Kansabanik
Kansabanik (Bengali: কংসবনিক) also known as Kansari (Odia: କଂସାରୀ) is a Hindu caste found from West Bengal and Odisha state of India. Who are traditionally braziers and coppersmiths by profession.[1][2]
| Kansabanik/Kansari | |
|---|---|
| Kuladevta (male) | Vishwakarma |
| Kuladevi (female) | Lakshmi |
| Religions | Hinduism |
| Languages | Bengali, Odia |
| Populated states | West Bengal, Odisha |
History
The Brihaddharma Purana classified the Kansabaniks among the upper mixed castes in the caste hierarchy. The Brahmavaivarta Purana classified the Kansbaniks in the pure Shudra category. Ballal Sen incorporated the Kansabaniks among the Navashakhas. According to William Wilson Hunter, the Kansabaniks are the braziers and the coppersmiths, manufacturers and sellers of brass and copper utensils.
According to legend, an apsara from heaven was cursed and took birth as a human on earth. Vishwakarma, who too was born as a Brahmin incarnate on the earth, married her and had nine sons. The sons grew up to be skilled artists. One of the sons took up the profession of a brazier. He is supposed to be the progenitor of the Kansabaniks.[1] According to another legend, when Parashurama defeated Kartavirya Arjuna, one of the latter's generals, Sanaka, fled the country in the disguise of a Brahmin and took refuge in Virat. He married a Kshatriya woman and sired five sons, who grew up to be artisans. The third son was engaged in trading of ores and minerals and invented brass. He is said to be the progenitor of Kansaris.[1]
References
- Kundu, Santosh Kumar (2008). Bangali Hindu Jati Parichay [An Introduction of Bengali Hindu Castes] (in Bengali). Kolkata: Presidency Library. pp. 93–96. ISBN 978-81-89466-13-8.
- Mohanty, Ramesh P.; Biswal, Durgesh Nandini (2007). Culture, Gender and Gender Discrimination: Caste Hindu and Tribal. Mittal Publications. p. 40. ISBN 978-81-8324-199-1.