Kuruba

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Kurubas or Kurumas are Hindus concentrated mainly in the southern states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Unofficial population estimate in these two states is about 16 million. They are also known as Yadavas and Dhangars in Maharashtra.

Kuruba
Classification: Caste/Dhangar
Significant populations in: Northern India, Western India, Southern India, and Central India
Language Primarily Kannada. Also Hindi and its dialects, Punjabi,Gujarati, Marathi
Religion Hinduism

Contents

[edit] Etymology

The word Kuruba has a powerful meaning, It means 'warriors' and 'trustworthy people'. The word "Kuru" means "do or seek" in Sanskrit, and "Kuruhu" means "trust" in Kannada. "Kuruba" can be inferred to mean "doers" or "trustworthy (male person)". Kuruba can also be inferred to mean Seeker of Knowledge, Kuru (seek), Bha (Knowledge, Light).

[edit] History

The Kuruba community is one of the oldest existing communities of India, tracing its history back to Mahabharata times. People of the Kuruba community have long essayed a variety of professions, and have not been confined to their traditional (and still predominant) occupation as shepherds and farmers. They have sprung several ruling dynasties, most recently the Holkars of Indore; It has also been surmised by some scholars that the Hoysala dynasty may have hailed from this community. Undeniably, a very large section of rural gentry in Karnataka, and many chieftains and feudal barons in past eras, have belonged to the Kuruba community. Some historions say prominent Kurubas have been Hakkaraya and Bukkaraya, founders of Vijayanagara Empire, Hoysalas, Pallavas, Holkars, Sangolli Rayanna, Mauryas, Yadavas etc. Kurubas have also few social thinker and poets. Great poets like Kalidasa, Kanakadasa are Kurubas.

[edit] Culture

Kurubas are Hindus who follow Halumatha. Halumatha is also referred to as palamatha in some parts of India. Religion of the Palakas. Worshiping Almighty Source in stone (Linga) form might have originated from Halumatha. Stone is the source for the soil. Soil is the source for the plants. Plants are the source for the animals. This may be the reason for worshiping Almight in Stone. Through the ages, this stone worship tradition might have lead to worshiping Shiva(Pashupati) as Beeralingeswara, Mailara Linga, Khandoba, Mahadeshwara, Nanjundeswara, Mallappa, Mallara, Mallikarjuna, Junjappa etc. Even the worshiping of shakti as Yellamma, Renuka, Chowdamma, Kariyamma, Chamundi, Bhanashankari, Gullamma etc... might have come from this tradition. Even today ancestoral worship as deities is very common. The worship of ancestors like Revanasidda, Rama, Hanuman, Krishna,Keshava, Ranganatha, Eera Thimmanna, Tirupati Thimmappa, Venkateswara, Kalidasa, Siddarama, Kanakadasa etc... as Devaru very much exists in Kuruba traditions.

Beeralingeswara temples have "Balaga" with Gowda, Buddhivanta, Bandari, Kolkara etc. Generally priets in Beeralingeshwara and Milaralingeshwara temples are kurubas. Kurubas were great warriors and had established many ancient kingdoms such as the Hoysala kingdom in Karnataka and Pallava kingdom in present day Tamil Nadu; they reached their zenith of prosperity between AD.1300 & AD.1600 under the great Vijayanagara Empire.

[edit] Other Names

Kurubas are known by different names in different regions of the country. In some locations in Karnataka, People from the Kuruba Community use Naiker as surname. It means the same as Gowda (A leader of village or temple). The following are used :

Andar, Ahiyaru , Ahir, Appugol, Maldhari / Bharwad / Rabari, Bharavadaru, Dhangar, Dhangad / Dhanwar / Dhanka /Dhangod, Doddi Gowda, Gadhariya, Gadaria, Gowda, Gaddi, Gadri, Gollavadu, Gounder,Halumatha, Heggades, Idyar, Khuruk, Kuda, Kuruba, Kuruba Gowda, Kurumba, Kurmar, Kurumbar, Kalavar, Kuruma, Kurumavaaru, Kurkhi, Kurupu, Naikers, Nikhers, Oraon, Pal / Pala, Palaru, Paalakyatriya, Poduvar, Yadavalu.

[edit] Kuruba Kingdoms

[edit] Sub-Castes

[edit] Tribal communities

These may be part of kuruba communities. There may be more than 500 bedagus in kuruba community.

  • Heluvaru
  • Sudagadu Siddaru
  • Gidabudaki
  • Jogi
  • Handi Jogi
  • Handhi Gollaru
  • Kadu Gollaru
  • Waddaru

[edit] Kurubas Today

Traditionally warriors and farmers, Kurubas were late to take up modern education, but have made rapid progress in many fields. They are today developing into a vibrant and dynamic community coming out of the inferiority complex imposed on them since the fall of Vijayanagara empire. The community is ably led by many politicians and social thinkers who are today not only leading the kuruba community but also all deprived sections of the society. Kurubas today have become the voice of all the deprived communities of the society grouped under Backward Castes. More work has to be done to help the vast majority of Kuruba Gowdas living in the villages to come out of the inferiority complex and make a life for themselves.

[edit] Traditions

Traditionally Kuruba Gowdas celebrate most Hindu festivals. They have their own costumes, songs, ballads and plays in praise of god like

[edit] Kuruba Epics

[edit] Famous kuruba gowdas

[edit] Movies

Kuruba Gowdas are a favourite topic for movies, since the community has produced many historical figures and have become household names.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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