Page:Castes and tribes of southern India, Volume 5.djvu/128

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MUNDAPOTHO
118

Mundapōtho.— Mundapōtho (mundo, head; potho, bury) is the name of a class of mendicants who wander about Ganjām, and frequent the streets of Jagannāth (Pūri). They try to arouse the sympathy of pilgrims by burying their head in the sand or dust, and exposing the rest of the body. They generally speak Telugu.

Mungaru (woman's skirt). — An exogamous sept of Kāpu.

Muni.— See. Rāvulo.

Mūnillakkar (people of the three illams). — A section of Mukkuvans, which is divided into three illams.

Munnūti Gumpu. — Recorded, in the Kurnool Manual, as "a mixed caste, comprising the illegitimate descendants of Balijas, and the male children of dancing-girls." It is not a caste name, but an insulting name for those of mixed origin.

Munnūttān (men of the three hundred). — Recorded, at times of census, as a synonym of Vēlan, and sub-caste of Pānan, among the latter of whom Anjūttān (men of five hundred) also occurs. In the Gazetteer of Malabar, Munnūttān appears as a class of Mannāns, who are closely akin to the Vēlans. In Travancore, Munnutilkar is a name for Kumbakōnam Vellālas, who have settled there.

Mūppan.— Mūppan has been defined as "an elder, the headman of a class or business, one who presides over ploughmen and shepherds, etc. The word literally means an elder: Mukkiradu, to grow old, and muppu, seniority." At recent times of census, Mūppan has been returned as a title by many classes, which include Alavan, Ambalakāran, Kudumi, Pallan, Paraiyan and Tandan in Travancore, Senaikkudaiyan, Sāliyan, Shānān, Sudarmān and Valaiyan. It has further been returned as a division of Konkana Sūdras in Travancore.