According to another legendary account, there were Kaniyans before the time of Bhattatiri, but their astrological attainments are connected with him. Talakulattu Bhattatiri was one of the earliest astrologers of renown, being the author of Muhurtapadavi, and lived in the fourth century A.D. There is a tradition, believed by the Kaniyans south of Neyyattenkara, that their ancestor was descended from the union of a Gandharva woman with Kani, a Brahman saint, who lived in the western ghats. Their grandson propitiated the god Subrahmanya presiding over astronomy, and acquired the surname Nalika from his never-ceasing truthfulness. Some of the southern Kaniyans even at the present day call themselves Nali. According to another legend, Parameswara and his wife Parvati were living happily together, when Agni fell desperately in love with the latter. Eventually, Parameswara caught them together, and, to save Agni, Parvati suggested that he should hide himself inside her body. On Agni doing this, Parvati became very indisposed, and Parameswara, distressed at seeing his wife rolling in agony, shed tears, one of which fell on the ground, and became turned into a man, who, being divinely born, detected the cause of Parvati's indisposition, and, asking for some incense, sprinkled it over a blazing torch. Agni, seeing his opportunity, escaped in the smoke, and Parvati had instant relief. For this service, Parameswara blessed the man, and appointed him and his descendants to cure diseases, exorcise demons, and foretell events. The Kaniyans of Malabar have been connected by tradition with the Valluvans of the Tamil country, who are the priests, doctors, and astrologers of the Pallans and Paraiyans. According to this tradition, the modern Kaniyans are traced to the Valluvans brought from the east by a Perumal who ruled over Kerala in 350 M.E. The latter are believed to have become Kaniyans proper, while the old Kaniyans of the west coast descended to the rank of Tinta Kaniyans. The chief of the Valluvans so brought was a Yogi or ascetic, who, being asked by a Nambutiri concerning a missing article at Pazhur, replied correctly that the lost ring had been placed in a hole in the bank of the Nambutiri's tank (pond), and was consequently invited to settle there permanently.