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888
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
a Nambadri woman born during the period of illicit intercourse with other castemen, whose upanayana had not been performed. They assist the Chakkiyar in his dances, and their duty is to beat the drum while the Chakkiyårs dance. The women are called Nangiars, and play on cymbals during the dances.
2 k.
man,"
Puduval, a division of the Prathilómaja Ambalavasis. The name is supposed to have been derived from pudu-ál or podu-ál, meaning "new," "common-man," respectively. He is the watchman and steward in temples. He is called Pora Puduval (outside Puduvál) in contradistinction to Aka Puduval (inside Pudaval), or Mathathu. The Pora Puduvál has generally charge of the stores and provisions of the temple. He also collects flowers and makes garlands for daily worship. The women are called Puthu varasyars. They observe birth and death pollution for twelve days, and follow the marumakka thayam rule of inheritance.
21.
Marars, a division of the Prathilómaja Ambalavasis. These are Sadras, but, by necessity. taken into the temple service. They are musicians and storekeepers. In some places they are known as Kuruppus. The Mårårs assert that they are Ambalavåsis, and superior to the Nayars. It is also said that there are two classes of them. The one serving in temples, the other not. The former are said to have social precedence over the latter. In the matter of marriage, period of pollution, inheritance, &o., they follow the Nayars. In some places, Ilayathus officiate as priests for them, in other places, their own castemen perform the priestly duties. The talikettu is performed by Tiramalpåds in some places, and by Enangars (castemen) in others. Their own castemen or Brahmans unite themselves in sumbantham with the women. The purificatory ceremonies are performed by the Chithians or Nayar priests. The inheritance is in the female line.
[NOVEMBER, 1909.
The primary meaning of the word samantha is given by Dr. Gundert as "the chief of a district." The Samanthars themselves assert that they are the descendants of the Kshattriyas who fled from the wrath of the renowned Parasu Rama, and divesting themselves of the sacred thread, lived in jungles or wandered abroad without performing sandhyavandanam and other rites: whence their name of Samantha or those without mantrams. They had only tantrams.
8.
Samanthars claim to be of Kshattriya origin. They are said to be the descendants of the children of the Perumals, or the elective kings of Kerala, and their Kahattriya followers by Nayar women. The several castos that make up the present body of Samanthars are (1) Eradi, (3) Nendungadi, (8) Vellódi, (4) Unnithiri, (5) Atiyoti, and (6) Nambiyar.
The customs and manners of the Samanthars are similar to those of the Nayars, but they are generally considered to hold a higher position in the social scale.
Some of them, who own no lands or have no tribal government of their own, but possess only certain privileges, are known as Pandalas, Unnithiris, Uniyathiris and Karthavus. Others, who do not possess even these, are known by the names of the désams in which they reside, as Eradi, Velôḍi, Nedungaḍi. All these call themselves Samantbars now, and these last three divisions are closely allied, the names being local and donoting settlement in Ernád, Nedunganad, and Walluvanad. The Zamorin of Calicut and his family are said to belong to the class of Eridis, and the Raja of Walluvanad is a Vellôdi. The ceremonies attending on birth and death are similar to those of the Nayars. Their marriage ceremonies are also divided into talikettu and sambantham. The tuli is also tied by Tirumalpads. As for sambantham in the families of the
Zamorin of Calicut and similar chiefs, the husbands are exclusively Nambadris. The women are called Koilpads or Kovilammas.
Among the Samanthars do not wear the sacred thread, all their ceremonies are performed without mantrams. Nambadris officiate as priests among them. They observe birth and death pollution for eleven days. The inheritance is in the female line. The Samanthars and Ambalavasis do not eat together.
3 a.
Atiyoti, a sub-division of the Samanthars. This is the caste to which the Raja of KadathanAd in North Malabar belongs. In customs and manners they resemble the Eradis and Nedungâdis.
8 b.
Unnithiri, a sub-division of the Bamanthars. The Raja of Chirakkal is said to belong to this class. The customs and manners of the Unnithiris are similar to those of the Erådis. The women of this caste, other than those of the reigning families, are called Pillayadiris. N. SUBBARAYA IYER.
