{{Short description|They are as equal to Brahmins & Nair Community}} {{pp-extended|small=yes}} {{use dmy dates|date=October 2018}} {{use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox caste |caste_name=Kammalar |languages=Tamil, Malayalam |religions=Hinduism, Christianity |related=Tamils, Sri Lankan Tamils |subdivisions={{unbulleted list | Thachar | Karthachar | Thatar | Kollar | Kannar }} }}
'''Kammalar''' is a Tamil caste group found in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in northeastern Sri Lanka. The Kammalars are involved in crafting.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ALUvDwAAQBAJ|title=Historical Dictionary of the Tamils|last=Ramaswamy|first=Vijaya|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2017|isbn=978-1-53810-686-0|pages=107, 184}}</ref> ''Kammalar'' is a generic term that comprises the communities of Kannar (brass-workers), Kollar (blacksmiths), Tatar (goldsmiths), Tatchar (carpenters) and Kartatchar (sculptors).<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7smFAAAAIAAJ|title=Sri Lanka, a country study|last1=Nyrop|first1=Richard F.|last2=Studies|first2=American University (Washington, D. C. ) Foreign Area|last3=Army|first3=United States Dept of the|publisher=US Government, Dept. of the Army|year=1986|pages=108}}</ref> Kammalars are classified and listed as Backward Class by both the central government of India and the State governments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LIST OF BACKWARD CLASSES APPROVED |url=https://www.bcmbcmw.tn.gov.in/bclist.htm |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250919042506/https://www.bcmbcmw.tn.gov.in/bclist.htm |archive-date=2025-09-19 |access-date=2025-12-04 |website=www.bcmbcmw.tn.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=DISTRICT RECRUITMENT BUREAU |url=https://drbtheni.net/doc_pdf/subcaste.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250528142756/https://drbtheni.net/doc_pdf/subcaste.pdf |archive-date=2025-05-28 |access-date=2026-01-29 |website=drbtheni.net}}</ref> They worship Vishvakarma and various forms of this deity.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Streefkerk |first=Hein |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_L3edKpCmm4C&pg=PA103 |title=Industrial Transition in Rural India: Artisans, Traders, and Tribals in South Gujarat |date=1985 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=978-0-86132-067-7 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ridder |first1=Rob de |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bQcVAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA161 |title=The Leiden Tradition in Structural Anthropology: Essays in Honour of P.E. de Josselin de Jong |last2=Ridder |first2=Rob |last3=Karremans |first3=Jan A. J. |date=1987 |publisher=Brill Archive |isbn=978-90-04-08517-6 |language=en}}</ref>
== Etymology == {{Main|Vishwakarma community|selfref = Vishwakarma is the common name in India subcontinent}} The word Kammalar is derived from the Tamil word ''Kam'' meaning "art" or "operation".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fe0vAAAAIAAJ|title=Early South Indian Paleography|last=Mahalingam|first=T. V.|date=1967|publisher=University of Madras|pages=223|language=en}}</ref> The Kammalar finds mention in ancient Sangam literature, mentioning them by the name ''Kammiyar.'' <ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RAVuAAAAMAAJ|title=Studies in Indian history: with special reference to Tamil Nādu|last=Pillay|first=Kolappa Pillay Kanakasabhapathi|date=1979|publisher=Pillay|pages=340|language=en}}</ref> Their name is said to be derived from the phrase "one who gives the eyes", referring to their providing the eyes for statues of deities.<ref name="Longo2000">{{cite book|author=Bernadette Longo|title=Spurious coin: a history of science, management, and technical writing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eMjTOVfz_fAC&pg=PA160|access-date=24 May 2011|date=May 2000|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-0-7914-4556-3|pages=160–}}</ref>
== Synonyms ==
=== Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka === In Tamil Nadu, Tamil Achari is known as ''Tamil Kammalars''. They are goldsmiths and landlords.
The Kammalar community in Nachiyar Koil town of Tamil Nadu are renowned for making the ornamental brass Nachiarkoil lamps.<ref name=nachiar1>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/71543906.cms PM Narendra Modi gifts Xi Jinping Annam lamp], Times of India, 11 october 2019.</ref>
== See also == {{Portal|Tamils|India|Hinduism}} * Caste system in India * Caste system in Sri Lanka
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Indian castes Category:Social groups of Tamil Nadu Category:Sri Lankan Tamil castes Category:South Indian communities Category:Ethnic groups in India
{{india-ethno-stub}}