YERUKALA HISTORY, ANCESTORS

YERUKALA

Ancient history

Yerukala, Yerukula, Erukala, Erukula, or Kurru is a community found largely in the Southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu andKarnataka. Yerukalas are indigenous people of South India. They call themselves ‘Kurru’. They are called as ‘Yerukula’ in Andhra Pradesh after their women’s traditional profession of fortune telling (Eruka cheputa). Yerukala is also known as Kaikadi - Kuchikorve (Makadwala) in Maharashtra

[ ANCESTOR OF EKALAVYA - PAVAN KUMAR SAKE S/O RAMANJINEYULU SAKE ]

Yerukala
Classification	Tribals, and Indigenous.
Religions	Hinduism and Christianity
Languages	Yerukala, Telugu, Tamil,Kannada
Populated States	Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,Karnataka
Subdivisions	6

Ancient history

Origins

The earliest reference of Yerukalas can be found in the Mahabharata, the great Indian epic. Ekalavya, the extraordinary expert and skilful archer of Mahabharata times, belongs to Yerukala society. Yekalavya achieves a skill level parallel to the great Arjuna despite Drona's rejection of him. As he was a member of a low caste, he was denied to study in the Gurukul of Dronacharya.

Many historians have stated that they found references on some pillars stating that the Kakatiyas were originated from the nomadic tribe called Erukala.

Ekalavya is one of the inspiring characters of the epic Mahabharata. Ekalavya is said to belong to Nishadha tribe of North India. The Nishadha caste is known as Erukula in Telugu speaking lands. This tribe is also known as Kiratas in some places of North India.

The Kiratas or Erukalas are expert hunters who hit can hit the running animals and the flying birds. It is widely accepted by historians that the Kakatiyas of Warangal and Bastar belonged to this Erukala caste to which the great archer Ekalavya belonged. The Erukalas are a variants or a branch of bhils of India.

In the Indian mythology, Eklavya occupies an important place as someone who exemplifies the nature of Guru-shishya tradition of teaching in India, showing extreme reverence for his guru. It is said that Ekalavya learned archery through the statue of Guru Dhronacharya and excelled Arjuna. .

Hanuman was a Rama bantu ( Faithful Servant to Sri Rama). Mudiraju Bantlu ( bants) who belong to vanara races are well known as members of suicide squads employed by their king masters. The very term Coolie was a modification of bhil tribe's name Koli. In Punjabi, Bande also means a faithful follower and they also belong to bhil - koli races. The Gypsy banjaras of Indian origin ( with roots of Vanaras ) are also known as Romanichal in Europe.

Koli => Cooli => Coolie Bantu ( Telugu language ) = Faithful Servant Bande( Punjabi language ) = Faithful follower Ramoshi = Ram vashi = Controlled by Sri Rama Romanichal (Romani ) = Faithful follower of Sri Rama

When Drona went to Ekalavya and demanded that Ekalavya turn over his right thumb as a teacher's fee ( Guru Dakshina ), the loyal Ekalavya crippled himself and thereby ruined his prospects as an archer by severing his thumb and giving it to Drona.This act of Ekalavya is nothing short of a suicide tendency which can be seen hidden in dravidian bhil races. For this reason, it is said that the bhil descendants of Ekalavya of Madhya Pradesh shoot their arrows using their middle finger instead of their thumbs. They are highly revengeful and can kill their enemy by secretly following them like a wild cates. Because of this ferocious behaviour of Erukalas, they were declared as criminal tribes by British

The Nishadhas are a branch of Dravidian Bhil races of North India. In the days of Ramayana and Mahabharata, the land from Sindhu to Sri Lanka was inhabited by dravidians and they spoke a language which was a mixture of present day Telugu & Tamil languages. This language was spoken from the country of Sumeria, Babylonia, Israel to India. In Telugu, the Ekalavya's caste is known as Erukala or Yerukula. In Telugu, Erukala means sooth sayer or fortune teller. In Telugu language, Bhil means bow. .

Bil = Bhil = Vhil = Vhillu = Bow Eruka = Fortune telling or Sooth saying Erukala = One who does the job of a fortune teller

The Bhils form an important group, which inhabits mainly the southern districts of Rajasthan and the surrounding regions of Udaipur and Chittaurgarh. The generic term, which describes their tribe apparently, derives its name from bil, meaning bow, which describes their original talent and strength.

History corroborates the legends, which tells about their superiority in archery. From the Mahabharata emerges Eklavya, a Bhil who surpassed the skill of Arjuna only to be repressed by the command of his guru. The Ramayana tells of Vail, the Bhil bandit who reformed with the blessings of the Saraswati, the goddess of learning, to become Valmiki, the renowned poet sage.

The Bhils gained in strength by intermingling with rebellious, outcast Rajputs who sought shelter with them. Most of the Rajaputs had their origins in the bhil - koli blood. Rajput rulers came to value the guerilla tactics of the Bhils, particularly since they were at ease in the hilly terrain. Various fierce invasions could not be repelled without their active support. Even today, the accepted head of all the Rajput clan of Rajasthan, the Maharana of Udaipur is crowned by anointing his forehead with blood drawn from the palm of a Bhil chieftain, affirming the alliance and loyalty of his tribe.

Ekalavya, belonged to the Nishadha clan, but Drona rejected him because he did not belong to the Kshatriya Varna. Prince Ekalavya was undaunted by this rebuff from Drona and practiced archery in front of a clay model of Dronacharya, his Manaseega Guru. By this application of mind, body and determination, Ekalavya became a warrior of exceptional prowess, at par with the young Arjuna.

Ekalavya was a young prince of the Nishadha tribes. The Mahabharata speaks of Nishaad (or Shabara) as forest hunters. The main profession of Nishaads were hunting the birds. . When A Nishaad killed one bird from a pair the other bird was crying and that inspired Valmiki to write the true story of Rama and Sita known as Ramayana. Ramayana the king of Nishaad named Guha was a very close friend of Rama. He helps Rama and Sita to cross Ganges river during exile to forests There were several Nishadha Dravidian kingdoms during Ramayana and Mahabharata periods. King Nala of Nala Damayanti was also a Nishadha king. King of Nishadha lost his kingdom in a game of dice and deserted his wife Damayanti because of a curse. They were all related to Mudiraj - koli - bhil people.

Ekalavya was born to Devashrava, who was the brother of Vasudeva. Since Vasudeva was the father of Krishna, Ekalavya was blood related brother to Sri Krishna. Ekalavya was raised by Hiranyadhanus, the leader (King) of the Nishadhas, who was a commander in the army of Jarasandha ,the king of Magadha. Ekalavya's mother could be a Dravidian Bhil Nishadha woman. Nishadhas were treated as low caste people, as they were mixed race people.

Ekalavya wanted to learn advanced skills of archery from Dronacharya, , the legendary weaponsmaster of and instructor of Arjuna and his brothers. Drona, however, rejected Ekalavya on account of the prince's humble origins and low caste.

After being rejected by Drona, Ekalavya embarks upon a program of self-study in the presence of a clay image of Drona. He achieves a level of skill equal to that of Arjuna, Drona's favorite and most accomplished pupil. Fearful that Ekalavya will excel him, Arjuna begs Drona to take action. Drona goes to Ekalavya and demands that Ekalavya turn over his right thumb as a teacher's fee. The loyal Ekalavya cripples himself, and thereby ruins his prospects as an archer, by severing his thumb and giving it to Drona.

According to some, Drona wanted to hamper Ekalavya's archery skills because he feared that Ekalavya would use them against Drona's employer, the King of Hastinapur (Ekalavya's father worked for Jarasandh, who was an adversary of the Hastinapur kingdom).

Others have alleged that Ekalavya learned all the archery skills by secretly observing the training sessions of Dronacharya. When Dronacharaya found out, he visited Ekalavya to verify his suspicions. Although Drona could have demanded an even greater punishment under the laws in effect at that time, he asked only for Ekalavya's right thumb, thus making useless the archery skills which he had learned secretly.

Others still have said that Dronacharya demanded Ekalavya's thumb because the latter was not a Kshatriya, and in those days only Kshatriyas were supposed to get a military education.

Later, Ekalavya worked as a confidant of King Jarasandh. At the time of Rukmini's Swayamvar, he acted as the messenger between Shishupala and Rukmini's father Bhishmaka, at Jarasandh's behest. Bhishmaka decides that Rukmini should marry Shishupala, but instead Rukmini elopes with Krishna. Ekalavya is later killed by Krishna, who hurls a rock against him, in a conflict against Jarasandh's army.

Various theories were propounded by various historians in respect of the origin and evolution of the 16 "ancient communities" or "Janapadas" in the Himalayan region. Saklani points out that there is strong evidence that they are in fact Raghuvanshi Rajputs, the descendants of the Bhill-Kirata tribe.

The people of Erukala or Nishadha tribes were also known as Kiratas in some places of North and North-East. Hidimbi was the sister of Hidimba. She later married Bhima and begot a son named Ghatotkaca. India. Hidamba and Hidimbi are said to belong to Kirata tribe.

Modern history

British Rule

In times past, the Yerukalas lived in the forests and were satisfied with the forest economy of hunting and gathering. In 1878, the sale of forest produce was strictly prohibited by the British government and the Yerukalas were forced to the plains. The tribes lost everything they had and rebelled against the government, who in turn forced them to settle on small portions of land that were insufficient for survival. This displacement had a detrimental effect on their lives, which led to maladjustment and a loss of self-respect in society. In 1911, a revised Criminal Tribes Act of Madras Presidency, placed them under the category of "criminal tribes", leading to their long term stigmatization and ostracism, after independence however they were denotified in 1952. Today, they remain bound by poverty.

During the British Imperial rule in India, Yerukalas settled in agriculture or petty trades, such as making ropes, mats, and baskets. Unfortunately, the introduction of railroads brought a setback to their businesses. Due to their desperate situation, subsequent police oppression, harsh punishments, and torture, the Yerukala have been driven to a sub-human standard of living.

Republic Of India

Today, most of the Yerukalas are settled in the villages/towns and trying to make their way out of the poverty by getting education to obtain financial freedom which has been denied to them since ages. Yerukalas are using reservations and other benefits from the government to a greater extent to obtain the freedom they used to have long long time age. Even though they live in a free democratic country like India, they are still living under harsh social conditions because of the Indian caste system and face social discriminations time and again.

Most of the Yerukalas have been alloted land for agriculture at some places by the government of Andhra Pradesh. They are making good use of the opportunities provided to them. They get loans for the investing in the land. But its success is entirely dependent on timely monsoons. Some make mats, baskets, and ropes to sell. They no longer practice their old methods of earning money, such as fortune-telling and tattooing.Yerukulas of Andrapradesh are same as kuravar of tamilnadu which should be understood well by , properly by registered general of India where the file for inclusion of kuravar in scheduled tribe sent by Tamilnadu state government of tamilnadu is pending before it.

Population

Environment : Primarily plains, but also tropical rainforest and mountain.

Lifestyle : Were semi-Nomadic, now settling in villages and towns.

Subsistence : Agriculture, animal Husbandry, handicrafts.

Literacy  : The total literacy rate among Yerukula as per 1991 Census reports is 25.74.

Census

Estimated total Yerukala population in India: 549,000

• Andhra Pradesh (531,000)
• Tamil Nadu (13,000)
• Orissa (1,800)
• Karnataka (1,200)
• Maharashtra (600)
• Delhi (200)
• Gujarat (200)
• Pondicherry (200)
• Chhattisgarh (100)

Jharkhand (87)

Location

Rayalseema, Telengana and Andhra regions of Andhra Pradesh; Nilgiri, Coimbatore, Periyar, Salem parts of Tamilnadu; Orissa; Delhi; Karnataka; Kerala; Maharashtra; Gujarat; Pondicherry; Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

Language

Yerukalas speak a language of their own - the Yerukala language, which is also called ‘Yerukula basha’, ‘Kurru basha’ or ‘Kulavatha’. It is colosely related to Ravula and Irula, and belongs to theTamil subgroup of the Dravidian languages.

In Andhra Pradesh, Yerukala language is increasing used in home, friends, religion. In Rayalseema and Telengana regions it is even greater. Some regions have low bilingual proficiency in Telugu, higher in Andhra Pradesh and among educated adults.

Sub-Divisions

The Yerukalas are divided into a number of functional and endogamous sub-divisions and each such sub-division is named after the commodity, which they traded in and the occupation they adopted. The sub-divisions of Yerukula are Dabba Yerukala (those who make baskets from split bamboo), Eethapullala Yerukula (Date twigs) (those whom make baskets from wild date leaves), Kunchapuri Yerukala (those who make weaver’s combs), Parikamuggula Yerukala (sooth sayers and beggars), Karivepaku Yerukala (hawkers of curry leaves), Uppu Yerukala (salt hawkers).

Each sub-division is dividend into four phraties viz., Kavadi, Sathupadi, Maanupadi and Mendraguthi. The first two phratries Viz, Kavadi and Sathupadi are considered to be superior to the other two. Each phratry is further sub-divided into a number of exogamous surnames. Endogamy at community level and exogamy at phratry and surnameslevel are observed.

korama, koracha, kaniyan, kaniheluvavru, and other name the people who tells kani belongs to yerukula

Religion

Yerukalas worship Hindu Gods i.e. Lord shiva, Lord Venteswara, Narasimhaswamy, Narayanaswamy and Rama, which are common Gods in Hindu pantheon and appease deities such as Ankamma, Kollapuramma, Sunkulamma, Poleramma and Ellamma. The Yerukalas celebrate Hindu festivals such as Sankranthi, Sivarathri, Sreeramanavami, Dasara, Ugadi (Telugu New Year’s Day).

Yerukalas worship natural objects such as the sun, the moon and the fire, along with worshipping Lord Vishnu & Lord shiva. In some of the places, Yerukalas are not permitted to enter Hindu temples; hence they keep stones or mud idols under trees and give them offerings.

Largest religion is Hindu. But Christianity is on the rise in this community because of the economic inducements and coercion by the missionaries. The converts are made to look down on their unique identity and culture and adopt Christian ways over their own. Missionary funded churches are being built with funds donated by Christians allover the world.

1. Hindu (95%)
2. Nonreligious (3.6%)
3. Christians (1.3%)

Social Customs

The type of family among Yerukalas is usually nuclear. Descent is patrilineal, residence is patrilocal and authority is patriarchal. Cross-cousin (menarikam) marriages are preferred. Marriages between the maternal uncle and niece are also permitted. Monogamy is the common form of marriage, but polygyny is also socially permitted. Marriage through negotiation and exchange are the common modes of acquiring mates. Traditionally, the married women used to wear a bead necklace as the symbol of marriage. But now thali bottu or mangal sutram, the marriage pendent is being worn as a marriage symbol by most of the women. Divorce is permissible on the grounds of adultery, barrenness and incompatibility between the spouses. Widows are permitted to re-marry.

The Yerukala tribe has its own social control mechanism at each habitation inhabited by Yerukala to ensure proper observance of prescribed codes of conduct. This traditional council (Kula Panchayat) is headed by an elderly man whose office is hereditary traditionally. The traditional council (Kula Panchayat) try and decide the domestic disputes, disputes relating to theft, adultery, loans, property and land. The characteristic feature of deciding guilt or innocence of an accused among Yerukalas was through trial by ordeal, which was in vogue till recent times such as 1. Dipping of fingers in boiling oil, 2. Picking up the burnt iron crowbar and, 3. Walking bare foot through the fire bed. Apart from solving disputes, the Kulapanchayat is also competent to maintain the solidarity of the community by checking the behaviour of the individuals. If a person commit the breach of incest taboo he is excommunicated and denied all community rights. The defaulter is readmitted into the community after the purificatory ceremony is observed.

Yerukalas are non-vegetarians. Rice is their staple cereal in coastal Andhra Pradesh, while jowar is the staple cereal in Rayalaseema and Telangana regions.

The traditional occupation of Yerukalas include basket-making, mat weaving, pig rearing, rope-making,brooms making etc. The Yerukala women are specialized in sooth saying and fortune telling. Some of them also participate in the economic activities like basket making, mat weaving etc., and make baskets with wild date leaves.

The Yerukulas living in plain areas of Andhra Pradesh make different types of baskets with bamboo.

List of Scheduled Tribes in India

This is a full list of Scheduled Tribes in India, as recognised in India's Constitution; a total of 645 district tribes. The term "Scheduled Tribes" refers to specific indigenous peoples whose status is acknowledged to some formal degree by national legislation. A collective term in use locally to describe most of these peoples is "Upajati" (literally "clans/tribes/groups").

Andhra Pradesh

• Andh
• Bagata
• Bhil
• Chenchu, Chenchwar
• Gadabas
• Gond Naikpod, Rajgond
• Goudu (in the Agency tracts)
• Hill Reddis
• Jatapus
• Kammara
• Kattunayakan
• Kolam, Mannervarlu
• Konda Dhoras
• Konda Kapus
• Kondareddis
• Kondhs, Kodi, Kodhu, Desaya Kondhs, Dongria Kondhs, Kuttiya Kondhs, Jhonda,Tikiria Kondhs, Yenity Kondhs
• Kotia, Bentho Oriya, Bartika, Dhulia, Dulia, Holva, Paiko, Putiya, Sanrona, Sidhopaiko
• Koya, Rajah, Rasha Koya, Lingadhari Koya (ordinary), Kottu Koya, Bhine Koya, Rajkoya
• Malis (excluding Adilabad, Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahbubnagar, Medak, Nalgonda, Nizamabad and Warangal districts)
• Manna Dhora
• Mukha Dhora, Nooka Dhora
• Nayaks-bandaru (in the Agency tracts)
• Pardhan
• Porja, Parangiperja
• Reddi Dhoras
• Rona, Rena
• Savaras, Kapu Savaras, Maliya Savaras, Khutto Savaras
• Sugalis, Lambadis
• Thoti (in Adilabad, Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahbubnagar, Medak, Nalgonda, Nizamabad and Warangal districts)
• Valmiki (in the Agency tracts)
• Yenadis
• Yerukulas.
• Banjaras ( in Khammam, warangal, karimnagar, medak, Ranga reddy, Adilabad, Nalgonda )

·         The sub-divisions of Yerukula are Dabba Yerukala (those who make baskets from split bamboo), Eethapullala Yerukula (Date twigs) (those whom make baskets from wild date leaves), Kunchapuri Yerukala (those who make weaver’s combs), Parikamuggula Yerukala (sooth sayers and beggars), Karivepaku Yerukala (hawkers of curry leaves), Uppu Yerukala (salt hawkers).

·         Each sub-division is dividend into four phraties viz., Kavadi, Sathupadi, Maanupadi and Mendraguthi.

·       

Surname	Gothra	Locations
Annagani	Sathupadi	Prakasam Dst.
Avula	Mendraguthi	Stuartpuram
Anchi	Kavadi	Lingala
Anapa	Kavadi	Stuartpuram
Amasa	Manupadi	Atmakuru, Stuartpuram
Angadi	Sathupadi	Stuartpuram
Alije	Sathupadi	Telangana
Itta	Manupadi	Prakasam Dst.
Iraga	Kavadi	Prakasam Dst.
Iruku	Kavadi	Lingala
Uyyala	Kavadi	Stuartpuram,Prakasam Dst.
Katta	Kavadi	Alluru, Atmakuru, Stuartpuram, Prakasam Dst.
Kamanchi	Manupadi	Alluru
Karreddula	Kavadi	Atmakuru, Stuartpuram
Kemsaram	Sathupadi	Telangana
Kurakula	Kavadi	Telangana
Kandula	Sathupadi	Lingala
Kampa	Kavadi	Lingala, Stuartpuram
Karukonda	Sathupadi	Lingala
Kondreddy	Kavadi	Lingala
Koneti	Sathupadi	Alluru`
Kandrakonda	Sathupadi	Stuartpuram
Kondreddy	Mendraguthi	Stuartpuram
Kumbha	Sathupadi	Guntur Dst.
Gajjela	Mendraguthi	Stuartpuram
Galeti	Kavadi	Lingale, Krishna Dst, Stuartpuram
Gunadari	Sathupadi	Lingala
Gurramkonda	Sathupadi	Kapparallatippa, Atmakuru
Gutti	Kavadi	Bitragunta
Gojja	Kavadi	Lingala
Chittori	Kavadi	Lingala, Stuartpuram
Chinnapotula	Mendraguthi	Stuartpuram
Jagannadham	Kavadi	Prakasam Dst, Cuddapah, Stuartpuram
Dasari	Sathupadi	Alluru, Telangana, Stuartpuram
Dasu	Kavadi	Alluru, Prakasam Dst
Devara	Sathupadi	Kapparallatippa, Stuartpuram
Devarakonda	Mendraguthi	All Places
Devaraya (Devaraju)	Kavadi	Telangana
Devusari	Sathupadi	Telangana
Mukiri	Kavadi	Guntur Dst.
Nallagondla	Mendraguthi	Kapparallatippa, Alluru, Lingala
Nalabayi	Mendraguthi	Kapparallatippa, Alluru
Nalabothula	Mendraguthi	Lingala, Stuartpuram
Nemali	Kavadi	Telangana
Nellikuduru	Sathupadi	Lingala
Palakirthi	Sathupadi	Kapparallatippa
Palakonda	Sathupadi	All Places
Pittla	Kavadi	Prakasam Dst
Piriga	Sathupadi,Kavadi	Kapparallatippa, Atmakuru, Lingala
Pudataa	Sathupadi	Telangana
Pujari	Kavadi	Atmakuru, Lingala
Penugonda	Kavadi	Atmakuru, Royalaseema
Peram	Sathupadi	Lingala, Alluru
Ponna	Sathupadi	Lingala, Krishna Dst
Porsa	Sathupadi	Atmakuru, Prakasam Dst
Pola	Sathupadi	Atmakuru, Lingala
Badanapuri	Kavadi	Alluru, Telangana
Ballani	Sathupadi	Stuartpuram
Ballari	Sathupadi	Lingala
Bonagiri	Kavadi	Stuartpuram, Kapparallatippa
Bocchu	Sathupadi	Stuartpuram, Kapparallatippa
Bojjagani	Kavadi	Stuartpuram, Lingala
Bagyam	Sathupadi	Kapparallatippa
Maddela	Manupadi	Alluru
Markal	Sathupadi	Telangana
Malli	Kavadi	Kapparallatippa, Stuartpuram, Lingala
Maadine	Manupadi	Chittor Dst
Meda	Sathupadi	N/A
Madugani	Kavadi, Sathupadi	Telangana, Lingala, Stuartpuram
Mogili	Kavadi	Telangana, Stuartpuram
Mota	Mendraguthi	Lingala, Stuartpuram
Raagaala	Sathupadi	Stuartpuram
Rastapuram	Kavadi	Telangana
Vallabha	Manupadi	Guntur Dst
Vanama	Kavadi	Telangana
Vallagi	Kavadi	Stuartpuram
Vallagula	Sathupadi	Lingala
Pallepu	Mendraguthi	N/A
Paalwayi	Sathupadi	Lingala
Srimarti	Sathupadi	Telangana
Sriram	Sathupadi	Telangana
Srirama	Manupadi	Prakasam Dst
Saarla	Kavadi	Telangana
Sorakayala	Kavadi	Prakasam Dst
Losaari	Sathupadi	Lingala