Sonavdekar- he is from sawantawadi taluka. One of the finest artist. Graduated from Sir J. J. School of art. Later he became the professor in the same college. He was felicitated by the Gyani Zail Singh. His greatest creation is Swami Vivekananda statue at Kanyakumari. Statue of Shivaji at Farmagudi is also his creation. 

·       Late Rajaram Chari- Madkai- one of the great artist from Madkai Phonda.

·       Late Vaman Chari- Artist on stone from Durbhat Phonda.

·       Late Vithu Chari, Mandre- Artist with exceptional talent. Master in almost every art. 

·       Late Dattaram Chari, Mandre – one of the greatest artist from Mandre. Like Vithu was master in all art work. His famous work is Cement Elephant at Mapusa Garden.

·       Late Pt. Prabhakar Chari, Panaji – Great Tabala maestro. He was felicitated by Gyani Zail Singh then the president of India in 1986.

·       Pt. Somnathbuva Chari Chimbal-  Great artist & teacher in Bhajan art. He is also referred as Bhajanacharya in Goa.

·       Mr. Namdev Mestri – vocalist in Hindustani classical music & guru of Pt. Suresh Wadkar.

·       Pt. Ravindra Chari – Son of Pt Prabhakar Chari & renowned Sitar Maestro.

Late Vaman Zo

Late Narayan Sonavdekar.

Families among Chari & their Kuladevatas.

·       Mandrekar – Rampurush Bhagwati Sapteshwar, Mandre.

·       Korgaonkar – Rampurush Bhumika Kamleshwar, Korgaon.

·       Shivolkar/Pingulkar – Bhavani Shankar, Pinguli.

·       Parsekar –Rampurush, Bhagwati, Parse.

·       Dhargalkar – Rampurush Mauli, Dhargal.

·       Kudaskar – Sateri Ravalnath, Kudase.

·       Halarnkar – Vetal, Bhumika, Halarna.

·       Kudtarkar – Shantadurga Chamundeshwari Avede Kepe.

·       Satardekar –Ravlnath, satarda.

·       Nachnolkar/Toraskar – Rampurush, ravalnath ravalghadi, Adavpal.

·       Shirodkar –Vetal Maharudra, Mulgao.

·       Velingkar – Vetal, veling.

·       Haldankar – Rampurush Bhagwati, Khandola.

·       Ajgaonkar – Vetoba, Ravalanath Ajgao.

·       Madkaikar – Rampurush Sateri, Madkai.

·       Pednekar – Rampurush Bhagwati Ravalnath, Pedne.