India history and geography

Source: Wisdom Library: India History

Kathada (or, Kaṭhāḍā) refers to one of the 84 castes (gaccha) in the Jain community according to various sources. The associated place of origin is known as Khatu (or, Khāṭū). The Jain caste and sub-caste system was a comparatively later development within their community, and it may have arisen from the ancient classification of Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya and Śūdra. Before distinction of these classes (such as Kathada), the society was not divided into distinct separate sections, but all were considered as different ways of life and utmost importance was attached to individual chartacter and mode of behaviour.

According to Dr. Vilas Adinath Sangava, “Jainism does not recognise castes (viz., Kathada) as such and at the same time the Jaina books do not specifically obstruct the observance of caste rules by the members of the Jaina community. The attitude of Jainism towards caste is that it is one of the social practices, unconnected with religion, observed by people; and it was none of its business to regulate the working of the caste system” (source).

The legendary account of the origin of these 84 Jain castes (e.g., Kathada) relate that once a rich Jain invited members of the Jain community in order to establish a vaiśya-mahāsabhā (i.e. Central Association of Traders). In response, 84 representatives came from different places (e.g., Khatu), and they were later seen as the progenitors of these castes. Various sources however mention differences in the list.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

kaṭhaḍā (कठडा).—m (kāṣṭha S) A railing or paling; banisters &c.; any similar frame-work (the arms of a chair; the paling-form ends of a bedstead; sides of a cart; guard of a door or low window; bamboo or board frame around the sides of a ship or boat, to keep off the spray; sides of a camel-saddle, or bows of other saddles &c.)

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kaṭhāḍa (कठाड) [or रा, rā].—m P (Commonly kaṭhaḍā q. v.) A railing or paling.

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kāṭhāḍa (काठाड) [or कांठाड, kāṇṭhāḍa].—n (kāṇṭha) A side of the face, a cheek. A low word, used only in threatening a slap on the cheek.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

kaṭhaḍā (कठडा).—m A railing, banisters &c., any similar framework.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Ends with: Dongarakathada.

Full-text: Katharada, Kathora, Katara.

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