Note 95 — B (continued 2)

Barhai,95 Barhi, Badhi.—(Sanskrit, vardhika; root vardh, “to cut.”)—The carpenter class, also known as Tarkhân in the Panjab, Mistri (which is probably a corruption of the English “Master, Mr.”), and Lakarkata or “wood-cutter” (lakri-kâtna). The term Gokain is generally applied to a wood carver: it is derived by Mr. Nesfield from the Hindi khonchna, “to scoop out,” but is more possibly connected with gaukh, Sanskrit, gavâksha, “a window frame.” Traditionally they claim descent from Viswakarma, son of Brahma (who is identified with Twashtri, the divine artisan), through Vikramajît, who is said to have espoused a Kshatriya woman. As the sub-divisions show, the caste is probably a functional group recruited from various castes following the common occupation of carpentry.