The house of an Ilayatu is, like that of a Nambutiri, called illam. It is generally large, being the gift of some pious Nayar. Every Ilayatu house possesses a serpent grove, where periodical offerings are made. The dress and ornaments of the Ilayatus are exactly like those of the Nambutiris. The wedding ornament is called kettu-tali. Children wear a ring tied to a thread round the neck from the moment of the first feeding ceremony. The Ilayatus are strict vegetarians, and, though in some of their temples they have to make offerings of liquor to the deity, they are strictly forbidden by caste rules from partaking thereof. The chief occupation of the Ilayatus is the priesthood of the Nayars. The first division perform this service only for the Ilakkar or highest class of Nayars, while the second division do not decline to be the priests of any section of that community. In performing such services, the Ilayatus recite various liturgic texts, but hardly any Vedic hymns. The Ilayatus have also been the recognised priests in several North Travancore temples, the chief of which are the Kainikkara Bhagavata shrine, the Payappara Sasta shrine, and the Parekkavu Siva temple at Kuttattukulam. Ilayatus are the priests in most of the snake groves of Malabar, that at Mannarsalay commanding the greatest popularity and respect. Ilayatus are, in all matters of caste such as Smarta-vicharam, or enquiry into charges of adultery, etc., governed by the Nambutiris, who are assisted by Vaidiks belonging to the caste itself. It is the latter who are the regular priests of the Ilayatus, and, though ignorant of the Vedas, they seem to possess considerable knowledge of the priestly functions as carried out in Malabar. Nambutiris are sometimes invited to perform Isvaraseva, Sarpabali, and other religious rites. Purification rites are performed by the caste priests only, and no Nambutiri is called on to assist. Brahmans do not cook food in the houses of Ilayatus. The Ilayatus are divided mostly into two septs or gotras, called Visvamitra and Bharadvaja. The marriage of girls is performed before or after puberty, between the twelfth and eighteenth years. No bride-price is paid, but a sum of not less than Rs. 140 has to be paid to the bridegroom. This is owing to the fact that, in an Ilayatu family, as among the Nambutiris, only the eldest son can lead a married life. All male members of a family, except the eldest, take to themselves some Nayar or Ambalavasi woman. Widows do not remove their tuft of hair on the death of their husband, but throw their marriage ornament on to the funeral pyre, probably as a symbol of the performance of sati. The Ilayatus resemble the Nambutiris in all questions of inheritance.