Viswakarma in Sri Lanka


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

Viswakarmas are also known as Vishwabrahmins. They are followers of Vishvakarman, the Hindu presiding deity of all craftsman and architects, from whom all Viswakarma claimed to have descended from. Hence, today the term Viswakarma denotes a community or group of castes of artisans from India. These castes include goldsmiths, carpenters, blacksmiths, coppersmiths or stonemasons.
Aside from being known as Vishwabrahmins, they are also called Panchal meaning "specialized in five different works;" Kavi, Madhvi, Suhastasour and Narashansha identical castes in ancient Vedic reference; Rathakar, because they used to make the chariot for ancient kings; and Karmmalar in the Madras. Depending on which side—Northern or Southern side of India—the reference is made, there are many more names associated with the Viswakarmas. About ten percent of them live in Sri Lanka.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Viswakarmas played a vital role in village economy. They considered themselves "missionaries of civilization, culture and religion" as they spread Hinduism through their art. They have contributed greatly to Hindu civilization and culture as city and temple builders, engineers, architects, and artists. In ancient India, Vishwabrahmins where highly regarded. However, they are not as highly esteemed by the Brahmins - the priestly castes. The origin of such feud is largely unknown, but one reason was the refusal of Brahmins to recognize the status of the Viswakarmas to be at par with their status. The Viswakarmas has also rejected the "pastorship" or "leadership" or "supremacy" of the Brahmins and have set themselves up as spiritual guides and religious teachers.
Their communal identity has always been strongly tied to their profession. With industrialization and more recently, globalization, the traditional artisan trade has been greatly affected. The economic and technological forces are buffeting their profession to extinction. This has contributed to a sort of identity crises - being unable to identify with the upper castes or the lower castes. They also have a rather unpopular history (until the 1980s) of identifying with the communists. Their socio-economic status varies from a very high level to the low level in different parts of India as they earned high wages in towns because of their factory employment and low in villages.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Their claim of "Brahminism" is based on their claims of lineage from the Hindu God, Viswakarma who is claimed to be the lord of creation. Also, they claimed that it was the Viswakarma who are the real architects of the Indus Valley, and the Brahmins are only usurpers of the glory.


What Are Their Needs?

The Viswakarma people need to put all their trust in Jesus Christ. He alone can provide them with the forgiveness of their sins and the hope of eternal life.


Prayer Points

Pray for a spiritual hunger that will give the Viswakarma a willingness to investigate the message of Jesus Christ.
Pray for the Lord to send out Indian believers to the Viswakarma to disciple them in the ways of Jesus.
Pray for the Lord to bless them in such a way they will know it has to be him!


Scripture Prayers for the Viswakarma in Sri Lanka.


References

Toni Tagimacruz


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Viswakarma
People Name in Country Viswakarma
Alternate Names Achari; Achari Thacher; Achary; Akkasale; Asari; Asari Oddi; Brahmalu; Chettian; Chola; Gejjigar; Kamar; Kammalan; Kammalar; Kammiyar; Kamsala; Kannalan; Kannalar; Kollar Ponkollar; Manu; Mukkuvar; Ojali; Ozuu; Pancha Brahma; Panchal; Panchal Brahma; Panchala; Pandithattan; Pandya; Pathuria; Shilpi; Silpi; Sozhia; Sthapathi; Sthapathulu; Sutar; Thocher; Vaddra; Vishvakarma; Vishwa Brahman; Vishwa Brahmin; Vishwabrahman; Vishwakarma; Viswa Brahman; Viswabrahma; Viswabrahman; Viswajana; Viswakammala; Vojali; Waggai; विस्वाकर्मा
Population this Country 7,400
Population all Countries 8,659,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18314
ROP3 Code 113861
Country Sri Lanka
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 8
Largest States
Central
4,200
Sabaragamuwa
1,100
Western
600
Eastern
500
Uva
500
Northern
300
Southern
200
North Western
90
Country Sri Lanka
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 8
  Central 4,200
  Sabaragamuwa 1,100
  Western 600
  Eastern 500
  Uva 500
  Northern 300
  Southern 200
  North Western 90
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
2.80 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
97.20 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Sri Lanka census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Tamil
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
Hindi Malayalam Telugu
Primary Language Tamil
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
  Hindi
  Malayalam
  Telugu
People Groups Speaking Tamil

Primary Language:  Tamil

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1714-1956)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1715-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1727-2024)
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YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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Audio Recordings General Ministry Resources General / Other
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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Audio Recordings Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Tamil Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
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General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
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Mobile App Android Bible app: Pastors Study Bible Tamil Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
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Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamil Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
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Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Tamil Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Tamil Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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