sidered an act of sacrilege by Oriyas. When an Oriya Brāhman is charged with being a meat eater, he retorts that it is not nearly so bad as marrying a mathulakanya (maternal uncle's daughter). The marriage tāli or bottu is dispensed with by Oriya Brāhmans, who, at marriages, attach great importance to the pānigrahanam (grasping the bride's hand) and saptapadi (seven steps). The Oriya Brāhmans are both Smarthas and Vaishnavas who are generally Paramarthos or followers of Chaitanya. The god Jagannātha of Puri is reverenced by them, and they usually carry about with them some of the prasādham (food offered to the god) from Puri. They are divided into the following twelve sections : —
- (1) Sānto (sāmānta, a chief).
- (2) Dānua (gift-taking).
- (3) Pādhiya (one who learns the Vēdas).
- (4) Sārua (sāru, tubers of the arum Colocasia antiquorum).
- (5) Holua (holo, yoke of a plough).
- (6) Bhodri (Bhadriya, an agrahāram on the Ganges).
- (7) Bārua (a small sea-port town).
- (8) Deuliya (one who serves in temples).
- (9) Kotokiya (kotaka, palace. Those who live in palaces as servants to zamindars).
- (10) Sāhu (creditor),
- (11) Jhādua (jungle).
- (12) Sodeibālya (those who follow an ungodly life).
It is recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901,that "the Sāntos regard themselves as superior to the others, and will not do purōhit's work for them, though they will for zamindars. They are also very scrupulous about the behaviour of their womenkind. The Dānuas live much by begging, especially at the funerals of wealthy persons, but both they and the Pādhiyas know the Vēdas, and are priests to the zamindars and the higher classes of Sūdras. The Sāruas cultivate the
