Page:Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 6.djvu/193

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PATHTHAR

probably in reference to the sling used by them in climbing palm trees.*[1] Pāsi, meaning coloured glass beads, occurs as a sub-division of Idaiyan, and the equivalent Pāsikatti as a sub-division of Valaiyan.

Pasu.— Pasu (cow) or Pasula has been recorded as an exogamous sept of Bōya, Māla and Mādiga, and a sub-division of west coast Pulayans, who eat beef.

Pasupula (turmeric). — Pasula or Pasupula is an exogamous sept of Bōya and Dēvanga. Pasupulēti occurs as a sub-division of Balija. See Arashina,

Patabonka.——A sub-division of Bonka.

Pātāli.— An occupational name applied to priests of temples and bhūthasthanas (devil shrines), and Stānikas in South Canara.

Pātha (old). — A sub-division of Īdiga, and a sept of Togata.

Pathanchitannāya (green pea sept). — An exogamous sept of Bant.

Pathi (cotton). — A sub-division of Kurubas, who use a wrist-thread made of cotton and wool mixed during the marriage ceremony. Also an exogamous sept of Gūdala and Padma Sālē.

Pathinettan.— The Pathinettan or eighteen are carpenters in Malabar, who "are said to be the descendants of the smiths who remained to attend to the repairs to the eighteen temples, when the rest of the community fled to Ceylon, as related in the tradition of the origin of the Tiyans".†[2]

Paththar.— A section of Saivite Chettis, who wear the lingam, and have separated from the Acharapākam Chettis. They bury their dead in a sitting posture. A bamboo stick is tied to the kudumi (hair-knot) of the

  1. * Risley. Tribes and Castes of Bengal,
  2. † Gazetteer of the Malabar district.