Charodi (community)

Charodi Mesta community from Karnataka state in India.^[1] They known as Konkan Achar/Acharya or Charodi in North Canara & Malenadu Karnataka, Also known as Chari in Goa, and Nayak/Mesta/Mestha/Khandekar in North/South Canara, Karnataka.^[2] Their traditional work is carpentry.^[2] (They known as 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐚 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐡𝐦𝐢𝐧, 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐡𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐬/𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐯𝐚 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐧).

They as per their tales, they migrated from Goa via a sea route to coastal Karnataka during Portuguese rule.^[2]

𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: Vishwakarma Manu Maya Brahmins belong to suthar which is also known as Viswakarma Brahmans. They were also called as ‘Shivabrahman’. ‘Saiyadri Khanda’ of ‘Scanda Puran’ says that artist of ancient Goa is called as ‘Shaivagayatri Brahmans’. Those Vishwakarma Manu Maya Brahmins who fled Goa during Portuguese time to prevent them being converted to Christianity & settled in Maharashtra are still known as ‘Shiva Brahma Sutar’. Vishwakarma Manu Maya Brahmins have their origin from Manu and Maya two of the sons of Lord Vishwakarma, the Divine Architect and craftsman in ancient India. In ancient India Panchal were called as ‘Missionary of civilization, culture and religion’ since Panchal spread Vedic religion in other part of world.

𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝗮: Vishwakarma Manu Maya Brahmins, popularly known as Chari is a community of artisans in the Indian state of Goa. They are the traditional Hindu carpenter in Goa.The Chari is corrupt form of the word Acharya which means the teacher of religion. Surname Acharya is still present in Chari in some part of south India. Those Chari who has left Goa long ago has a surname as Charya .So in short Chari derived from Acharya -Charya- Chari-Achar. Since Portuguese have ruled Goa for 450 years, the surname Chari is only present in Goa. They are also referred as ‘Sutar’ which has derived from Sanskrit word ‘Sutradhar’ which means the designer in Ancient India. Sometimes they are referred as (𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮/𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗵𝗮) ‘mest’ or ‘thavoi’ which means carpenter & stapathi respectively. Charodi Konkani word comes from the Sanskrit word Chatur-rathi or the Prakrit Chau-radi, which literally means "the ones who ride a chariot yoked with four horses [Mahabharat]. Those who were good artist were called as ‘Fishal’. Surname as Zo which means artist.

𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗵𝘄𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘀: Acharya, Chari, Charya, Zo, Mistri, Sutar, Panchal, Achari, Mest, Thavi, Gohil, Charodi, Mesta, Achar.

𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮: Achari, Acharya, Vishwakarma, Vishwabrahmin, Sharma, Chari, South India. 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮: Panchal brahmin, Dhiman brahmin, Jangid brahmin, Maithil Brahmin, Ramgarhia, Mistry, Maharana, Sharma, Viswakarma, Tarkhan, Kalsi, Malik, Mahule.

Families in chari based on their village where their Kuladevata has her temple. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄:

Village: Mandre, Kuladevata- Panchayatan,Bhagvati Sapteshwar Ravalnath, Family- Mandrekar.

Village: Palli, Kuladevata- Ravalnath Ravalghadi, Family- Nasnodkar, Toraskar.

Village: Ajgaon, Kuladevata- Vetoba, Family- Ajgaonkar.

Village: Veling, Kuladevata- Vetal, Family- Velingkar.

Village: Pinguli, Kuladevata- Bhavani Shankar , Family- Shivolkar.

Village: Pedne Kuladevata- Rampurush Panchayatan, Bhagvati, Ravalnath, Family- Pednekar.

Village: Parse, Kuladevata- Rampurush Mahalakshami Bhagawati Ravalnath, Family- Parsekar.

Village: Narve, Kurdi, Kuladevata- Saptakoteshwar, Family- Narvekar, Kurdikar.

Village: Madkai, Kuladevata- Nav Durga, Family- Madkaikar.

Village: Dhargal, Kuladebvata- Rampurush mauli, Family- Dhargalkar.

Village: Morji, Mashel, Kuladevata- Morjai, Family- Morajkar, Mashelkar.

Village: Satarde, Kuladevata- Ravalnath, Family- Satardekar.

Village: Korgao, Kuladevata- Kashikalayan kulaswami, Kamleshwar, Family- Korgaokar.

Village: Shiroda, Poriem, Kuladevata- Bhumika, Family- Shirodkar, Paryekar.

Village: Kudase, Kuladevata- Sateri, Ravalnath, Family- Kudaskar.

Village: Bori, Kuladevata, Navadurga, Family- Borkar.

Village: Mardhol, Phonda, Kuladevata- Mahalasa Narayani , Family- Vernekar.

Village: Bandevade, Khandepar, Kuladevata- Nagesh, Family- Bandodkar, Khandeparkar.

Village: Banda, Kuladevata- Bandeshwar, Family- Bandekar.

Village: Mulgao, Kuladevata- Marshall Laksmi Ravalanath, Family- Charodi, Mesta, Achar.

Village: Quepem, Kuladevata- Chandra Mouleshwar , Family- Charodi, Mesta, Achar.

Khandola, Kuladevata- Shree Bhagwati Rampurush, Family- Haldankar.

Village: Mashel, Kuladevata- Shree Lakshmi Ravalnath, Devaki Krishna, Family- Chodankar, Chari.

^[3]

They are followers of Sringeri Matha.^[2] Also Mesta's are followers of Shiva, which is locally known as Ravalnath and Sringeri Matha – Sringeri Sharadamma. Ravalnath is a Kuladevata (tutelary deity) of all the Mestas, and Kuladevata still resides in Goa. While they migrated from Goa, they left their god (Kuldevata) back in Goa. Mesta samaj has its temples in Goa, Mangalore, Kundapur, Shiroor, Honnavar, Sirsi, Karwar, Sagar, and Shimoga. Many of the Mestas still reside in Goa.

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀:

• "Shilpakar" by V. V. Chari, an article on Souvenir published by Sri Ram Seva Sangha, Mayade (2009) • Sinai Dhume, Anant Ramkrishna (1986). The cultural history of Goa from 10000 B.C.-1352 A.D.. Ramesh Anant S. Dhume, 1986. pp. 355 pages(see page 37). • "Shilpakar" by V. V. Chari,an article on Souvenir published by Sri Ram Seva Sangha, Mayade(2009) • Thavai come from the Sanskrit word Sthapati.Sthapati becomes Tha-vva-ee in prakrit and later Thavai in Apabramsha,Ie Konkani.

𝗙𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴:

Roberts, A.E. (1909). Visvakarma and his descendants. Calcutta: All-India Vishvakarma Brahman Mahasabha. - Dr.Gnanananda, G. (Ed.) (1981). Sri Visvakarmayaya bhushanam (Kannada) original by K.P. Dixit (1878). KGF: Jnana Bhandara.Kashyapa Shilpa Shastram,Brahmeeya Chitra Karma Shastram. - Sharma, A.S. (1989). Visvakarma Smaj ka sankshipt itihas (short history of Vishvakarma Society). New Delhi: Visvakarma Institute of Research and Education. - Rathkaradhikaranam, Jaimini’sbook on Rathakara Brahmins- original Sanskrit text by His holy Sri Kanuparti Basavcharya Swami & English translation &pub. By Dr. Pedapaty Nageshwar Rao,Hydrabad A.P. - Nagar khandam in Scanda puran - Vishwabrahmakulotsaha i.e. History of Vishwabrahmins by Sri Balashastri Kshirsagar, Pune.