Kuruba
| Kuruba | |
|---|---|
| Kuruba, Kuruma, Kurumbar | |
 Kuruba shepherd | |
| Religions | Hinduism |
| Languages | Kannada |
| Populated states | Karnataka |
| Region | South India |
Kuruba (also known as Kuruma and Kurumbar) is a Hindu caste native to the Indian state of Karnataka, where they are the 3rd largest caste group.[1][2] The community's traditional occupation includes shepherds and farming.[3][4][5]
Etymology
Traditionally Kurubas are shepherds.[citation needed] The name Kuruba is derived from the Sanskrit word kuru which means 'Warrior' or 'truth seeker.'
Kuruba has a direct meaning of one who herds "Kuri" (Sheep) in Kannada, mainly a Shepherd.
Kurubas are also called as 'Dhangar' in Maharashtra and 'Gadariya' in North India[4].
History
The Kuruba's are said to have been connected to the Yadu or Yadava lineage mentioned in Puranas.[citation needed] Traditional sources claim that the Kurumas or Kurubas founded the Sangama dynasty, the founding dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire.[6]
According to Ramchandra Chintaman Dhere, a scholar of the religious traditions of Maharashtra "The history of South India shows clearly that all the southern royal dynasties who arose from pastoralist, cowherd groups gained Kshatriya status by claiming to be Moon lineage Kshatriya, by taking Yadu as their ancestor and by continually keeping alive their pride in being "Yadava". Many dynasties in South India from the Pallavas to Yadurayas were originally members of pastoralist, cowherd groups and belonged to Kuruba lineages.[6]
Subgroups
The community has more than 100 sub-groups called kula. Exogamy at the kula level is strictly controlled by using the idiom of Mane Devaru (the patron god of the given exogamic clan) which dictates that the followers of same Mane Devaru are siblings and marriage is thus forbidden, allowing marital alliances only with another clan and not within. This is similar to the Brahminical gotra system, but is not the same.
Notable people
- Sangolli Rayanna, 18th century freedom fighter and a warrior who fought the British East India Company in South India[7]
- Kaka Nayaka, a legendary leader after whom the Kakanakote forest is named[8]
- Y. Nagappa, Ex-Social Welfare Minister of Karnataka[9]
- Siddaramaiah, 22nd Chief Minister of Karnataka
References
- ^ Kuruba community sets a new trend at math
- ^ "Vokkaliga, Lingayat leaders oppose state's caste census". Bangalore Mirror. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
- ^ "Bandaru assures ST category for Golla-Kuruma". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 25 August 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ a b Ramchandra Chintaman Dhere, Translated by Anne Feldhaus (2011). Rise of a Folk God: Vitthal of Pandharpur, South Asia Research. Oxford University Press. pp. 240–241. ISBN 9780199777648.
- ^ John G. R. Forlong (2008). Encyclopedia of Religions. Cosimo, Inc. p. 50. ISBN 9781605204840.
- ^ a b Dhere, Ramchandra Chintaman (2011). Rise of a Folk God: Vitthal of Pandharpur, South Asia Research. Feldhaus, Anne (trans.). Oxford University Press. p. 243. ISBN 978-0-19977-764-8.
- ^ Sangolli Rayanna and the rise of caste heroes
- ^ 'Kakana Kote' as a tribute to Lokesh
- ^ 'Gopura' issue has united Kuruba community: Nagappa
External links
- Karnatakakurubarasangha.com - Karnataka Kuruba Sangha
- akyko.com Akhila Karnataka Yuva Kurubara Sangha