Yerukala

Infobox caste
caste_name=Yerukala
classification= Tribals, and Indigenous.
subdivisions=6
populated_states=Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
languages=Yerukala, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada|religions=Hinduism and Christianity

Yerukala, Yerukula, Erukala, Erukula, or Kurru is a community found largely in the Southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Karnataka. 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).

Ancient history

Origins

The earliest reference of Yerukalas can be found in in Mahabharata, the great Indian epic. Yekalavya, the great archer from Mahabharata time, 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. (See Ekalavya).

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

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. Today, they remain bound by poverty.

During the Bristish 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, and they turned to crime for survival. 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.

Population

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

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

Subsistence : Agriculture / Animal Husbandry / Handicraft Sales.

Classification : Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Tamil.

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 (80)

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

The Yerukalas has a dialect of its own which is called ‘Yerukula basha’ or ‘Kurru basha’ or ‘Kulavatha’. It is derived from Dravidian languages, mostly Telugu, Tamil and Kannada.

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.

Yerukala language is close to Ravula and Irula.

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.

Surnames

Some of the surnames based on the phraties.

A. Kavadi - 1. Rayapuri - 2. Jagannadham - 3. Poura - 4. Devarakonda - 5. Kurakula - 6. Kampa - 7. Karredhula - 8. Dasu - 9. Ponarsu - 10. Mukiri - 11. Mogili - 12. Peram - 13. Ponna - 14. Undadi - 15. Kutadi - 16. Koneti - 17. Katta - 18. Nemali - 19. Devaraya - 20. Bunadri - 21. Vanma - 22. Jajigiri - 23. Nimma jetti - 24. Bannapuram - 25. Rayalapuram - 26. Kunja - 27. Uyyala - 28. Rameshwaram - 29. sala - 30. kaveti - 31. kaveri - 32. Pujari - 33. RagiriB. Sathupadi - 1. Vusarthi - 2. Kumbha - 3. Galeti - 4. Ballari - 5. Sampathi - 6. Palaparthi - 7. Itla - 8. Thokala - 9. Garika - 10. Angadi - 11. Koneru - 12. Kutadi - 13. Kemmasaram - 14. Kurra - 15. Bandi - 16. Dasari - 17. Oni - 18. Lokasani - 19. Srirama - 20. Batchu

C. Manupadi - Chittipothula - Kolimigundla

D. Mendragutti - 1. Kutada - 2. Meda - 3. Nallabothula

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 work of the various Christian missionaries.

- 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.

References and notes

[http://www.yerukala.info http://www.yerukala.info - Yerukalas Home Page]