Urs (surname)

Dashara is a big festival for them, during which Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati are worshiped[5] Mysore's erstwhile rulers were the Wadiyars, known for their administrative skills, vision and social justice.

[3] The original name of erstwhile Mysore region was Puragere, coming under the purview of Hadinaadu, meaning Hadimooru (13) naadu (villages).

Such rulers, having hold over smaller regions around Hadinaadu ruled by Chamaraja, had close ties with him and his clan.

Taking advantage of this, Mara Naika, chieftain of neighbouring Karagahalli, attempted to conquer Hadinaadu.

Instead of waging a war, Mara Naika planned to marry young Devajammanni, to gain control over her father's province.

Folklore says that at that time, Yaduraya and his brother Krishnaraya travelled from Dwaraka to Vijayanagar, Melukote and other places as pilgrims.

Noted historian Prof. P. V. Nanjaraj Urs however argues that Yaduraya and Krishnaraya were not from Dwaraka, as is the belief among some, but had come from Vijayanagar or some other region around the then Mysore province.

[3] Historians like Shyam Prasad, Nobuhiro Ota, David Leeming, Aya Ikegame suggest that the Wodiyars were local feudal lords who adopted puranic legend to claim themselves as direct descendants of legendary Lunar Dynasty.

Fifth Bettada Chamaraja Wadiyar entrusted to his three sons parts of his empire namely Hemmanahalli, Haravu and Puragere (present Mysore region).

Its ruler Bettada Chamaraja Wadiyar's son changed the name of Puragere to Mahishasurana Ooru, which later became shortened to Mysooru.

During their military campaigns when the enemy ruler was certain of a defeat, married off the daughter to the Maharaja as a token of friendship.

In the Khas Durbar conducted by Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar in the Palace, members of Ursu community attend in royal robes.

[3] Owing to their broader outlook and modern administrative reforms, it is being alleged that Ursu community's culture and traditions are getting diluted and disintegrated.

[3] They mostly reside in Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and Bengaluru districts and though a minority in population, there are several achievers in political, literature and social fields.