Urs (surname)

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Urs (Kannada: ಅರಸು) pronounced as 'Aras', is a surname used by the community associated to the royal family of Mysore Wodeyars based in Mysore in Karnataka, India. The word is derived from Arasu or Arasa which is used to designate royalty or ruler and meant ruler in Kannada.^[1] They claim various religious and sectarian affiliations like Shaivism, Vaishnavism, or Jainism according to their clan and lineage ^[2]. They are directly related to the wodeyars and are related to either distant vijayanagar rulers.^[3] The Arasu community is classified as a OBC by the Government of Karnataka.^[4]

The Arasu caste belongs to the Rajapinde branch of the Kshatriya clan. They have gotras like Aatreya, Vashishta, Vishwamitra etc. They identify themselves as Brahma kshatriyas. Kannada is his mother tongue. Even though some of them follow Shaivism, Vaishnavism and , Jainism they wear Janivara after Upanayana in childhood. These practices don't hinder their marriages. However, the Vedic method is generally followed in marriage. There is a tradition of keeping a sword or a knife with the groom till the end of the marriage in a marriage held in the Brahmin priesthood. Dashara is a big festival for them, during which Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati are worshiped^[5]