The etymology of Uppāndi is difficult, but it is improbable that it has any connection with uppu, salt.
In the Tanjore Manual, it is noted that "in its ordinary acceptation the word Āndi means houseless beggars, and is applied to those who profess the Saiva faith. They go out every morning, begging for alms of uncooked rice, singing ballads or hymns. They play on a small gong called sēmakkalam with a stick, and often carry a conch shell, which they blow. They are given to drinking."
It is recorded *[1] that "South Indian beggars are divided into two classes, Panjathāndi and Paramparaiāndi.The former are famine-made beggars, and the latter are beggars from generation to generation. The former, a common saying goes, would rob from the person of a child at a convenient opportunity, while the latter would jump into a well, and pick up a child which had fallen into it by an accident, and make it over to its parents."
Āndi (a god) occurs as an exogamous section of Sirukudi Kallans.
Andinia.—Recorded by Mr. F. Fawcett as an inferior sub-division of Dōmbs, who eat frogs.
Ānduran.—A sub-division of Nāyar potters, who manufacture earthenware articles for use in temples. The name is derived from Āndūr, a place which was once a fief under the Zamorin of Calicut.
Ānē (elephant).—An exogamous sept of Holeya,Kāppiliyan, Kuruba, Kādu Kurumba, Mogēr, and Gangadikāra Vakkaliga. Yēnigala or Yēnuga (elephant) is further an exogamous sept of Kāpus, who will not touch ivory. Ānai-kombu (elephant tusk) occurs as a sub-division of Idaiyan.
- ↑ * C. Hayavadana Rao. Tales of Komati Wit and Wisdom, 1907.
