212 
ON THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS 
The meaning of the name of this village god has hitherto 
defied identification, but is, I believe, now pretty clear. I 
think that Gum stands for Knru, the original form of 
Kuruva or Knrumba, and that Grurunatha in Telugu Guni- 
ndthudu is iu reality identical with the god of the Kiirus or 
Kui-umbas. 
As the bulk of the Kurumbas are shepherds or Kuri- 
kurumbas and as their property is represented by the flocks 
of sheep they possess, their god is often called the Lord or 
Xing of the Sheep Hill or Knri-hetta-rdjja. 
Like other nations the Kurumbas also have repeatedly 
changed their religion, and very many diiierent beliefs are 
prevalent among them. At an early age a considerable 
fraction of the Kurumbas adopted the Jaina faith and became 
eventually bigoted adherents of this sect. It seems in fact 
that their fanatical efforts to spread and to ensure the 
general adoption of this religion have been among the chief 
causes of the collapse of their power in the central districts 
of the Madras Presidency, i.e., in the country round 
Kancipuram. The campaign of Adonda Cola was specially 
undertaken to crush the threatening supremacy of Jainism, 
and the religious element played in it as important a part 
as the political.^^^ The ascendancy of Saivism was the most 
important result of the war, but Jainism is by no means 
extinct among the Kurumbas. The Lingayats claim also 
a considerable number of adherents, and Eenuhd)-ddhi/a or 
Bemna 8idclhesvara is their high priest in certain parts of 
Mysore."*' Eenukaradhya is said to have chosen in Srisaila 
the Kurumba leader Padniarasa (from Padma and Arasii, 
About Gurumtha see p. 176, and consult pp. 201 n. 105, 201 n. 106, 
and 205 n. 107, where the Rev. F. Metz's lu/ribatturat/a, Mr. Breeks' 
KurihaHrdija, and Dr. F. Buchanan's " temple of Bira which is situated oa 
Curi-hetta, or the Sheep Hill " are mentioned. 
See a petition of the Jains of Kumhakftnam. Cittvir. Vrddhacalam .and 
other places who complained about their losing their temples through Kulot- 
tuftga Cola and Adonda Cola. 
KSvauasidtUia or Rei;iukaiiidhya is said to have resided on the Kailas.1 
mountain. 
