The Gurao is another village priest, whose fortune has been quite different.

The caste acted as priests of the temples of Siva and were also musicians and supplied leaf-plates.

They were village menials of the Maratha villages.

But owing to the sanctity of their calling, and the fact that they have become literate and taken service under Government, the Guraos now rank above the cultivators and are called Shaiva Brahmans.

The Gondhalis are the village priests of Devi, the earth-goddess, who is also frequently the tutelary goddess of the village.