Newar
caste system is the system by which Newars, the indigenous people of Nepal's
Kathmandu Valley, are divided into groups on the basis of their occupations.The
Newar
system varies from the typical South Asian religious model in various
aspects.The Buddhist priestly class has been 'castified,' resulting in a
'double-headed' caste-system: the Hindu Brahmins and the Buddhist Vajracharyas
at the top, each claiming equal stature in the hierarchy. Beneath them is the
Newar nobility and Vaishyas. The Shudra grouping is the most differentiated, with specialized
castes for métiers needed in the daily lives of the Newars or for their and
cultural or ritual needs.Another prominent feature of the system is the
existence of caste blocks in the hierarchy. While the hierarchy of the blocks
may not be disputed, the individual positions of the castes within each block
is also disputed by the castes themselves. Since separate caste systems were in
practice in the different Newar city-states #and their provinces#, some
researchers look at the Newars as having several caste systems, rather than one
unified system.[citation needed]The Newar caste system may be called Kshetriya-centric
because the entire system exists around the personage of the king. The Brahmins
are higher in caste status than the king not because they are more powerful,
but because of their superior ritual status. The brahmins are like all other
specialized service providers, except that they are considered higher to others
in ritual purity.Unlike other contemporary South Asian class systems, the Newar
system still features the king prominently in his ritual obligations in the various
festivals and functions throughout the annual religious calendar. He still
mediates between the gods and his subjects; in this respect, as the
representative of divinity, he is considered divinity itself.
The most
successful attempt at imposing the caste system was made in the nineteenth
century by Jung Bahadur Rana who was very keen to have his own status raised to highest
possible level. Jung Bahadur became the first of the Ranas
and his task was to establish the legitimacy of Ranas and secure Rana control
over the land. He succeeded in introducing the caste system to a much grater
degree than the Malla Kings had done just over four hundred years before him. He
decided to put all Newari speaking people into a single caste category at the
lower level, known in local parlance as 'Matwali', meaning liquor drinkers.
Even Newar Brahmins who had been serving as priests for Newars lost ritual
status vis-a-vis the 'pure Bahuns', the Parvate Bahuns, of the Khas people language
speaking community. The old Newar upper caste, the Shrestha,
were also reduced to Matwali status. As a consequence, among the Newars, caste
has become more complex and stratified than among the non-Newar Bahun Chhetri-Thakuri
group. This latter group may consider all Newar people to be equally Matwali,
all essentially of the Vaishya caste, but this is not the perception of the Newar
themselves.Within the Hindu Newars, there are the Newari Brahmins who are on top of the
Newar social hierarchy. Their number is very small and few are visible in any
form of public life today. The second group corresponding as the Kshatriya verna
is the Shrestha,
which includes the old Newari aristocracy and upper class. Within the Shrestha
community there are three hierarchically ranked groups which describe
themselves as Chhathare, Panch-thare, and Char-thare, literally 'six'-,
'five'-, and 'four'-grade Shresthas. The Chha-thare are the highest class among them and in
fact consider themselves above almost all Newars. They do not call themselves
'Shrestha', but use their family or clan names, for example, Pradhan,
Malla, Pradhananga, Munshi, Joshi, Amatya, Maskey, Rajbhandari, and so on. Some people
believe that Chha-thare is not the correct word to describe them. The term
appears to be a corruption of the word 'Chhetri' which immediately brings to
mind another element of status classification. The Chha-thare Shresthas do
follow many traditions very similar to those of the Chhetris. While the
Cha-thare Shresthas are the Newari aristocrats, 'Panch-thare' Shrestha are like
the Chhetri among the Nepali-speaking people and have been drawn from multiple
backgrounds, often from successful merchant families. Char-thare are the new
entrants from the lower castes.
As result
of Jayasthiti Malla's attempt as classifying Kathmandu Valley society according to caste principles, Buddhist
Newars have their own counterparts. Vajracharya
are at the top like Hindu Newar-Brahmins; then there are Shakya. This indicates that they were
ordained as Buddhist monks at some time in history. This is followed by the
predominantly Buddhist Urāy
group which collectively includes Tuladhar,
Kansakar,
Tamrakar,
Sthapit,
Bania,
and other castes who are involved in highly trained craftsmanship and trade.
The next
occupational caste consists of people who formed the majority of the people of
Kathmandu Valley - peasants, farmer, vegetable growers, florists, potters,
bricklayers and many other professions, are collectively called the Jyapu. Jyapu literally means 'competent
worker' in the Newari language. Some of the prominent castes within this group
are Maharjan,
Dangol,
Chitrakar,
Singh, Manandhar, Prajapati, etc.[citation needed] They have provided significant contribution to Nepali
society and have been seen as the backbone of Newar community. The Jyapu were
turned into a low caste category during the Malla period, acquiring the
designation of Shudra or peasants. But the Jyapu remained united and never
allowed themselves to pushed into the position of serfdom of slavery as many
non-Hindu tribes in the plains were forced to do. They had a long history and
strong internal social organization. They have been in control of the important
means of production, namely the agricultural land, for generations. Jyapus are
among the most progressive farmers in Nepal.
Marriage
is, as a rule, patrilocal and monogamous. 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.
Partners
must belong to different descent-group lineages within the same caste, living
outside of the large urban areas. Among the Shresthas, since they are
subdivided into three grades,
one's marriage partner must be from the same grade as well.
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.
In some
areas the rule of 'seven generations' of descent is also observed; members who
fall within the common descent group of seven generations are restricted from
intermarriage.
The Newar
are divided into hierarchical clan groups by occupational caste, readily
identified by surnames. In the past, the upper caste people used to look down
upon the lower caste. Such a division of people created a rift in the society
which has rendered the mention of caste as a taboo.
Caste - (Traditional Occupation) - Personal Surname
4. Gubhaju
- (Buddhist Priests) - Vajracharya, and Bare - (Gold and Silver Smiths) - Shakya, Bhikshu, Gurju
5. Shrestha
- (Administrators, Courtiers, Nobility) - Malla, Pradhan,
Raj Bhandari, Joshi,
Shrestha,
Maske, Karmacharya and others.
10. Khusa
- (Palanquin Bearers) - Khusa, Tandukar
11. Nau -
(Barbers) - Napit
12. Kau -
(Blacksmiths) - Nakarmi
13. Bha -
(Funeral Duties, Dying) - Karamjit, Bha
14. Gathu
- (Gardeners) - Bammala, Mali
15. Tepe -
(Cultivators) - Tepe
16. Pun -
(Painters) - Citrakar
17. Duhim
- (Carriers) - Putwar, Dali
18. Balami
- (Fieldworkers) - Balami
19. Pulu -
(Funeral Torch Bearers) - Pulu
20. Cipa -
(Dyers) - Ramjitkar
21. Jugi -
(Musicians and Tailors) - Kusle
22. Naye -
(Butchers and Musicians) - Kasain, Khadgi, Shahi
23. Kulu -
(Drum-makers) - Kulu
24. Pore -
(Fishermen and Sweepers) - Pore, Deola
25. Chami
- (Sweepers) - Chami, Camkhala
26.
Halahulu - (Sweepers) - Halahulu.
No comments:
Post a Comment