Kurni caste is surname of many people in southern India. Kurni caste meaning is The name Kurni is, according to the Census Report, 1901, a corruption of kuri (sheep) and vanni (wool), the caste having been originally weavers of wool. They now weave cotton and silk, and also cultivate. They have two main sub-divisions, Hire (big) and Chikka (small). The Hires are all Lingayats, and are said to have sixty-six totemistic septs or gotras. They employ Jangams as priests, and also men of their own caste, who are called Chittikaras. They will mess with the non-Lingayat section, and with Lingayats of other castes. They do not eat meat, or smoke or drink alcohol, but the Chikkas do all three. Marriage before puberty [131]is the rule in the caste. Divorces are permitted. Widows may marry again, but have to spend two nights alone at two different temples. Their wedding ceremonies are carried out by widows only, and the woman is not afterwards allowed to take part in religious or family observances. A synonym of both Kurnis and Devangas is Jada or Jandra, meaning great men. A further synonym of the Kurnis is said to be Kunigiri. The term Nese, meaning weaver, is applied to several of the weaving castes, including the Kurnis.
The following extract is taken from an appeal for subscriptions in aid of the publication of the Bhavishyottara Purana by the Kurnis in a village in the Bellary district. Greetings from all the Kuruhine Setti Virasaivas residing in Hirihala village of Bellary taluk. The wish of the writers is that all, old and young, should rejoice in the sixty-six gotras, sixty-six rudras, and sixty-six rishis. He who reads the order of these sixty-six gotras of the Kuruhina Settis will enter Sivaloka. His twenty-one generations will attain to the position of ganas (attendants) of Sivaloka. Such was the order of iswara. This is the end of the chapter in the Nilakantha Mallikarjuna Bhavishyat purana acquired by Shanmukha from the iswara shruti of the Haravatula. The gotras are described as being of the Brahman, Kshatriya, and Vaisya sub-divisions of the caste, and of Shanmukhas Sudra caste
Gotras.
Anasu, ferrule.
Anchu, edge or border.
Arashina, turmeric.
Are, Bauhinia racemosa.
Arya, venerable.
Banaju, trade or painted wooden toys.
Bandi, cart.
Banni, Prosopis spicigera.
Basari, fig tree.
Benne, butter.
Bile, white.
Dharma, conduct.
Durga, fort.[132]
Gaduge, throne.
Gauda, headman.
Gikkili, rattle.
Gorige, Cyamopsis psoralioides.
Gullu, Solanum ferox.
Gundu, cannon-ball.
Halige, plank.
Halu, milk.
Heggu, nape of the neck.
Hemme, vanity.
Hittu, flour.
Hon, gold.
Hullu, grass.
ime, eyelid.
In, sweet.
Inichi, squirrel.
Irani, earthen vessel used at marriages.
Jali, Acacia arabica.
Jirige, cummin seed.
Jiva, life.
Junju, cocks comb.
Kadi, blade of grass.
Katige, collyrium.
Kadle (Bengal gram, Cicer arietinum).
Kadu, wild.
Kakke, Cassia Fistula.
Kamadi, tortoise.
Kanni, rope.
Katte, embankment.
Ken, red.
Kenja, red ant.
Kere, tank.
Kesari, lion.
Kinkila, Indian cuckoo, Eudynamis honorata.
Koti, dagger.
Kudure, horse.
Kunte, pond.
Kurivi, sparrow.
Mallige, jasmine.
Maralu, sand.
Menasu, pepper or chillies.
Midichi, locust.
Mini, leather rope.
Muchchu, broken rice.
Muddu, kiss or love.
Mullu, thorn.
Naga, snake.
Nellu, unhusked rice.
Parama, highest.
Raksha, protecting.
Rama, lovely.
Rikki, feather ?
Salige, wire.
Sampige, Michelia Champaca.
Samsara, family.
Sara, string.
Sindhu, sea or flag ?
Swarabha, sound.
Tikke, gem.
Uttama, best.
Vanki, armlet.
Vatte, camel.
Some of the above names also occur as exogamous septs, or sub-divisions of other Canarese or Telugu classes, e.g[133]
Arashina, turmeric. Agasa, Kuruba, Odde.
Bandi, cart. Kapu, Kavarai, Kuruba, Kuravan, Mala, Odde, Yanadi.
Halu, milk. Holeya, Kuruba, Vakkaliga.
Hon, gold. Kuruba, Odde.
Jirige, cummin. Kuruba.
Kudure, horse. Vakkaliga.
Mallige, Malli, or Mallela, jasmine. Holeya, Kamma, Kuruba, Kuravan, Madiga, Mala, Odde, Tsakala.
Menasu, pepper or chillies. Kuruba.
Sampigi or Sampangi, Michelia Champaca. Odde.
Kurni caste is one of the many castes subcastes of India.
India has thousands of castes and subcastes, they are in existence and practice since the Vedic times. They were created to solve the problem of division of labor. Kurni caste name could indicate the type of work people belonging to the Kurni caste do or did in earlier times. Many last names in India indicate the place the person originally belongs to. All castes sub castes are primarily divided into 4 categories:
1.Brahmins – The learned or priestly class
2.Khastriyas – The warrior class or those with governing functions
3.Vaishyas – The trader, agriculturalists or cattle rearers class
4.Shudra – The class that serves other three categories
Kurni caste belongs to one of the above 4 categories. Indian caste system is the best system to solve the problem of division of labor. In earlier times there was no rigidity in caste system. Indian caste system is still the best solution for the problem of division of labor, the only change that is needed as per changed times is that rather than having a vertical hierarchical system with Brahmins on top and Shudras at bottom, it would be good to have a horizontal socialist system with Brahmins, Khastriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras all at same level.
The caste system of India is in ruins at present. It is also cause of bloody quarrels in certain parts of the rural India. People of backward castes have reservations in government jobs, this facility is widely misused in India. Many of the backward caste people have become rich and still use the facility for their benefit. Many in India believe reservation in jobs should be given on the basis of poverty rather than caste because there are many poors in upper castes as well.
Many criticize the Indian caste system because of bad material condition of lower castes but if they observe in an unbiased way they would find that there are many in upper castes with bad material conditions. The problem lies in power not in castes, power can corrupt anyone be it from upper caste or lower caste.
All cultures, all countries, all religions have caste system in one form or the other. Christians have different churches depending on the region or language or skin color of people. Muslims have a priestly class that tries to control everything. Arab Muslims before the oil boom were so much divided among tribes that if you drank water from a well of a different tribe you could be shot dead. Tribal divisions still exists among Muslims. You can also see the caste system in a different form in your corporate companies. I had seen different food and drinking facilities for people at different levels.
Kurni caste is also known as Kurni Gotra.
Caste situation is quiet different in urban India, people in urban areas especially youngsters don?t bother about castes. Inter caste, inter religious, inter lingual marriages are quiet common in urban India. Inter caste, inter religious and inter lingual marriages in rural areas attract severe criticism and many times people are expelled from community for not marrying as per religious and caste rules.