The Panchaputra Tradition of Vishwakarma and the 125 Sub-Gotras
The Panchaputra tradition holds an important place in the traditional genealogical heritage of the Vishwakarma community. According to this tradition, five major artisan lineages are associated with Vishwakarma. They are:
1. Manu — associated with ironwork, weapons, and metal craftsmanship
2. Maya — associated with carpentry, architecture, and construction
3. Tvashta — associated with copper, bronze, and metal craftsmanship
4. Shilpi — associated with stonework, sculpture, and image-making
5. Vishvajna / Daivajna — associated with gold, silver, and jewellery craftsmanship
These five traditions are commonly described as the Pancha Brahma or Panchaputra tradition within Vishwakarma cultural traditions.
Five Main Lineages and 125 Sub-Gotras
According to one traditional Vishwakarma genealogical system, the five major lineages are further divided into 25 sub-gotras each.
Therefore:
5 Main Lineages × 25 Sub-Gotras = 125 Sub-Gotras
The five divisions are traditionally presented as:
- Manu Brahma — 25
- Maya Brahma — 25
- Tvashta Brahma — 25
- Shilpi Brahma — 25
- Vishvajna Brahma — 25
Together, these form the traditional count of 125 sub-gotras.
The Five Lineages and Traditional Crafts
The Panchaputra tradition is not merely a classification of occupations. Within Vishwakarma cultural traditions, these five lineages represent different branches of India's ancient knowledge of architecture, engineering, metallurgy, sculpture, construction, craftsmanship, and jewellery making.
The traditional associations are generally described as:
Manu → Iron and metal craftsmanship
Maya → Architecture and carpentry
Tvashta → Metalworking and fabrication
Shilpi → Sculpture and stone craftsmanship
Vishvajna/Daivajna → Precious metals and jewellery
These associations may vary between regional and textual traditions.
Are the 125 Sub-Gotras Officially Recognized by the Government?
An important distinction should be made between traditional genealogy and government classification.
The complete list of 125 sub-gotras is not, by itself, a government caste classification. It belongs primarily to the traditional genealogical and cultural traditions of Vishwakarma communities.
At the same time, Viswakarma is officially included in government social-classification records in certain contexts. For example, the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) for Kerala includes Viswakarma and several associated traditional occupational communities.
Therefore:
Government recognition of the Vishwakarma community ≠ Government certification of all 125 traditional sub-gotras.
The two should not be treated as identical.
A Note on the Five Gotras
Different Vishwakarma traditions use different terminology for the five foundational lineages. Some traditions associate them with names such as Sanaga, Sanatana, Abhuvana/Abhunasa, Pratnasa, and Suparnasa.
Therefore, the names of the five Brahmas, the names of the five traditional progenitors, and the names used for the five gotra traditions should not automatically be treated as identical in every source.
Traditional Genealogical Structure
The traditional structure can therefore be summarized as:
Vishwakarma Tradition
↓
Five Principal Lineages
↓
Manu – Maya – Tvashta – Shilpi – Vishvajna
↓
Five Gotra Traditions
↓
25 Sub-Gotras in Each Lineage
↓
125 Traditional Sub-Gotras
Historical Perspective
It is important to distinguish between religious tradition, community genealogy, and historical documentation.
The Panchaputra tradition is an important part of Vishwakarma community heritage, but the identical list of five sons and 125 sub-gotras is not found uniformly in all ancient Mahapuranas.
For this reason, when presenting this subject historically, it is more accurate to use wording such as:
«“According to traditional Vishwakarma genealogical accounts…”»
rather than stating that every Purana gives exactly the same genealogy.
The Panchaputra tradition can therefore be understood as an important expression of the Vishwakarma heritage of craftsmanship, architecture, metallurgy, sculpture, construction, and technical knowledge.
The 125 Traditional Sub-Gotras of the Vishwakarma Panchabrahma Tradition
According to a traditional Vishwakarma genealogical account, the Panchabrahma tradition is divided into five principal branches, with 25 sub-gotras under each branch, giving a traditional total of 125 sub-gotras.
1. Manu Brahma — 25 Sub-Gotras
No.| Sub-Gotra| Branch
1| Sanaka| Manu
2| Vibrajan| Manu
3| Kasyapan| Manu
4| Manuvishwakarma| Manu
5| Vishwatma| Manu
6| Manvathi| Manu
7| Mahamanu| Manu
8| Bhubalan| Manu
9| Suvartan| Manu
10| Vishwacevan| Manu
11| Samandan| Manu
12| Suvedagan| Manu
13| Purnjayan| Manu
14| Bhanumathi| Manu
15| Jayakumaran| Manu
16| Vanajan| Manu
17| Bhasantan| Manu
18| Madu| Manu
19| Chitravasu| Manu
20| Tapasan| Manu
21| Suyakeshan| Manu
22| Sutapase| Manu
23| Probodakan| Manu
24| Vasulochan| Manu
25| Chitradarman| Manu
2. Maya Brahma — 25 Sub-Gotras
No.| Sub-Gotra| Branch
26| Sanatan| Maya
27| Vamadevan| Maya
28| Vishwachakshu| Maya
29| Prathitakshan| Maya
30| Sunandan| Maya
31| Manushamanu| Maya
32| Sanle| Maya
33| Kumarn| Maya
34| Darminan| Maya
35| Vidhatha| Maya
36| Dvijadharman| Maya
37| Vardhaki| Maya
38| Bhavaboothan| Maya
39| Takshu| Maya
40| Santamathi| Maya
41| Yajasenan| Maya
42| Chakshushan| Maya
43| Vishwatakshan| Maya
44| Vishwadarman| Maya
45| Sumedapan| Maya
46| Rivathan| Maya
47| Pravaran| Maya
48| Jayanthan| Maya
49| Parishagan| Maya
50| Vidyanandan| Maya
3. Tvashta Brahma — 25 Sub-Gotras
No.| Sub-Gotra| Branch
51| Abhuvasan| Tvashta
52| Bhadradathan| Tvashta
53| Kandhavan| Tvashta
54| Vishwarupan| Tvashta
55| Shrimukhan| Tvashta
56| Varthan| Tvashta
57| Yajapalan| Tvashta
58| Kushadharman| Tvashta
59| Tamragarbhan| Tvashta
60| Athidahathu| Tvashta
61| Lokeshamanu| Tvashta
62| Padmakshan| Tvashta
63| Vitakshamanu| Tvashta
64| Medhamathi| Tvashta
65| Vishwamayan| Tvashta
66| Boodayanan| Tvashta
67| Jatharupan| Tvashta
68| Chithrasenan| Tvashta
69| Jayasenan| Tvashta
70| Vighanasan| Tvashta
71| Propanathan| Tvashta
72| Devalan| Tvashta
73| Vinayan| Tvashta
74| Brahmadekshithan| Tvashta
75| Haridarman| Tvashta
4. Shilpi Brahma — 25 Sub-Gotras
No.| Sub-Gotra| Branch
76| Pratasan| Shilpi
77| Ruchidathan| Shilpi
78| Vaastupathi| Shilpi
79| Kasusalan| Shilpi
80| Sanabhan| Shilpi
81| Praharshan| Shilpi
82| Lokametha| Shilpi
83| Chitrakamanu| Shilpi
84| Sahasrabahu| Shilpi
85| Deshikamanu| Shilpi
86| Endrasenan| Shilpi
87| Giridharman| Shilpi
88| Vasudharman| Shilpi
89| Vakrachathase| Shilpi
90| Vishwabhadran| Shilpi
91| Bhadran| Shilpi
92| Devabhadran| Shilpi
93| Vigjakan| Shilpi
94| Prabodakane| Shilpi
95| Manu| Shilpi
96| Shakwaran| Shilpi
97| Devapalan| Shilpi
98| Rajadarman| Shilpi
99| Bhoketavyamanu| Shilpi
100| Prajnamathi| Shilpi
5. Vishvajna Brahma — 25 Sub-Gotras
No.| Sub-Gotra| Branch
101| Suvarnasan| Vishvajna
102| Vishvanjne| Vishvajna
103| Bharithan| Vishvajna
104| Saurasenan| Vishvajna
105| Samvyayanan| Vishvajna
106| Manibhadran| Vishvajna
107| Munieswaran| Vishvajna
108| Sruthivardhanan| Vishvajna
109| Yaajeikan| Vishvajna
110| Samjakan| Vishvajna
111| Adityasenakan| Vishvajna
112| Andarvandan| Vishvajna
113| Architan| Vishvajna
114| Karmabhumi| Vishvajna
115| Pararchithan| Vishvajna
116| Tejodharman| Vishvajna
117| Sudarsanan| Vishvajna
118| Upagopan| Vishvajna
119| Yajnan| Vishvajna
120| Saanthu| Vishvajna
121| Upkalepan| Vishvajna
122| Devasenan| Vishvajna
123| Adithyan| Vishvajna
124| Nigaman| Vishvajna
125| Upanjayan| Vishvajna
Traditional Structure
The traditional classification can therefore be represented as:
Vishwakarma Tradition
↓
Panchabrahma / Five Principal Branches
↓
Manu — Maya — Tvashta — Shilpi — Vishvajna
↓
25 Sub-Gotras under each branch
↓
125 Traditional Sub-Gotras
Important Historical Note
This list represents a traditional Vishwakarma genealogical classification. The spelling and even the names of some sub-gotras may vary between manuscripts, regional traditions, community records, and later publications.
The five-branch system should also not automatically be equated with every genealogy found in the ancient Mahapuranas. Different Puranic texts provide different genealogical traditions concerning Vishwakarma and related figures.
Therefore, for historical writing, it is preferable to describe these as:
«“The 125 traditional sub-gotras of the Vishwakarma Panchabrahma tradition.”»
rather than claiming that all 18 Mahapuranas uniformly record the same list.
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