3 Panchal struggle

Though the Panchal had great importance in olden times some Brahmins refused to accept Panchal as Brahmins which lead to have bread hereditary feud between two groups of caste i.e. Panchal & other Brahmins. During Peshwa rule they suffered a lot. Since Peshwa were Brahmins. Peshwa even did not allowed Panchal to tide the dhoti or waist cloth up between legs and in at the waist a mark of Brahminic rank. The Peshwas belonged to the Chitpavan Brahmin caste and are later migrants to India from the Middle East and Central Asia. They were at odds with Vishwakarma Brahmins who identified themselves as the original Brahmins and builder of the Aryan Vedic civilization.

• Nelson Hindu Law “Page 139-140 says - “The refusal of many castes in ancient times to accept the Brahmans as their pastors and master would seem to have bread hereditary feud between two group of caste known as right hand and left hand. the origin and history of the feud at present are wholly unknown" but it seem to me to be not improbable that the feud sprang from rivalries & contention between the supporters & adherents of Brahmans on one hand & those of the Goldsmith & other artificers on the other hand. In south of India the Goldsmith’s appear as body strenuously to have resisted the aggressive supremacy of Brahmans & for ages to have claimed for themselves the right to be priest & spiritual guides styling themselves Acharyas (religious teacher) &wearing a sacred.”
• Meharban once British collector in his book ‘Bombay Gazetteer’ says “Solapur Vol XX page 125:-Panchals are composed of five classes" goldsmith, Blacksmith, carpenter and masons. They consider themselves equals if not superior to local Brahmans. Their family priest who are member of their own community are held in high respect. They grid their boys with sacred thread when they are between seven & nine. A feast called the Brahmans feast or Brahma Bhojan is held when Kin folic and caste follows are asked to dine.