The Dasaris in Mysore are described in the Mysore Census Report, 1901, as "mendicants belonging to different classes of Sudras. They become Dasas or servants dedicated to the God at Tirupati by virtue of a peculiar vow, made either by themselves or their relatives, at some moment of anxiety or danger, and live by begging in His name. Dasaris are always Vaishnavites, as the vows are taken only by those castes which are worshippers of that deity. Dasaris are invited by Sudras on ceremonial days, and feasted. Properly speaking, Dasari is not a caste, but simply an occupational division. Among certain castes, the custom of taking a vow to become a Dasari prevails. In fulfilment of that vow the person becomes a Dasari, and his eldest son is bound to follow suit, the others taking to other walks of life. The following castes take the vow of becoming Dasari:--Telugu Banajiga, Holeya, Tigala, and Vakkaliga. The duty of a Dasari requires that he should daily bathe his head, and take care that, while eating with the profane, their victuals do not get mixed with his. Every Saturday, after bathing and praying for some hours, he must cook his own food in a clean pot. They go about the streets singing some Hari Keerthanams, with a gong and conch to relieve the dull monotony of their mumblings." Concerning the synonym Tadan, this is stated [50] to be "a corruption of the Sanskrit dasa which, with the Tamil termination an, stands for dasan. The word is often used in this form, but often as Dasari. The word is applied to Vaishnava mendicants. They go out every morning, begging for alms of uncooked rice, and singing ballads or hymns. They play on a small drum with their fingers, and often carry a conch shell, which they blow. They are given to drinking." In the Nellore Manual, the Dasrivandlu are summed up as being "mendicants and thieves in the Telugu and Canarese countries. They usually practise what is known as scissor-theft." The mendicant Dasaris, who are dealt with in the present note, are stated by Mr. S. M. Natesa Sastri [51] to be called Gudi Dasari, as the gudi or temple is their home and to be a set of quiet, innocent and simple people, leading a most idle and stupid life. "Quite opposed," he adds, "to the Gudi Dasaris in every way are the Donga Dasaris or thieving Dasaris. They are the most dreaded of the criminal classes in the Bellary district. These Donga Dasaris are only Dasaris in name." (See Donga Dasari.)