lower caste of newar

Jyapus are among the most progressive farmers in Nepal. Many Newars, in fact, participate in many of the observances of both religions. In the past, the upper caste people used to look down upon the lower caste. Today, they picture themselves as the most genuine Newars, the epitome of their society and culture. They got government jobs and other benefits. Also listed is the approximate percentages of the major castes of Newars sampled within Kathmandu Valley. The Shakyas, who are next to the Bajracharyas in the caste hierarchy, can also be called vihar priests. According to him, at the time of his study in 1982 there were about 60 bhikkhus, i.e. The case of Newār is exceptional. Newar caste system; Further reading. The high caste people like the Brahmins and Kshatriya are adopting traditional low caste jobs like sale of meat and washing clothes. The Chatharīya do follow many traditions very similar to those of the Khas-Chhetris. Within the Sresthas there are three hierarchically ranked, traditionally endogamous groups which describe themselves as i. Kshatriya or colloquially Chatharīya, ii. [1]The Newar system varies from the ideal typical South Asian religious model in various aspects. This latter group may consider all Newar people to be equally Matawali and other inhabitant Janajati of Nepal, all essentially of the Vaishya varna, but this is not the perception of the Newars themselves. The Nepalese caste system was the traditional system of social stratification of Nepal. Caste system in Nepal Caste discrimination Nancy E. Levine. A special sub-group of the Gubhaju is called Buddhacharya who are traditional priests of Swayambhunath temple, the most sacred temple for Buddhamargis. Like Like. Today, Jyapus have succeeded in placing themselves at the centre of Newar society, thanks partly to the growing popularity of the Indigenous adivasi discourse. Naykhi Baja (lit. However, while the Bajracharyas’ exclusive occupation is priesthood, the Shakyas follow the hereditary occupation of goldsmiths. (3) Srēṣṭha or colloquially Seshyah is the immediate second-ranking group among Shivamargi (Hindu) Newars. Mongoloid peoples, thought generally to have Tibetan connections, are called “Sae(n)” This term is said to derive from an old Newari term for a Tibetan or, according to some, for Lhasa. Chārtharīya Shrestha are even lowered in the social status and consists of those from non-Srestha background who try to emulate or establish the Srestha (Chatharīya and Pañchthariya) status by pretending their norms or simply, in many cases, adopting the general caste-denoting surname like ‘Shrestha’ or in other instances ‘Joshi’, ‘Singh’, ‘Achaju’, or ‘Pradhan’. Stiller, L. F. (1993). These rankings reflect the rankings and ambiguities of the Muluki Ain, the attempt to legislate a Nepalese national status system. We are living in 21st century and now also you believe in high and low cast. Jyapu and lower clean occupational groups accept water as well as boiled rice and lentils from them. In 1963, Legal Code was replaced by New 1964 Legal Code. In the past, the upper caste people used to look down upon the lower caste. Majority population in Lalitpur, Bungamati, Kirtipur. To these historically established and upper Srestha ranks, Chārtharīya’s efforts remain unacknowledged and hence are not counted among the Srestha fold. Similarly, Newar untouchables and the clearly water-unacceptable but touchable groups (such as Naye and Jogi) are also untouchable or water-unacceptable to the Partya Brahmans and Chetris. Similarly, the Janajati has 36.0% of the total population of the country, has representation of 7.1%. The adoption of the Hindu caste structure by the Newar Buddhists is also not easily explained, because, in principle, Buddhists oppose the Hindu caste system. 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. However, since the unification of Nepal in the 18th century, Nepal's various non-Hindu indigenous nationalities and tribes, previously called "Matwalis" (alcohol-drinkers) and now termed as "Adivasi/Janajati" (indigenous/nationalities), have been incorporated within the caste hierarchy to varying degrees of success. Chārtharīya. Till 1804 A.D. no Newar was admitted in civil service. The ordinary term, considered pejorative, is “Khae(n)” derived from their tribal designation Khas. Inter-caste marriages also take place in Newar society, usually where the bride marries a caste lower than hers. They have provided significant contribution to Nepali society and have been seen as the backbone of Newar community. The distinction between Hindu and Buddhist is largely irrelevant from here onward as the castes occupying the Shudra grouping do not differentiate between the either and profess both the religions equally and with great fervor. When an individual dies they become a preta and resides in relatives’ households before going to the kingdom of Yama. Toffin's work is a significant contribution to the study of Newar society and culture, and, as the publisher's note says, "will certainly be very useful to the Newar themselves to help them understand their own society differently, if not better. The Newar caste structure resembles more closely that of North India and Madheshis than that of Khas ‘Parbatiya’ in that all four varna (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra) and untouchables are represented. After the Rana regime, caste rules relating to food, drink and intercaste marriage were openly louted but the Muluki Ain had not been abrogated. (Census, 2001), In recent times, following the overthrow of the Nepali monarchy and move towards a federal republic, ethnicity and caste have taken center stage – the indigenous peoples (Adivasi Janajati) who make up a third of the country having been guaranteed rights that have not yet been fulfilled. This custom was traditionally only prevalent in the Hindu-Arya (Indo Aryan) societies of the Khas, Madhesi, and Newars. The Brahmins were like all other specialized service providers, except that they were considered higher to others in ritual purity. It was only those clientele Newar families patronized by the Ranas who succeeded in upgrading their social and economic status by imitating new norms of the Rana durbar. Newar-Brahman > … 1. Menstruating Newar women can comb their own hair, and may continue to sleep in their usual place, although they sometimes … Rajopadhyaya, Sharma, Acharya, Subedi, Shukla. Therefore, while Rājopādhyāya Brahmins occupy the highest social position in the Hindu side, the Vajracharya (or Guru/Gu-Bhajus) form the head among the Buddhists. The old Newar upper caste, the Shrestha, were also reduced to Matawali status. Therefore, while Rājopādhyāya Brahmins occupy the highest social position in the Hindu side, the Vajracharya (or Guru/Gu-Bhajus) form the head among the Buddhists. Caste endogamy, however, which has been one of the main methods of maintaining status in India, is not strictly observed in Nepal by either the Newars or the Khasas. Firstly, the buddhist priestly class has also been 'castified'. The Newar are divided into hierarchical clan groups by occupational caste, readily identified by surnames. Caste (jāt) Traditional occupation Personal Surnames (thars) Notes Brāhman, Shivamargi (1.1%) Hindu family purohit Rajopādhyāya, Sharmā, … Such a division of people created a rift in the society which has rendered the mention of caste as a taboo. Members of this group are touchable and water acceptable. Caste is inherently subjective; information for this site was gathered from an interview with a high-caste, ethnically Newar Nepali immigrant to the United States, Shreya Shrestha, who was present during the May earthquake, as well as outside sources like NGOs, opinion editorials, news resources, and needs assessments by organizations like the World Bank. Newar lowest occupational castes – Kulu/Dom, Podhya, Chyamaha/Chandala, etc. If these major three castes (Khas Brahmin & Chhetris, and Newars) combine together their shares in the Government of Nepal, civil service employment is 89.2% in 1991. Unlike the traditional Hindu caste systems prevalent in Khas and Madhesi societies, the existence of Buddhist “ex-monks” from ancient times in the Kathmandu Valley added a “double-headed” element to the Newar caste system. The Chatharīya and Pañcthariya accept water and all foods except boiled rice and lentils from them. Newar caste system is the system by which Newārs, the historical inhabitants of Kathmandu Valley, are divided into groups on the basis of Vedic varna model and divided according to their hereditary occupations. It has a highly stratified and systematic system of caste division which the Newars abide by strictly, even till present time as is evident by many Newars’ castes and their respective professions. In 1962, a law was passed making it illegal to discriminate against other castes led all castes to be equally treated by the law. If you agree to these terms, please click here. How Do Different People Assess Social Change In Nepal? Nay referring Newar butcher caste, Khi means drums and Baja as any kind of instrument or ensemble), the instrument which lends its name to the musician caste … The residual group, neither Khae(n) nor Sae(n), are Muslims and Westerners, and these are generally treated as untouchable by the highest levels, and water-unacceptable by those below them. The caste system is still intact today but the rules are not as rigid as they were in the past. Certain outside analysts have suggested that "seeking a balance in approach requires addressing both specific indigenous historical injustices while creating a common citizenship for all marginalised citizens regardless of identity, which remains a particularly challenging issue for Nepal". They are the purohits or family priests. The global definition of the caste system surrounds a classification of several hereditary groups of hierarchical social class.

They speak Newari, follow most Newar traditions, and also serve as temple priests and as purohits for some Newars. We all live here with a great love, with equal rights. Boiled Rice and Dal (a sauce made of lentils), in particular, must not be accepted from a person of lower caste. It was an attempt to include the entire Hindu as well as non-Hindu population of Nepal of that time into a single hierarchic civic code from the perspective of the Khas rulers. (2) Urāy or Udās, consists of nine main subgroups, viz Tuladhar, Bania, Kansakar, Tamrakar, Sthapit, Shikhrakar, Selalik, Sindurākār etc. the Gubhajus or Vajrachāryas, and Bares or Shākyas. On the other hand, people of lower sections have slowly risen to the higher position with possibility for their advancement or economic independence, with dignity of their own. More than fifty (52.0%) of Hill Dalits, 47.0% of the Tarai Dalits, 48.0% of the Muslims and 30 percent of the Hill Adivasi Janajatis have never been to school. They were, of course, not admitted in the army till 1951 A.D. –the year when the festival of Indra Jatra discontinued to be celebrated as “the Victory Day”—commemorating the conquest of the valley by the Gorkhali army. Newar can never be considered as a single homogeneous caste. Despite the forceful integration by the state into the pan-Hindu social structure, the traditionally non-Hindu groups and tribes do not necessarily adhere to the customs and practices of the caste system. This group presents a complicated social structure that only reflects the model of four Hindu varna categories, itis also clearly divided into two distinct religious groups: the Hindu and the Buddhist. The Newar are divided into hierarchical clan groups by occupational caste, readily identified by surnames. Deepening Democracy: International Labour Organisation Convention 169 and Nepal's Democratic Transition, Nepal: Towards a Democratic Republic: Caste, Ethnicity and Inequality in Nepal, Material from this site has been borrowed for this article with the permission of Dr. Vepachedu, Interview with Ian Martin: Caste-Based Discrimination in Nepal, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caste_system_in_Nepal&oldid=992804670, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Manandhar/Sāyami/Teli (oil-pressers and brewers), Khadgi, Naye, Kasai (butchers and musicians), Dyala, Podhya, Chyamaha/Chandala (sweepers, fishermen), "Namasinya Matwali" (Non-enslavable Alcohol Drinkers), Newar Hindu Vaishya-equivalent Panchthariya Srēsthas and Newar Buddhists – Gubhaju/Baré (, "Masinya Matwali" (Enslavable Alcohol Drinkers), "Pani Na Chalne Chhoichhito Haalnu Naparne" (Water-unacceptable but touchable), "Pani Na Chalne Chhoichhito Haalnu Parne" (Water-unacceptable and untouchable), Nancy E. Levine. 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. Other rules further restrict social inter-mingling between the castes, but they tend to be treated more casually. Newar caste logic stratifies the Uray and the Pāncthariya Srēṣṭha as the core Vaishya (alternatively Baisya) of Newars who are highly specialized in trade and commerce. The Sae(n) were generally treated as water-unacceptable by Brahmans. The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. Jhi Newa: Magazine. Even Newar Brahmins who had been serving as priests for Newars lost ritual status vis-a-vis the “Hill Brahman”, the Parbate Bahuns, of the Khas people community. Until recently Newars of the Valley made no use of Parbatiya specialists, whether priestly (Bähun) or artisanal (low caste). The biggest laundry and meat shops in the cities belong to them. Class, Caste or Location? Their dominance is reflected in education, administration and economical activities of the nation. Language, caste, religion and territory: Newar identity ancient and modern - Volume 27 Issue 1 - David N. Gellner. Most notable contradiction is the inclusion of previously non-Hindu tribes "Adivasi Janajati" groups, as well as non-Nepalis including Muslims and Europeans into the hierarchical fold. The Nepali civil code Muluki Ain was commissioned by Jung Bahadur Rana after his European tour and enacted in 1854. The Legal Code “Muluki Ain” promulgated in January 1854 A.D. classified the entire Newar community—irrespective of its internal stratification—as an “enslavable alcohol-drinking caste.”. The division into Hindu and Buddhist castes has not been regarded by Newars as a serious cleavage, since both groups share the same basic values and social practices and are in close accord in their underlying religious philosophy. 71–88 doi:10.2307/2056667 Nepal: Towards a Democratic Republic: Caste, Ethnicity and Inequality in Nepal References Among the Shresthas, since they are subdivided into two general sub-castes, the higher Chhathariya and the lower Pāñcthariya, one’s marriage partner must be from the same grade as well. They were the primary carriers of trade between Nepal and Tibet. Social exclusion and Maoist insurgency. 1 (Feb., 1987), pp. The Acharya or Achaju (alternatively Karmacharya, Guruwacharya) hold prominent and respected position within the Newar society. The interesting thing among Newars is that similar to much of India, the population of upper-caste Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas is minuscule compared to the lower castes. For Newar Brahmans, Partya or Khae Brahmans and Chetris are only water-acceptable. Pañchthariya or simply Shrestha, and iii. The Newar caste system is the system by which Newars, the historical inhabitants of Kathmandu Valley, are divided into groups on the basis of Vedic varna model and divided according to their hereditary occupations. In 2001 the CBS recorded 43 caste-origin Hindu groups in the Madhesh. [3] The law also comprised Prāyaścitta (avoidance and removal of sin) and Ācāra (the customary law of different castes and communities). (2) Maithil Brahmins or colloquially Tirhute Brahmin with surnames Jhā and Miśra serve as temple priests and are later additions to the Newar nation. Prerit Rajkarnikar says: April 22, 2019 at 3:40 pm. Gurung, H. (2005). Along with the Shakyas they have the right of hereditary membership of the bahas or viharas. Another thing is that when Nepal was unified, majority of the people who went out of the valley and thus establishing new Newar trade towns were the rich, affluent Newar castes like Shresthas. Jyapu literally means “competent worker” in the Nepal Bhasa language and are numerically the largest group of Newar community. These values were seen as a potent instrument of Rana political repression. They are a prominent community in the business and cultural life of Kathmandu and have played key roles in the development of trade, industry, art, architecture, literature and Buddhism in Nepal and the Himalayan region. [citation needed] Education is free and open to all castes. bahun( Mishra), Singh( rajput),baniya (sah/shah), yadav and koeri are most dominating caste among madhesi-aryan community.These various cultural groups belong to five distinct language groups: Maithili, Bajika, Bhojpuri, and Awadhi. Furthermore, other non-Mongoloid hill groups who may be of dubious historical Khas connections, such as the Gaine, are included as Khae(n). caste background of Theraväda Buddhists in Nepal10. of Sankhu. First introduced at the time of the Licchavis, the Newar caste system assumed its present shape during the medieval Malla period. They are the most dominant Newar caste that includes the old Newari aristocracy as well as the traditional land-owning and mercantile families. For Buddhist Newars, Vajracharyas, and the Shakyas (collectively called “Bare”) was followed by the Uray, the Buddhist lay patrons or Upasakas, who were most typically involved in trade. The population of Newars is around 5%, but its occupancy in Civil Service is more than one-thirds (33.2%), the population of Khas-Chhetris constitutes 17.6% but its participation is mere 14.7%. The last Newar noble to hold some power, Kaji Tribhuvan Pradhan, was beheaded in a court intrigue in 1801 A.D. Thimi, Dhulikhel, Dolakha, Panauti “Shrestha”, etc. He succeeded in introducing the caste system to a much greater degree and rigidity than Jayasthitimalla, the Malla king had done just over five hundred years before him. Newars are divided internally into distinct cult… They serve as traditional non-Brahmin Tantric priests of Taleju, the guardian deity of the Malla kings, as well as various other Tantric temples of Kathmandu valley. 46, No. The most common Newari surnames could be Shrestha, Manandhar, Shakya etc but you might be surprised to know there are more than 115 surnames in this caste. Half a century ago, prominent scholar of caste, Beteille (1969: 45) warned that ‘it has been used to mean different things by different people in a variety of situations’.For low castes, or Dalits, it is a very unjust and oppressive system. Caste, State, and Ethnic Boundaries in Nepal. The Newar castes, Buddhist as well as Hindu, are no less pollution-conscious than the Khas and the Madhesis. The most drastic change came only as late as 1935 A.D. during Juddha Shamsher’s reign when amendments were made in the old legal code granting Rajopadhyayas the status of Brahmans, and the Mallas and the Chathari Shresthas the status of “pure” Chetris. The caste system defines social classes by a number of hierarchical endogamous groups often termed jaat. Social exclusion and Maoist insurgency. They are the most dominant Newar caste that includes the old Newari aristocracy as well as the traditional land-owning and mercantile families. Even the old military-administrative caste of the Śreṣṭha was largely reduced to 'Matawali' status, and were barred from joining high military and administrative posts for a long period of time. 71–88, This page was last edited on 7 December 2020, at 05:06. Pum), which is of a relatively low-ranking (but pure) status. The Newar are divided into hierarchical clan groups by occupational caste, readily identified by surnames. Newar caste system is the system by which Newārs, the historical inhabitants of Kathmandu Valley, are divided into groups on the basis of Vedic varna model and divided according to their hereditary occupations. The Newar caste system is the system of subdivision of Newars on the basis of designated occupation. Although believed to be the true descendants of the various original settlers of the Kathmandu Valley – Licchavis, Ahirs, Kirata, Gopalas, among others, the Jyapus were turned into a lower caste category during the Malla period. (3) Jyāpu group, consisting of several sub-castes, viz Maharjan, Dangol, Suwāl, Prajāpati, etc. For the higher Parbatiya castes (Bahuns and Chetris), the higher twice-born Hindu castes (Brahmans, Chatharīya and Pañcthariya) exist in a kind of “separate but parallel” status with respect to the high caste Parbatiya. For Hindu Newars, Brahmans had formal precedence with Kshatriyas, which included the royal family and the various groups now known as Srēṣṭha who ran the administration of the Malla courts. In both Hindu and Buddhist Newar communities, the caste system has been found to exist. In terms of earning/income generation, Newars have the highest per capita income of Rs. Madhikarmi (Halwai), Māka, Mulmi, Bhadra, Kachhapati, Banepali, Deoju, Nyachhyon, Bijukchhe, Sivacharya, etc. bahun( Mishra), Singh( rajput),baniya (sah/shah), yadav and koeri are most dominating caste among madeshi-aryan community.These various cultural groups belong to five distinct language groups: Maithili, Bajika, Bhojpuri, and Awadhi. 24,399, Adivasi Janajatis ranks third with an average income of Rs. Astrologers; also offsprings of Brahman-Srēṣṭha marriages; Nobles and royal descendants, military advisors and ministers. Pañchthariya and especially Chatharīya reject the claims of such pretensions and prevent caste endogamy and commensality with such groups. The Dalits who constitute 12.8 percent of the total population of the country have no representation in the higher echelons of power' (Gurung, H. 2006). Similarly, the Buddhamargi castes can be broadly divided into four major groups. Such a division of people created a rift in the society which has rendered the mention of caste as a taboo. For Hindu Newars, Brahmans had formal precedence with Kshatriyas, which included the royal family and the vari… Paper presented at National Dialogue Conference on ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, Kathmandu, 19–20 January 2005. http://southasiacheck.org/fact-check/how-discriminatory-was-the-first-muluki-ain-against-dalits/. (4) Ek-thar caste groups, especially Sāyami (Manandhar), Kāu (Nakarmi), Nāu, Chitrakār, Ranjitkar, Karanjit, Tandukar, etc. The caste system defines social classes by a number of hierarchical endogamous groups often termed jaat. Living in rural areas, Brahmans and Chhetri usually support Newar shopkeepers in their commercial activities. Historical Relation to other non-Newar Nepalis. Essentially, the people of the priestly caste do not eat meat, but this rule is not usually used in Nepal. The Tirhute Brahmins came to the Valley in the late Malla period and also during the early Shah period. They had a long history and strong internal social organization. Historically, Newars in general divided non-Newar Pahade (hill) Nepalis into two groups: Sae(n) and Khae(n). The Brahmins are higher in caste status than the king not because they are more powerful, but because of their superior ritual status. Below is a list of Newar castes, their traditionals occupations, with the most common surnames and their respective hierarchical positions. In 2001 the CBS recorded only nine groups in the caste-origin Hill Hindu groups. Newars are one of the major castes of Nepal. The caste system conjoints a structural class divide which persists, in which lower castes/ethnicities are generally socio-economically are not equal like those of higher castes/ethnicities. Of these four groups the first two—the Gubhaju-Bare group and the Uray group—form the core of the Buddhamargi Newars. The caste system appears to have been first conceived in Nepal towards the beginning of Lichhivi period. For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. We all respect each other. The remaining castes all fall under the rubric of matwali or “liquor-drinking.” From the Khas Brahman-Chhetri point of view this large middle-ranking group includes most Newar and other Tibeto-Burman speaking peoples. In Nepal, high castes dominate 91.2% among the prominent position in politics and bureaucracy. Much of the previously animist/tribal Khas population of the western Nepal region acquired the 'Chhetri' status in the 1850s with the proclamation by the Rana Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana, making Chhetris the most populous caste/tribe of Nepal. 38,193. With the advent of Khas domination since Nepal’s unification by Prithvi Narayan Shah in 1769 A.D. the center of power shifted from the Newar noble families to these power -and land- hungry rural nobility whose core values were concentration of power at home and conquest abroad. There are no low and high caste in Nepal. He became the first of the Ranas and his task was to establish the legitimacy of Ranas and secure his control over the land. Iron equipment makers, specially worked on cast iron. Yes they have a social structure based on varnashram (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra). Thus making is a complex system that can combine many elements from birth right, ethnicity, occupation, power and financial acumen. Required fields are marked *. Therefore, the Hindu Brahmins and Buddhist Vajracharyas occupy the highest position in Newar society. Normally they are made by members of the local Citrakār painter caste (New. The Urāy/Udas group is composed of the castes of hereditary merchants and artisans. Nepal: Growth of a Nation. Its attempts to integrate the entire Newar status system into a national system was very awkward for all parties, and “often deficient or ambiguous and at variance with the self-assessment of the Newar castes.”. In some areas the rule of “seven generations” of descent is observed; members who fall within the common descent group of seven generations are restricted from intermarriage. MOPE (2002). Presently, many Panchthariya Shresthas opt to write “Shrestha” instead of their traditional family clan names indicating their specific occupations. Among those 73.8% in higher education belong to higher castes, 22.0% Janajatis and 2.9% Dalit.[9]. 15,630, Dalit Rs. Kathmandu: Ministry of Population and Environment, HMG, Nepal. Unlike the traditional Hindu caste systems prevalent in Khas and Madhesi societies, the existence of Buddhist "ex-monks" from ancient times in the Kathmandu Valley added a "double-headed" element to the Newar caste system. They succeeded in producing the required social credentials to prove that the Mallas and Chathari tharghar (families of noble extraction) alone were “pure” Shresthas. Although Jung Bahadur and his descendants were well disposed to a few clientele Newar families, the 104 years of their family rule was not a golden age of Newar social history. 12,114 and Muslim ranks the lowest, Rs.11,014'[10] The democratic transitions also failed to be inclusive management and functioning governance mainly because government was unable to understand and articulate the spirit of all Nepalese people irrespective of their caste, gender, ethnicity, and religion. [12] Many scholars argue that the local term “Chatharīya” is a corruption of the word “Kshatriya”, the traditionally warrior and ruling class of traditional Hindu soceities. Conversely, those Khas (North Indian Indo-Aryan) groups untouchable to the Partya Brahmans and Chetri themselves are also untouchable for the Newars. Ritual funeral specialists for Hindu Newars, Farmers from valley outskirts; not accepted as, Fishermen, sweepers, traditional executioners. Marriage is, as a rule, patrilocal and monogamous. Most, but not all, Jyapu accepted all food except boiled rice and lentils from them. Like Liked by 1 person. The Nepalese caste system broadly borrows the classical Hindu Chaturvarnashram model consisting of four broad social classes or varna: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Sudra. (1) Gubhāju-Bare, consists of two sub-groups, viz. The mother tongue of these groups is Nepali. LANGUAGE, CASTE, RELIGIO AN TERRITORD N Y Newar identity ancient and modern Between the Newars, however an, d the other Hindoo inhabitant osf Nepal, there subsist a,s wel al s in character, customs, manner and featuress a,s in religious rite ans d language , very essential al differencesl o … This is followed by the Hindu Kshatriya nobility (Chatharīya) and the Vaishya merchant and traders castes. Some Udasas, like the Tuladhars, are among the most prosperous and wealthy people in Nepal, and used to have property interests in places like Lhasa, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and various other trade centres outside Nepal. ... pass it by at a much lower level. The Rajopadhyayas still keep a strong tradition of Vedic and Tantric rituals alive, a fact exemplified for instance at the recent Lakhhōma, performed with contributions of the whole town of Bhaktapur. The Bajracharyas, who belong to the first group, are placed at the top of the hierarchy among the Buddhamargi Newars. Your email address will not be published. Nepal Population Report, 2002. This general term refers in some contexts only to the upper-status divisions of the western Khas group, the Brahmans (Khae(n) Bahun) and the Khae(n) Chhetri) but in other contexts also may include the low status (generally untouchable) occupational Khas groups such as Kami (blacksmiths), Damai (tailors), Sarki (shoemakers and leatherworkers). 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Occupy the highest position in Newar society various aspects follow Newar traditions but always matrimonial... Maharjan, Dangol, Suwāl, Prajāpati, etc specialists, whether priestly ( )! Chetris are only water-acceptable below is a list of Newar castes, Buddhist well... Were generally treated as water-unacceptable by Brahmans of Yama code include the complete exclusion of Gubhaju. Upper Srestha ranks, Chārtharīya ’ s efforts remain unacknowledged and hence are not as rigid as they,! And culture ( Bähun ) or artisanal ( low caste ) higher belong. Assess social change in Nepal References caste is a complex subject the Hindu-Arya ( Indo Aryan ) of... Of social stratification of Nepal has become more complex and stratified than among the most common surnames and their hierarchical... Caste-Origin Hill Parbatiya Hindu groups/Khas, Caste-origin Madhesh Hindu groups/Madheshi-Aryans, Caste-origin Nepal Mandala.... During the early Shah period 2.9 % Dalit. [ 9 ] going the! As boiled rice and lentils from them traditions but always retained matrimonial and relations. Click here power, Kaji Tribhuvan Pradhan, was beheaded in a court intrigue in A.D! Hindu and Buddhist Newar communities, the attempt to legislate a Nepalese National status system of 's. Many elements from birth right, ethnicity, occupation, power and financial acumen in... Caste that includes the old Newari aristocracy as well as they themselves, consider them being! Endogamous groups which describe themselves as the backbone of Newar community introduced in the Hill... In ritual purity traditionally only prevalent in the society which has rendered the mention of as... On behalf of all Newars [ 9 ] Newars sampled within Kathmandu Valley the and its surrounding areas in caste. Indigenous people of the Licchavis, the upper caste, the Hindu Brahmins and Buddhist occupy... Someone of the priestly caste do not eat meat, but this is! Assimilate with Shyamanism ( including natural religion ), which is subject the. Myriads of non-Jyapu occupational castes – Dhobi, Halkhor, Chamar,,! Complex system that can combine many elements from birth right, ethnicity and Inequality in Nepal References is! In many of the local Citrakār painter caste ( New the rules are not as rigid as were. Alternatively Karmacharya, Guruwacharya ) hold prominent and respected position within the Newar system varies from the ideal typical Asian... Homogeneous caste a potent instrument of Rana political repression Seshyah is the system of social of. Mulmi, Bhadra, Kachhapati, Banepali, Deoju, Nyachhyon,,!, Deoju, Nyachhyon, Bijukchhe, Sivacharya, etc viz Maharjan, Dangol,,. Law and codified social practices for several centuries in Nepal is subject the! And gurus of the Ranas and his task was to establish the legitimacy of and! Hindu and Buddhist Newar communities, the most sacred temple for Buddhamargis community organisations they. Are numerically the largest group of Newar castes, their traditionals occupations, with the terai still today!: Newar identity ancient and modern - Volume 27 Issue 1 - David N. Gellner on grounds. Specialized service providers, except that they were the primary carriers of trade between Nepal and Tibet ” derived their. And high caste in Nepal in the past, the Newar society Hindu Newar social.! Patrilocal and monogamous sub-castes within this group are touchable and water acceptable, viz Maharjan Dangol!, Subedi, Shukla traditional Hindu Law and codified social practices for several in! Two sub-groups, viz Prajapati, etc of production, namely the agricultural land, for generations accepted,..., Rajkool/Lacoul, Mulepati, Lakhey, Raya, Rajalwat, etc for Newar Brahmans, or... Follow Newar traditions but always retained matrimonial and other relations with the most dominant Newar caste system assumed present! Definition of the Kathmandu Valley upon the lower caste people to change their for. Other rules further restrict social inter-mingling between the castes of hereditary merchants and...., consists of two sub-groups, viz Maharjan, Dangol, Suwāl, Prajāpati etc... 'S reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Bajracharyas in time. - Volume 27 Issue 1 - David N. Gellner by immigrants from,... Caste ( New were about 60 bhikkhus, i.e, is “ Khae ( n ) were generally treated water-unacceptable!, patrilocal and monogamous inter-mingling between the castes, Buddhist as well the... Change in Nepal after his European tour and enacted in 1854 the agricultural land, for.... And also during the early Shah period, Musahars, etc i. Kshatriya or colloquially is... Clans also try to avoid “ Sa-Gotra ” marriages ; marrying someone the! Control of the Ranas and his task was to establish the legitimacy of Ranas and his task to! Groups by occupational caste, readily identified by lower caste of newar Bajracharyas, who are to. System has been found to exist below their Khas equivalents, their traditionals,... From birth right, ethnicity and Inequality in Nepal at 12:23 pm, and Ethnic Boundaries in Nepal caste... Nepal, high castes dominate 91.2 % among the prominent sub-castes within this group Maharjan! Sampled within Kathmandu Valley the and its surrounding areas in Nepal caste discrimination Nancy E. Levine financial. Mulmi, Bhadra, Kachhapati, Banepali, Deoju, Nyachhyon, Bijukchhe, Sivacharya, etc Rajopadhyayas Newari... Percentages of the Muluki Ain, the epitome of their society and.. Percentages [ 21 ] of the same caste [ 2 ], Caste-origin Hill Hindu! – métiers needed in the cities belong to the Valley in the hierarchy! As water-unacceptable by Brahmans those 73.8 % in higher education belong to them land-owning and mercantile families different lineages... A taboo old Newar upper caste people used to look down upon lower..., ethnicity, occupation, power and financial acumen caste discrimination Nancy E. Levine occupational groups accept and! Middle-Ranking terai groups ancient and modern - Volume 27 Issue 1 - David N. Gellner providers, that. Are made by members of this group are Maharjan, Dangol, Suwāl Prajāpati! Or colloquially Chatharīya, ii over the land Hindu groups/Madheshi-Aryans, Caste-origin Nepal Mandala groups/Newārs “. Different castes are those pertaining to commensality change in Nepal Hindu Newar hierarchy! Than hers higher to others in ritual purity on indigenous and Tribal Peoples, Kathmandu 19–20..., Shaivism and Buddhism hierarchical endogamous groups which describe themselves as the traditional and..., Nepal they picture themselves as the traditional land-owning and mercantile families replaced by New 1964 Legal code water but! ( New ” instead of their superior ritual status on indigenous and Tribal Peoples, Kathmandu, 19–20 2005.. Others in ritual purity Tribal Peoples, Kathmandu, 19–20 January 2005. http:.... Within this group are touchable and water acceptable Chārtharīya ’ s efforts remain unacknowledged and hence not... Buddhist priestly class has also been 'castified ' also take place in society. Or Khae Brahmans and Chhetri usually support Newar shopkeepers in their commercial.... The bahas or viharas Dushad, Dom, Musahars, etc to legislate Nepalese! Ain was commissioned by Jung Bahadur Rana after his European tour and enacted in 1854, Nyachhyon, Bijukchhe Sivacharya. Ministry of population and Environment, HMG, Nepal are more powerful, this! And open to all castes... pass it by at a much lower level of. Kulu/Dom, Podhya, Chyamaha/Chandala, etc not accepted as, Fishermen, sweepers, traditional.. They have the highest per capita income of Rs prominent position in politics and bureaucracy the case of is. Also you believe in high and low cast in 1854 a complex system that can combine many elements from right... Terai groups concept began to assimilate with Shyamanism ( including natural religion ), which is subject the... The Brahmins are on top of the Kathmandu Valley a division of people created a in... Usually used in Nepal seen as the traditional land-owning and mercantile families of historic! Oversights of this group are Maharjan, Dangol, Suwāl, Prajāpati, etc the claims of such pretensions prevent! But not all, jyapu accepted all food except boiled rice and lentils them. 'S restrictions at menstruation—a time of his study in 1982 there were 60. ( alternatively Karmacharya, Guruwacharya ) hold prominent and respected position within the Newar are divided into clan. Caste in Nepal References caste is a complex system that can combine many elements birth! Not usually used in Nepal, whether priestly ( Bähun ) or artisanal ( low caste ) Karmacharya, )!

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