The following are some of the gotras and exogamous septs of the Medaras:-- (a) Gotras. Hanumanta (monkey-god). Bombadai (a fish). Puli (tiger). Vinayaka (Ganesa). Thagenilu (drinking water). Kasi (Benares). Avisa (Sesbania grandiflora). Moduga (Butea frondosa). Rela (Ficus). Kovila (koel or cuckoo). Seshai (snake?). (b) Exogamous septs. Pilli (cat). Nuvvulu (gingelly). Parvatham (mountain). Senagapapu (Bengal gram). Putta (ant-hill). Tsanda (subscription). Konda (mountain). Nila (blue). Javadi (civet-cat). Sirigiri (a hill). Nandikattu (bull's mouth). Kanigiri (a hill). Kandikattu (dhal soup). Pothu (male). Kottakunda (new pot). Naginidu (snake). Pooreti (a bird). Kola (ear of corn). Kalluri (stone village). A man most frequently marries his maternal uncle's daughter, less frequently the daughter of his paternal aunt. Marriage with a deceased wife's sister is regarded with special favour. Marriage with two living sisters, if one of them is suffering from disease, is common. In a note on the Medaras of the Vizagapatam district, Mr. C. Hayavadana Rao writes that girls are married before or after puberty. A Brahman officiates at the marriage ceremonies. Widows are allowed to remarry once, and the sathamanam (marriage badge) is tied by the new husband on the neck of the bride, who has, as in the Gudala caste, to sit near a mortar. Formerly all the Medaras were Saivites, but many are at the present day Vaishnavites, and even the Vaishnavites worship Siva. Every family has some special person or persons whom they worship, for example, Virullu, or boys who have died unmarried. A silver image is made, and kept in a basket. It is taken out on festive occasions, as before a marriage in a family, and offerings of milk and rice gruel are made to it. Bala Perantalu, or girls who have died before marriage, and Perantalu, or women who have died before their husbands, are worshipped with fruits, turmeric, rice, cocoanuts, etc. Some of the Saivites bury their dead in a sitting posture, while others resort to cremation. All the Vaishnavites burn the dead, and, like the Saivites, throw the ashes into a river. The place of burning or burial is not as a rule marked by any stone or mound. But, if the family can afford it, a tulsi fort is built, and the tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) planted therein. In the Vizagapatam district, death pollution is said to last for three days, during which the caste occupation is not carried out. On the third day, a fowl is killed, and food cooked. It is taken to the spot where the corpse was burnt, on which a portion is thrown, and the remainder eaten.