Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c18.s1.50

v2.c18.s1.50

Tradition throws much light on the origin and power of the Kurumbars. They claimed descent from the Yādavas.² "Their occupation is chiefly to take care of a kind of goats, with the hair of which they make blankets, and sell them. But there are other Curumbars whose office is to rule the land; others who make and sell chunam or lime; and some are hunters who live by the chase ".³ One of their southern centres was called Pattipulam (Immuḍipaṭnam).⁴ But what concerns us is the following information supplied by the same source: "The ancestors of these people were engaged in the great war of the *Pāndavas*. Their descendants were afterwards dispersed in various places. These were *Jainas*. A proverb is current concerning them (from a particular incident) that their eyes are on their shoulders. From a custom common among them of having their heads shaved on the death of one of their number, they were massacred in one day, by barbers. The place is called *Narambur*. A detail of their forts, twelve in number is given.