Dasari.--"Dasari or Tadan," Mr. H. A. Stuart writes, [48] "is a mendicant caste of Vaishnavas, the reputed descendants of a wealthy Sudra of one of the northern districts, who, being devoid of offspring, vowed that, should he be blessed with children, he would devote one to the service of his god. He subsequently had many sons, one of whom he named Dasan (servant), and placed entirely at the service of the deity. Dasan forfeited all claim to participate in his father's estate, and his offspring are therefore all beggars. "The caste, like that of the Satanis, is reinforced by idle members of the lower Sudra classes, who, being branded by the gurus of Tirupati and other shrines, become Dasaris thereby. They usually wander about, singing hymns to a monotonous accompaniment upon a leather instrument called tappai (tabret). Some Sudra castes engage them thus to chant in front of the corpse at funerals, and many, accompanying bands of pilgrims travelling to Tirupati, stimulate their religious excitement by singing sacred songs. A few, called Yerudandis, (q.v.), take possession of young bulls that have been devoted to a swami, and teach them to perform tricks very cleverly. The bulls appear to understand what is said to them, and go through various antics at the word of command. Some Dasaris exhibit what is called the Panda Servai performance, which consists in affecting to be possessed by the spirit of the deity, and beating themselves all over the body with a flaming torch, after covering it probably with some protecting substance. In such modes do they wander about and receive alms, each wearing as a distinction a garland of beads made of tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) wood. Every Dasari is a Tengalai. They have six sub-divisions, called Balija, Janappa, Palli, Valluva, Gangeddula, and Golla Dasaris, which neither eat together nor intermarry. As these are the names of existing and distinct castes, it is probable that the Dasaris were formerly members of those classes, who, through their vagabond tastes, have taken to a mendicant life. Beyond prohibiting widow remarriage, they have no social restrictions."