By John B Monteiro

Mangaluru, Mar 6: Recently, Karnataka State Labour Department’s Karmika cards were distributed to goldsmiths at a progamme organized by DK District Goldsmiths’ Association at Shri Kalikamba Vinayaka Temple at Car Street, Mangaluru, with Association President K L Harish presiding over the function while local MLA D Vedavyasa Kamath participating. This is a trade/work related low-profile temple among three other high profile temples in the Car Street environment. It is interesting to recall its history, objectives and functioning and decline down the centuries.

Traditionally the artisans had the patronage of royalty and local chieftains. But, in modern times, there have been shrinking opportunities to earn a living through work. Among the reasons are import of readymade jewelry and India-wide jewellery chains, the use of cement, concrete, aluminium and fibre-based doors and windows, instead of wood-based, in construction, production by machines in factories, instead of home-based workshops, and factory-made agricultural implements replacing traditional ones.

While the Vishwakarmis addressed their problems to the rulers of the day, they turned to Mangaluru’s Shri Kalikamba Vinayaka Temple for spiritual solace and community bonding. This temple and its Gurumutt, located in the Car Street area, west of Shree Venkatramana Temple, is said to be over one thousand years old. According to oral tradition, a sculptor belonging to the Vishwa Brahmin community, Bhujangacharya, established the temple by installing the image of Devi. Every five years, an assembly of Vishwakarmis representing eight towns and ten leaders from Mangalore selected the administrators (Mokteshwar) of the temple.

Though Vishwa Brahmins are a honest, hardworking and law-abiding community, their economic status and numbers have progressively declined over the years. Even so, they supported the upkeep of Kalikamba Vinayaka Temple through their modest contributions. There have been instances of maintaining the daily rituals and annual celebrations even by borrowings. Apart from Mangaluru City, the eight towns falling within the jurisdiction of the temple are Moodbidri, Bantwal, Nandavara, Ullal, Manjeshwar, Panambur, Haleyangady and Mulki. Villages had their own artisan communities headed by Mokteshwars. There were about 260 such village community Mokteshwars rendering service to the temple. The geographic jurisdiction of the temple extended to Hejmadi in the north, Charmadi in the east, Manjeshwar in the south and the Arabian Sea to the west.

Many stalwarts of the community have helped in the progress of the temple through incremental renovation, expansion and adornment of the deities. Among those who chipped in with help in the development of the temple complex include Vishwa Brahmana Mahila Samithi, youth volunteers under the banner of Kalikamba Seva Samithi and artisans working in Canara Jewellers’ workshop. It is notable that the highest state dignitary to visit the temple was the then President of India, Giani Zail Singh.

It is interesting to go back to 124 years and recall the description of the community by John Stuart in his District Manual on South Canara, published in 1894. According to him, “ Artisans in Canara are generally of Canarese than Tulu origin, as they mostly speak Canarese and follow the ordinary rule of inheritance, but this is no doubt partly due to their not being land-owning classes. They wear a sacred thread like the Brahmins, but it is believed their pretensions are due to increasing prosperity within comparatively recent times”. The following, according to Stuart, are the principal castes in this group: Akkasale and Sonar (goldsmiths), Kammara (blacksmiths), Kanchugara (braziers), Kalkatta (masons), Cheptagar, Colayari, Charodi, Gudigar and Muvvari (all carpenters).

Akkasales are goldsmiths of Tulu origin, but a number of them work in brass, iron and wood also. Sonar or Sonagara, is another goldsmith class. They speak Konkani and are believed to have come from Goa. Chaptegaras are carpenters who also speak Konkani and are believed to have come from the Konkan region. Gudigaras are a Canarese caste of wood carvers and painters. Kanchugaras are also a Canarese caste of brass workers. They are Hindus of the Vaishnava Sect and pay special reverence to Lord Venkatramana of Tirupati.

Do you perceive these characteristics among the surviving artisans (if you can spot them) of today?