Page:Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 4.djvu/151

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141
KURUBA

said *[1] to be divided into Handē Kurubas and Kurubas proper, who have no intercourse with one another. The latter worship Bire Dēvaru, and are Saivites. According to another account, the Hālu Kurubas of Mysore have sub-divisions according to the day of the week, on which they offer pūja to their god, e.g., Aditya Vārada (Sunday), Brihaspati Vārada (Thursday), Sōma Vārada (Monday).

"The Kurubas," Mr. H. A. Stuart writes, "are again sub-divided into clans or gumpus, each having a headman or guru called a gaudu, who gives his name to the clan. And the clans are again sub-divided into gōtras or septs, which are mostly of totemistic origin, and retain their totemistic character to this day. The Arisana gōtram is particularly worthy of notice. The name means saffron (turmeric), and this was originally taboo; but, as this caused inconvenience, the korra grain has been substituted, although the old name of the sept was retained."

Exogamous septs.
Agni, fire. Batlu, cup.
Alige, drum. Belata (Feronia elephantum).
Andara, booth. Belli, silver.
Ānē, elephant. Bēlu (Ægle Marmelos).
Arashina or Arisana, tur- Bende (Hibiscus esculentus).
meric. Benise, flint.
Ārathi, wave offering. Bēvu or Bevina (Melia
Ari, ebony. Azadirachta).
Ariya, noble. Bīnu, roll of woollen thread.
Āvu, snake. Bola, bangle.
Bandi, cart. Chandra, moon.
Banni (Prosopis spicigera). Chelu, scorpion.
Basalē (Basella rubra). Chilla (Sirychnos potatorum).
Chinna or Sinnata, gold.
  1. • Mysore Census Report, 1901.