interesting community confined to a village in the Tovala tāluk. By traditional occupation they are the Ambalavāsis of the Saivaite temple of Darsanamkōppa. They are strict vegetarians, wear the Brāhminical thread, perform all the Brāhminical ceremonies under the guidance of Brāhman priests, and claim a position equal to that of the Āryappattars. But they are not allowed to dine with the Brāhmans, or to enter the mandapa in front of the garbhagriha, the inner sanctuary of a Hindu shrine. Their dress and ornaments are like those of the Tamil Brahmans, and their language is Tamil. Their period of pollution,however, is as long as fifteen days."
Āri (ebony).—An exogamous sept of Kuruba.
Arigala.—Arigala, denoting a dish carried in procession, occurs as an exogamous sept of Mutrācha. Arigala and Arika, both meaning the millet Paspalum scrobiculatum, are septs of Jātapu and Panta Reddi.The latter may not use the grain as food.
Arikuravan.—Recorded, in the Travancore Census Report, 1901, as a sub-division of Nāyar.
Arisi.—A sub-division of Savara.
Āriyar.—Ariyar or Āriyanāttu Chetti is given as a caste title by Pattanavans.
Ariyur.—Āriyūr or Āriviyūr is the name of a sub-division of Nāttukōttai Chettis.
Arli [Ficus religiosa).—An exogamous sept of Stānika.
Ārudra (lady-bird).—An exogamous sept of Kālingi.
Arupathukatchi (sixty house section).—A sub-division of Valluvan.
Arupattanalu Taleikattu (sixty-four, who covered their heads). —A sub-division of Chetti.
