About Padmashalians

Padmashali,  is a Hindu caste residing in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Our traditional occupation is weaving.

The term Padmashali is derived from two words Padma and Sali, The Padma means lotus and Sali means weaver. The word Padma referring to the myth of the thread was a lotus which sprang from the navel of Vishnu.

Another explaination is . The word "Padma" is sahasradala padma, meaning the highest order of human intelligence. In body chakras "Padma" refers to sahasrara. The word "Shali" in Sanskrit is 'be holder'. Thus "Padmashali" literally means holder of sahasrara. In physical term it means intelligence.

History

The Padmasalis support their mythological origins and Puranas such as Kulapurana and Markandeya Purana.

Padmavathi of Mangapura / tiruchanur of Tirupati, the Shasanam of the temple, declares that Padmavathi, is daughter of Padmashali. Hence, the name Padmashali. There exists writing in Tirupati to evidence the statement of Padmavathi as daughter of Padmashali's. Another aspect of Padmashali, Padma also refers to Lotus. The Lotus also refers to the intelligence or awakening of Sahasrara. The word Padma also means lotus thread.

Markandeya Mahamuni was advised by Siva to perform a Hawan to sacrifice. Shri Bhavana Rishi arose from Home Kund, holding a lotus flower Padma in his hand. He is later known as Bhavanarayana.

Bhavna Rishi had two wives, Prasannavati and Bhadravathi, daughters of Surya (The Sun) and chayadevi. who had a hundred and one sons.

Markandeswara conducted Homa for Loka Kalyana at the instance of Srimannarayana (Vishnu).

Srimannarayana given a lotus stem from his nabhimandal to Bhavana Maharshi to weave cloth. Bhavana took up the task and weaved a cloth and gave to Srimannarayana. Narayana pleased with the lotus cloth blessed him that his progenitors of the one hundred and one Gotras be known as PADMASHALIs.

Markandeya gave fifth veda called Padma Veda; fifth petals of lotus flower. Other four petals of lotus are 4 vedas. So family of this caste belong to Padma Sakha and Markandeya Sutra analogous to the Sakhas, Sutras and Gotras of the Brahmans.

The Padmashalis relate their origin to Vrushis, sages as gothras. Hence, Padmashalis caste of Brahminical not by birth but by deeds. Each family has separate gothras. The family name and gothras will be referred at the time of marriage and sagothras and like family name are barred in going in for marriage.

All Padmasalis claim Rishi gothras of 101 rishi "santhathi" who were taken on adoption by the sage Bhavana Rishi, who himself was taken on adoption by Rishi Markandeya.

All Padmasalis originated from Satavahana empire and their mother tongue remains Telugu, except for a few migrants who had taken longer and numerous stages of migration such as the Shettigars of Dakshina Kannada. Most Padmashalis in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Chatttisgadh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa speak Telugu as mother tongue.