{"id":81102,"date":"2018-09-17T15:31:17","date_gmt":"2018-09-17T22:31:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=81102"},"modified":"2018-09-17T15:31:17","modified_gmt":"2018-09-17T22:31:17","slug":"vishwakarma-the-celestial-architect-who-built-sri-lanka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2018\/09\/17\/vishwakarma-the-celestial-architect-who-built-sri-lanka\/","title":{"rendered":"Vishwakarma, the celestial architect who built Sri Lanka"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Dr.Lopamudra Maitra Bajpai\/newsin.asia<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n
\n

The\u00a0Vishwakarma<\/em>\u00a0puja<\/em>, which was observed on September 17, is not restricted to India but is observed in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. The\u00a0puja<\/em>\u00a0closely follows the celebration of the\u00a0Ganapati<\/em>\u00a0festival. In some places, it is performed the day after Diwali in October or November.<\/p>\n

Vishwakarma puja<\/em>\u00a0or\u00a0Kanya Sankranti<\/em>\u00a0is celebrated in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand in North India; Karnataka in the south; and Assam, West Bengal Odisha and Tripura in the east, in honour of\u00a0Vishwakarma\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 the celestial architect.<\/p>\n

In Nepal, the\u00a0Vishwakarma puja<\/em>\u00a0is celebrated on the first of the month of\u00a0Ashoj<\/em>\u00a0according to the Nepali Bikram Sambat calendar.<\/p>\n

A remarkable thing is that the\u00a0Vishwakarma puja<\/em>\u00a0is performed invariably on September 17 while most traditional festivals across the Indian sub-continent follow a lunar calendar and the system of\u00a0tithi<\/em>\u00a0or auspicious period, which change annually.<\/p>\n

\"Vishwakarma,Vishwakarma idols of Bengal made of clay<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The date of the\u00a0Vishwakarma puja<\/em>\u00a0is based on the movement of the sun. It is\u00a0 observed \u00a0when the sun transits from\u00a0Singha<\/em>\u00a0(Leo) to\u00a0Kanya<\/em>\u00a0(Virgo). September 17 is the last day of the traditional month of\u00a0Bhadon<\/em>\u00a0(Bhadro<\/em>\u00a0in Bengali). However, this transit is not always fixed. It might vary by a day or two, at times.<\/p>\n

The association with solar transit is not echoed in all oral traditions in other parts of India. \u00a0Mention may be made here of the dialogue between Muni (sage) Kalhasti (an incarnation of Shiva), and a certain King Suvrata in a small\u00a0Up Purana<\/em>\u00a0in South India. This does not mention any solar transit but places the community of Vishwakarma, and the various trades associated with him, in the higher echelons of traditional society.<\/p>\n

This is echoed in the\u00a0Vishwakarma Upanishad<\/em>, and a few other works in praise of\u00a0Vishwakarma<\/em>. None of them associates the celebration with the solar transit to Virgo.<\/p>\n

In India, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh too, the\u00a0Vishwakarma puja<\/em>\u00a0is observed as a celebration of creation. In all of these countries,\u00a0Vishwakarma\u00a0<\/em>is worshipped in factories, \u00a0by artisans, architects and engineers.<\/p>\n

Over the years, the\u00a0puja<\/em>\u00a0is associated with flying kites. Kite flying is seen as a harbinger of a festive season.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Vishwakarma puja<\/em>\u00a0connects the India with its neighbours through various traditions. Similar celebrations, rites and rituals reverberate across India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan.<\/p>\n

The Vishwakarma caste has mythological stories connecting the community to the deity. The community calls itself Vishwabrahmin. The community comprises five sub-groups: carpenter,\u00a0blacksmiths<\/a>,\u00a0bronze<\/a>\u00a0smiths,\u00a0goldsmiths<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0stonemasons<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In Nepal the Kami\/Bishwakarma have a similar lore. This is an ethno-linguistic group. They are essentially blacksmiths and are credited for being the original makers of the famous Nepali drum, the\u00a0Madol<\/em>\u00a0and the Nepali\u00a0Kukri<\/em>\u00a0(knife). The\u00a0Kukri<\/em>\u00a0which is a short curved knife used by the Gurkha troops. The community\u2019s traditional dance,\u00a0Maruni Nritya<\/em>\u00a0is \u00a0also famous. The Kami\/Biswakarmas are found \u00a0in the mountainous regions of\u00a0Sikkim<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Darjeeling District<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0West Bengal<\/a>\u00a0also.<\/p>\n

In Sri Lanka, oral traditions connect the origin of the Navandanna caste to Vishwakarma. Artisans, known locally as Vishwakarma, comprise Kannar (brass-workers), Kollar (blacksmiths), Tattar (goldsmiths), Tatchar (carpenters) and Kartatchar (sculptor).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Vishwakarma puja in Bengal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Oral traditions across South Asia also trace the connection with Vishwakarma. He finds mention in the Rig Veda as the creator, having eyes, faces, arms, feet and wings on every side.The description brings him close to Brahma. The world is said to have come out of Vishwakarma\u2019s navel, which mirrors the story of Brahma giving birth to the universe.<\/p>\n

The Yajur Veda portrayed him as the Prajapati. And the Atharva Veda mentions him as Pashupati. Later Puranas identify him as the Vedic\u00a0Tvastar<\/em>\u00a0(artisan god or heavenly builder). As a creator, Shilpi Vishwakarma, is an architect who is credited to have built flying chariots and weapons for the Gods. He is regarded as the very essence of quality craftsmanship.<\/p>\n

He is also credited with the creation \u00a0of heaven (swarg<\/em>) in the\u00a0Satya Yuga<\/em>, Lanka (the city of gold) in\u00a0Tretayuga,<\/em>\u00a0the city of Dwarka in\u00a0Dwapar Yuga<\/em>\u00a0and Hastinapur and Indraprastha in the\u00a0Kali yuga. In Sri Lanka<\/em>,\u00a0<\/em>the\u00a0<\/em>Mahavamsa\u00a0<\/em>of\u00a0Theravada Buddhism<\/em>\u00a0mentions him as an architect.<\/p>\n

Builder of Lanka<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oral traditions explain the association of Vishwakarma with the creation of Lanka. The story of Lanka is described in the\u00a0Uttarakanda<\/em>\u00a0of Valmiki\u2019s\u00a0Ramayana,\u00a0<\/em>which says that Lanka was created by the celestial architect Vishwakarma for the Gods in heaven.<\/p>\n

However, Lanka was seized by the\u00a0Rakshasha<\/em>\u00a0brothers, Malyavan, Sumali and Mali. These three had obtained a boon of invincibility from Lord Brahma and had instructed the celestial architect to erect a mansion for us- resembling the mansion of Maheshwara (Shiva)\u201d.<\/p>\n

Accordingly, on the mountain Suvela, Vishwakarma constructed the city of Lanka with the fortress being between three mountain peaks known as the Trikuta mountains.This has been described as- having an area of thirty\u00a0yojanas<\/em>, and measuring a hundred in length, surrounded by a golden wall and furnished with golden gateways \u2026 having a strong wall and a moat, abounding in hundreds of golden edifices\u201d.<\/p>\n

The centre of the complex (which was finally occupied by Ravana) has been mentioned as a collection of several edifices that reached over one\u00a0yojana<\/em>\u00a0(8 miles or 12.88 kms) in height, one\u00a0yojana<\/em>\u00a0in length and half a\u00a0yojana<\/em>\u00a0in breadth.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Colorful kites used as part of Vishwakarma puja<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The three brothers, Malyavan, Sumali and Mali, ruled Lanka for many years. But \u00a0when they invaded the heavens, the they were defeated by Lord Vishnu. Mali was killed and Sumali and Malyavan, along with their\u00a0Rakshasha<\/em>\u00a0comrades, were driven out of Lanka.<\/p>\n

After this, upon instructions from the sage Vishrava, Kubera, who was also the God of wealth, moved into Lanka and established the\u00a0Yaksha<\/em>\u00a0kingdom. His capital was guarded by\u00a0Rakshashas<\/em>. However, it was not long before Kubera\u2019s half-brother Ravana (son of Vishrava and Sumali\u2019s daughter Kaikesi), fought with Kubera and took Lanka from him.<\/p>\n

Though \u00a0Ravana had usurped Lanka he was a benevolent ruler and Lanka flourished under him. He was a devout worshipper of Shiva, a great scholar and a maestro of a kind of\u00a0Veena<\/em>\u00a0referred to as the\u00a0Ravanhatta<\/em>. In order to expand his kingdom- Ravana had proceeded on a series of campaigns conquering humans, celestials and demons.<\/p>\n

Another oral tradition tells of a different beginning of Lanka. After Lord Shiva married Parvati, \u00a0he instructed Vishwakarma to construct Lanka so that they might reside there. Vishwakarma constructed a palace made of gold. Ravana, who was a devout worshipper of Shiva, was invited for the\u00a0Gihapravesh puja<\/em>\u00a0(housewarming ceremony).<\/p>\n

After the completion of the rituals, Ravana was asked by Shiva to seek anything as a\u00a0Dakshina,\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0Ravana asked for the golden palace and the city itself, since he was overwhelmed by the grandeur of the place. Shiva was obliged to accede to Ravana\u2019s wish, and Golden Lanka became Ravana\u2019s palace.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Dr.Lopamudra Maitra Bajpai\/newsin.asia The\u00a0Vishwakarma\u00a0puja, which was observed on September 17, is not restricted to India but is observed in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. The\u00a0puja\u00a0closely follows the celebration of the\u00a0Ganapati\u00a0festival. In some places, it is performed the day after Diwali in October or November. Vishwakarma puja\u00a0or\u00a0Kanya Sankranti\u00a0is celebrated in the Indian states of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[120],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-81102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-history"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81102","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81102"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81102\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81102"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81102"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81102"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}