Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s11.158

v1.c3.s11.158

Karmāra, the ‘smith,’ is several times mentioned with approval in the Vedic Saṃhitās.¹ In the Atharvaveda² smiths appear with fishermen (*dhīvāṇaḥ*) and chariot-builders (*ratha-kārāḥ*), all being classified as clever workers (*manīṣiṇaḥ*): possibly a quasi-caste of smiths was already developing from the guild organization that probably existed.³