an exogamous sept of Panikkans In the Tamil country. Some Pallis style themselves Sōlakanar (descendants of Chōla kings), or Sōlakula Kshatriya. (See Sōzhia.)
Sōmakshatri.-— A name sometimes adopted by Canarese Gānigas in South Canara.
Sōmara. — Recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as a small class of potters in the Vizagapatam hills.
Sōmari (idler). — A division of Yānādis, who do scavenging work, and eat the refuse food thrown away by people from the leaf plate after a meal.
Sōma Vārada (Sunday). — The name of Kurubas who worship their god on Sundays.
Sōnagan.— See Jōnagan.
Sonar.— The Sonars or Sonagāras of South Canara are described by Mr. H. A. Stuart *[1] as a goldsmith caste, who "speak Konkani, which is a dialect of Marāthi, and are believed to have come from Goa. The community at each station has one or two Mukhtēsars or headmen, who enquire into, and settle the caste affairs. Serious offences are reported to the swāmy of Sode, who has authority to excommunicate, or to inflict heavy fines. They wear the sacred thread. Marriages within the same gōtra are strictly prohibited. Most of them are Vaishnavites, but a few follow Siva. The dead are burned, and the ashes are thrown into a river. They eat fish, but not flesh. Their title is Setti." They consider it derogatory to work in metals other than gold and silver.
In the Madras Census Report, 1901, the Sunnāri (or Sonnāri) are described as Oriya goldsmiths (see Risley, Tribes and Castes of Bengal, Sonar). These goldsmiths,
- ↑ * Manual of the South Canara district.
