The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, identified the Jenu Kuruba and the Koraga as tribal groups in Karnataka.
Besides the Brahmins there were other non-Brahmin castes, such as the Mogaveera, Bunts, Billavas, the artisan castes, Holeyas and Mahars, the hill-tribes (Koragas).
The linga of the Lord Shiva thus emerged and was first understood to have been found by a Koraga community (Scheduled Tribe) mother while she was collecting firewood and leaves in the forest where her son "Yellu" was buried after his untimely death.
Koraga |