Kuladevta (male) Vishwakarma Religions Hinduism Populated states West Bengal | Kuladevi (female) Lakshmi Languages Bengali | |
Kansabanik (Bengali: কংসবণিক) also known as Kansari (Bengali: কাঁসারী) is a Bengali Hindu caste who are traditionally braziers and coppersmiths by profession.
History
The Brihaddharma Purana classified the Kansabaniks among the upper mixed castes in the caste hierarchy. The Brahmavaivarta Purana classified the Kansbaniks in the pure Shudra category. Ballal Sen incorporated the Kansabaniks among the Navashakhas. According to William Wilson Hunter, the Kansabaniks are the braziers and the coppersmiths, manufacturers and sellers of brass and copper utensils.
According to legend, an apsara from heaven was cursed and took birth as a human on earth. Vishwakarma, who too was born as a Brahmin incarnate on the earth, married her and had nine sons. The sons grew up to be skilled artists. One of the sons took up the profession of a brazier. He is supposed to be the progenitor of the Kansabaniks. According to another legend, when Parashurama defeated Kartavirya Arjuna, one of the latter's generals, Sanaka, fled the country in the disguise of a Brahmin and took refuge in Virat. He married a Kshatriya woman and sired five sons, who grew up to be artisans. The third son was engaged in trading of ores and minerals and invented brass. He is said to be the progenitor of Kansaris.