What kind of caste is Shrestha?
Śrēṣṭha (Newar: श्रेष्ठ) is a Nepalese surname meaning “noble” or “great” in Sanskrit. Shrestha is one of the eponym surnames used by those belonging to the caste of Shresthas who prior to the unification of modern Nepal formed the ruling and administrative Kshatriya castes in the court of the Malla kings of Nepal.
Is Shrestha lower caste?
Many lower castes have also adopted the name, Shrestha; the status they then assume tends to be expressed in the traditional idiom i.e., one moves up to a higher hierarchic (ascribed) position like well-to-do Jyapus assuming the name ‘Shrestha’.
Which is highest caste in Newar?
Rājopādhyāya Brahmins
1. Rājopādhyāya Brahmins are on top of the Hindu Newar social hierarchy. Referred to as ‘Deva Brahman'(God Brahmin) or colloquially as ‘Dyah Baje'(God Grandfather), these Brahmins with surnames Rajopadhyaya, Sharma, Acharya, among others, serve as family priest (purohit) primarily to the Hindu Srēṣṭha clans.
Is Newar lower caste?
The Newar caste system includes its own priestly Brahmin caste. However, according to a 2005 ADB paper, in the Parbatiya worldview all Newars are ranked lower than the Parbatiya Brahmin Page 7 and Chhetri castes, and are classified along with other indigenous groups as matwali (Bhattarai, S.
How many caste are there in Newar?
The Newar population of Nepal was estimated to be about 1,250,000 in the early 21st century. Most of the Newar are Hindus, but some practice an Indian form of Buddhism. There are about 70 castes, Buddhist as well as Hindu, covering approximately the same spectrum as the caste system of India.
Which race is Newar?
Newars form a linguistic and cultural community of primarily Indo-Aryan and Tibeto-Burman ethnicities following Hinduism and Buddhism with Nepalbhasa as their common language. Newars have developed a division of labour and a sophisticated urban civilisation not seen elsewhere in the Himalayan foothills.
Is baniya a Newar?
Bania (Devanagari: बनिया) is a Nepalese caste from the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. Banias belong to the Urāy group which includes Tuladhar, Kansakar, Tamrakar, Sthapit, Sindurakar, Selalik and other castes. They speak Nepal Bhasa as a mother tongue and follow Newar Buddhism.
How many caste does Newar have?
Most of the Newar are Hindus, but some practice an Indian form of Buddhism. There are about 70 castes, Buddhist as well as Hindu, covering approximately the same spectrum as the caste system of India. The Newar have a wide range of occupations.
Where did Newar people come from?
Newar, people who comprise about half the population of the Kāthmāndu Valley in Nepal. They speak a language belonging to the Tibeto-Burman family, but their culture has been strongly influenced by Indian religious and social institutions.
Which caste is Kami?
Bishwakarma
Bishwakarma or Viswakarma Brahman or Vishwabrahmin (Nepali: विश्वकर्मा) is an Indo-Aryan Nepali speaking group that primarily worked as metalsmiths. Later Nepal abolished its grading system. The tribal designation of Khas is given in only a few contexts to Bishwakarma.
Is Newar a tribe?
Newars form a linguistic and cultural community of primarily Indo Aryan and Tibeto-Burman ethnicities following Hinduism and Buddhism with Nepali Bhasa as their common language.
Are newars Tibetan?
Newar artists gained importance after the destruction of Indian Buddhism in 1203 as they were the only remaining experts in traditional Buddhist art. Tibetan artists thus turned to them for inspiration and learned the Newar style, or Beri as it is now known.
What is the caste of Shrestha?
One thing to understand is that Shrestha is one of a caste within the Newars, just like Uray, Jyapu, Kuma, Brahman, etc being other castes. Within this Shrestha caste there are many surnames or “Binas” like Pradhan, Joshi, Maskey, Rajbhandari, and over 30 others. So how did the name Shrestha rise up over the past decade?
Were Shrestha Brahmins also laborers for Ranas?
And to say that they were laborers for Ranas is just plain dumb. One thing to understand is that Shrestha is one of a caste within the Newars, just like Uray, Jyapu, Kuma, Brahman, etc being other castes. Within this Shrestha caste there are many surnames or “Binas” like Pradhan, Joshi, Maskey, Rajbhandari, and over 30 others.
What is the history of the Newar caste system?
First introduced at the time of the Licchavis (A.D. 300 – c. 879), the Newar caste system assumed its present shape during the medieval Malla period (A.D. 1201–1769).
Are Newars of the Vaishya caste?
As a consequence, among the Newars, caste has become more complex and stratified than among the non-Newar group. 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.