[6] 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. Rosser, C. (1966), Social mobility in the Newar caste system, in Fürer-Haimendorf, (ed. Jhi Newa: Magazine. [9], Newars were 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. From the Khas Brahman-Chhetri point of view, this large middle-ranking group includes the remaining Newar castes and other Tibeto-Burman speaking peoples. The Chatharīya, for example, succeeded in producing the required social credentials to prove that the Chatharīya tharghar (families of noble extraction, and referred to as "asal Srestha") alone were "pure" Kshatriyas, where as similar claims by other Newar castes were not successful. 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, the non-celibate (gr̥hastha) priestly sangha class Vajracharyas and Shakyas ( who are collectively called "Bañdā" or "Baré") were provided with the highest position. 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. Some of them includes Dusadh/Podhya, Jogi/Jugi/Kapali, Dhobi/Dhobi, Mali/Mālākar, Halwai/Rajkarnikar, Teli/Manandhar/Sāyami, Kumhar/Kumhā/Prajapati, Chamar/Chyamah, among others. 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. The Rajopadhyayas speak Newari language and were historically the raj-purohitas and gurus of the Licchavi and Malla kings. Among the Shresthas, since they are subdivided into two general sub-castes, the higher Chatharīya and the lower Pāñcthariya, one's marriage partner must be from the same grade as well. Suwal, Duwal, Basukala, Singh, Desar, Rajbahak, Rajthala, etc. Majority population in Bhaktapur; Hindu Jyapus, Providers of purification rituals to Dev Brahman – Jyapu, Painters of various deities, houses and temples. In Kathmandu, they were followed by a lay patron Buddhist caste of Urāy, or Upasakas, who specialized in the trade with Tibet. The dozens of noble and ruling Maithil clans (present day Chatharīya Srēṣṭha) who came along ruling kings or as part of their nobility (most notably with Maithili Karnata King Hari Simha Deva (c. 1324 CE) were also assimilated in the Newar nation in the Kshatriya varna. For long before a Newar girl is given to a husband, she is married to a bel fruit, and through this rite she acquires the ritual status of a married woman. These Thakurs and Chatharīyas, are nonetheless, accorded the second highest caste-status among Newars after the Rajopadhyaya Brahmins. This, when the richest and most successful Newar caste, the Shresthas for example, had never even bothered because they neitherrequired it nor they ever considered themselves as Adivasi/Janajati . Traditional families also get advice from family Jyotishi/Joshi for horoscope match-making. 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. Along with this, their higher status also requires them to conduct additional life-cycle (saṃskāra) ceremonies like the sacred-thread wearing ceremony upanayana (for Rājopādhyāyas and Chatharīyas) or the rites of baréchyégu or āchāryabhisheka (for Vajracharyas and Shakyas). All rights reserved. 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. However, while the Bajracharyas’ exclusive occupation is priesthood, the Shakyas follow the hereditary occupation of goldsmiths. 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. 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. The caste system defines social classes by a number of hierarchical endogamous groups often termed jaat. There are no low and high caste in Nepal. Boiled rice and dal (a sauce made of lentils), in particular, must not be accepted from a person of lower caste. They were the primary carriers of trade between Nepal and Tibet.[6]. (1) Rājopādhyāya Brahmins are on top of the Hindu Newar social hierarchy. Rajopadhyaya, Sharma, Acharya, Subedi, Shukla. (1) Rājopādhyāya Brahmins are on top of the Hindu Newar social hierarchy. The Chatharīya and strict Pañcthariya accepted water (but not boiled and salted foods) from them. Some of the prominent sub-castes within this group are Maharjan, Dangol, Suwal, Duwal, Singh, Prajapati, etc. Historical Relation to other non-Newar Nepalis. 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. In terms of earning/income generation, Newars have the highest per capita income of Rs. Nepali was the national language and Sanskrit became a required school subject. While Rājopādhyāya Brahmins (or Déva-bhāju) occupied the highest social position in the Hindu side, the Vajracharya (or Guru/Gu-bhāju) formed the … The Newar are the indigenous population found in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. Jyapus are among the most progressive farmers in Nepal. Except for the sizable population of those of Indian birth or ancestry concentrated in the Tarai bordering India, the varied ethnic groups had evolved into distinct patterns over time. 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. Exclusive religious preference disappears from the next occupational caste which consists of people who form the majority population among the Newars – the farmers and agriculturalists – who are collectively called the Jyapu. 68–139, in, Fürer-Haimendorf C., ed. Economically, the position of the Newars was weakened by the diversion of Tibet trade from the Chumbi Valley route since 1850s A.D. and the competition with the Marwaris became all the stiffer since the end of the World War I. [15] 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.[4]. The Sae(n) were generally treated as water-unacceptable by Brahmans. [14] Historical records also show trading, service, and untouchable clans of the Indian plains immigrating to Nepal Valley along with the entourage of the Maithil and Malla kings, and in due process, becoming Newars themselves. Below is a list of 26 Newar castes, their sub-caste groups and clans, along with their traditionals occupations and the most common surnames in their respective hierarchical positions. Rajopadhyaya and higher Chatharīya clans also try to avoid "Sa-Gotra" marriages; marrying someone of the same gotra. Marriage is, as a rule, patrilocal and monogamous. He became the first of the Ranas and his task was to establish the legitimacy of Ranas and secure his control over the land. [13] Similarly, Madhesi royal clans including Malla themselves and their courtier castes like Kayastha, Hada, Chauhan, Chandel, Vaidhya, Rajput, etc. 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. (2) Maithil Brahmins or colloquially Tirhute Brahmin with surnames Jhā and Miśra serve as temple priests and are later additions to the Newar nation. 1. 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. How can you ask this question? Maithil Brahmins or colloquially Tirhute Brahmin with surnames Jhā and Miśra serve as temple priests and are later additions to the Newar nation, their population being slightly less than that of the Rajopadhyaya Brahmins. For most Newars, partners must belong to different descent-group lineages within the same caste. Among them, only the Chatharīya and Pañchthariya are the two historically accepted and renowned social classes among the Srēṣṭha themselves. [1] The Newar caste structure resembles more closely to North India and Madheshis than that of the Khas 'Parbatiyas' in that all four Varna (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra) and untouchables are represented. [2], The Newar castes, Buddhist as well as Hindu, are no less pollution-conscious than the Khas and the Madhesis. Majority of the Newars, in fact, participate in many of the observances of both religions. 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. They are the indigenous people of the Kathmandu valley the and its surrounding areas in Nepal and the creators of its historic civilization. Unlike the marriage of high caste Hindus a Newar marriage is not conceived as a sacred and indissoluble union. (3) Jyāpu group, consisting of several sub-castes, viz Maharjan, Dangol, Suwāl, Prajāpati, etc. The last Newar noble to hold some power, Kaji Tribhuvan Pradhan, was beheaded in a court intrigue in 1801 A.D. Srēṣṭha or colloquially Sya:sya is the immediate second-ranking group among Shivamargi (Hindu) Newars. Even though Gorkhalis saw them as part of the 'defeated' aristocracy of the Malla kingdoms, they went on to form the core of the ruling administrative elite of the new Nepali state till the end of Rana regime in 1951 A.D. [10], Irrespective of the Newars' own complex and much elaborate social stratification, the legal code "Muluki Ain", promulgated in January 1854 A.D. by the new Rana regime, classified the entire Newar community as a single "enslavable alcohol-drinking" caste. They are the purohits or family priests. 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