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| '''Kurmis''' are a ] of people who are known as "Kurmi Kshatriyas", traditionally kings, farmers and land owners, in ] and ]. They are classified as an ] by the government of India. | '''Kurmis''' are a ] of people who are known as "Kurmi Kshatriyas", traditionally kings, farmers and land owners, in ] and ]. They are classified as an ] by the government of India. | ||
| The word Kurmi in ] dictionary – "Bhuhu Ashy Iti Kurmi" means whoever has the land is a Kurmi. "Kurmi" in Sanskrit literally translates as "I can" or "I am able" and is directly associated with the self, ability and action -- all traits ascribed to kshatriyas. Kurmis divide themselves into ] and ] with the Suryavanshis claiming to be from the same clan as the legendary King ] of ], the name of whose wife ] literally means "furrow" or the line made by a plow. The Kurmis along with the ]s, ] and ] are often considered to form the original ] ] ]s who were later recorded as degraded kshatriyas or "] kings" by corrupt ]s who resented the rise of ] amongst the major Aryan warrior tribes of the time. | The word Kurmi in ] dictionary – "Bhuhu Ashy Iti Kurmi" means whoever has the land is a Kurmi. "Kurmi" in Sanskrit literally translates as "I can" or "I am able" and is directly associated with the self, ability and action -- all traits ascribed to kshatriyas. Kurmis divide themselves into ] and ] with the Suryavanshis claiming to be from the same clan as the legendary King ] of ], the name of whose wife ] literally means "furrow" or the line made by a plow. The Kurmis along with the ]s, ] and ] are often considered to form the original ] ] ]s who were later recorded as degraded kshatriyas or "] kings" by corrupt ]s who resented the rise of ] amongst the major Aryan warrior tribes of the time. | ||
| The link between kshatriyas and agriculture has been justified on the grounds of linguistic affinities between the root *''ar-'' ("bravery, heroism", found in English and Greek ''hero'', Russian ''geroj'', and Sanskrit '']'') and other words for cultivators, i.e. those who labour nobly (Russian ''oratel''' or ploughman, ''Airga'' in the ]); as well as in the legend of King Prithu, who tamed the earth to make the earth fertile again. It is for this reason that the Sanskrit word for "earth" is "Prithvi", in honor of King Prithu who first cultivated it. | The link between kshatriyas and agriculture has been justified on the grounds of linguistic affinities between the root *''ar-'' ("bravery, heroism", found in English and Greek ''hero'', Russian ''geroj'', and Sanskrit '']'') and other words for cultivators, i.e. those who labour nobly (Russian ''oratel''' or ploughman, ''Airga'' in the ]); as well as in the legend of King Prithu, who tamed the earth to make the earth fertile again. It is for this reason that the Sanskrit word for "earth" is "Prithvi", in honor of King Prithu who first cultivated it. | ||
Revision as of 06:51, 11 December 2005
Kurmis are a caste of people who are known as "Kurmi Kshatriyas", traditionally kings, farmers and land owners, in Nepal and India. They are classified as an Other Backward Class by the government of India.
The word Kurmi in Sanskrit dictionary – "Bhuhu Ashy Iti Kurmi" means whoever has the land is a Kurmi. "Kurmi" in Sanskrit literally translates as "I can" or "I am able" and is directly associated with the self, ability and action -- all traits ascribed to kshatriyas. Kurmis divide themselves into Suryavanshis and Chandravanshis with the Suryavanshis claiming to be from the same clan as the legendary King Rama of Ayodhya, the name of whose wife Sita literally means "furrow" or the line made by a plow. The Kurmis along with the Khatris, Yadavas and Khanbis are often considered to form the original Aryan Vedic kshatriyas who were later recorded as degraded kshatriyas or "shudra kings" by corrupt Brahmins who resented the rise of Buddhism amongst the major Aryan warrior tribes of the time.
The link between kshatriyas and agriculture has been justified on the grounds of linguistic affinities between the root *ar- ("bravery, heroism", found in English and Greek hero, Russian geroj, and Sanskrit ārya) and other words for cultivators, i.e. those who labour nobly (Russian oratel' or ploughman, Airga in the Zend-Avesta); as well as in the legend of King Prithu, who tamed the earth to make the earth fertile again. It is for this reason that the Sanskrit word for "earth" is "Prithvi", in honor of King Prithu who first cultivated it.
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