Mr. Ravi Varma, the celebrated artist, who died recently, was a Koil Tampuran of Kilimanur, an extensive village assigned to his ancestors rent-free for the military services they had rendered to the State in times of trouble. [137] Kokala (woman's cloth).--An exogamous sept of Golla. Kokkara.--Recorded, in the Travancore Census Report, as a sub-division of Nayar. Kokkundia.--See Kukkundi. Kola (ear of corn).--An exogamous sept of Medara. Kolari.--See Kolayan. Kolalo (arrack-seller).--A name of Sondis. Kolata Gudiya.--A name for Gudiyas engaged in agriculture. Kolayan.--It is recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, that "the caste is found chiefly in the Kasaragod taluk of South Canara, and in the northern part of Malabar. In South Malabar, it is called Urali. Its traditional occupation is herding cows, and it claims the privilege of supplying milk and ghee to certain Hindu temples, but at present most of its members are masons. It has two endogamous sections, Ayan or Kol-Ayan, and Mariyan or Eruman" (Eruma, a cow-buffalo). It is further noted, in the same report under the heading Eruman, that "the people of the caste were originally buffalo drivers and keepers, and still follow their traditional occupation in the Kasaragod taluk of South Canara. In North Malabar, they are masons and bricklayers." The masonry work of temples is done by Kolayans. The name Kolayan has been said to be derived from Golla and Ayan, meaning cowherd. Golla is, however, a Telugu word not used in the Malayalam country. Members of the two sections, Kolayan and Eruman (or Eruvan), are said not to intermarry. Women of both sections may affect sambandham (alliance) with Nayars. Children born of such unions are regarded as somewhat inferior to those born of Kolayan parents, and are not allowed to worship at the temples. The priests of the Kolayans are called Muthavan or Poduvan, and are usually elected by Rajas. Kolayan girls go through the mangalam or tali-kettu ceremony before they reach puberty. On an auspicious day fixed by the Kanisan (astrologer), the girl sits on a plank in the middle room of the house, and four lamps are placed near her. Her father throws rice and flowers over her head, and ties the tali (marriage emblem) on her neck. The girl, four women, and four girls, are fed in the middle room. On the following day, a priest (Vathiyan) places rice, paddy (unhusked rice), tender cocoanut, betel leaves and areca nuts, before the girl. Men and women of the priest's family wave rice, cocoanuts, etc., in front of her both in the morning and afternoon. Finally, towards evening, a Vathiyan woman waves the rice and other articles thrice, calling out "Kolachi, Kolachi, Kolachi." The girl may then leave the middle room. At the first menstrual period, a girl is under pollution for three days. On the first day, a cloth (mattu) is given to her by a washerwoman, and on the fourth day she receives one from a Malayan woman.