Kuruba

Kuruba
Religions Hinduism
Languages Kuruba language, Kannada, Marathi
Populated states Southern India

Kuruba (also known as Kuruba Gowda, Kuruma and Kurumbar) is a Hindu caste whose traditional occupation was that of shepherding and farming. The community hails from Karnataka in India. They are known by different names such as Dhangar,[1] Hatkar and Telwar Lingayat in Maharashtra.

Some sources connect them to Pala, the shepherd dynasty of the Ahirs and suggest that Kuruba is a Dravidian name for Ahir.[2]

Etymology

The term kuruba, meaning shepherd, is derived from kuri, meaning sheep.[1]

History

The Kurubas are said to have been connected to the Yadu or Yadava lineage mentioned in Puranas. Traditional sources claim that the Kurubas founded the Sangama dynasty and the Vijayanagara Empire.[3]

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.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Ramchandra Chintaman Dhere, Translated by Anne Feldhaus (2011). Rise of a Folk God: Vitthal of Pandharpur, South Asia Research. Oxford University Press,. p. 241. ISBN 9780199777648.
  2. ↑ John G. R. Forlong (2008). Encyclopedia of Religions. Cosimo, Inc.,. p. 50. ISBN 9781605204840.
  3. 1 2 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.

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