Podara Vannan.--The Podara, Podarayan or Pothora Vannans are washermen of inferior social status, who wash clothes for Pallans, Paraiyans, and other low classes. Podhano.--Recorded, at times of census, as a title of Bolasi, Gaudo, Kalingi, Kudumo, and Samantiya. The Samantiyas also frequently give it as the name of their caste. Poduval.--Defined by Mr. Wigram [103] as one of the Ambalavasi castes, the members of which are as a rule employed as temple watchmen. Writing concerning the Mussads or Muttatus, Mr. N. Subramani Aiyar states that they are known as Muttatus or Mussatus in Travancore and Cochin, and Potuvals (or Poduvals) or Akapotuvals in North Malabar. Potuval means a common person, i.e., the representative of a committee, and a Muttatu's right to this name accrues from the fact that, in the absence of the Nambutiri managers of a temple, he becomes their agent, and is invested with authority to exercise all their functions. The work of an Akapotuval always lies within the inner wall of the shrine, while that of the Purappotuval, or Potuval proper, lies outside. From Travancore, Poduvan or Potuvan is recorded as a synonym or sub-division of Marans, who are employed at funerals by various castes. It is recorded, in the Gazetteer of Malabar, that "Pura Pothuvals are of two classes, Chenda Pothuvals or drum Pothuvals, and Mala Pothuvals or garland Pothuvals, the names of course referring to the nature of the service which they have to render in the temple. The Chenda Pothuvals would appear to be closely connected with the Marars or Marayars, who are also drummers. Mala Pothuvals follow marumakkattayam (inheritance in the female line), their women having sambandham (alliance) with men of their own caste or with Brahmans, while the men can have sambandham in their own caste, or with Nayar women of any of the sub-divisions below Kiriyattil. Their women are called Pothuvarassiar or Pothuvattimar." It is further recorded [104] that, in some cases, for instance among Mala Pothuvals and Marars in South Malabar, a fictitious consummation is an incident of the tali-kettu ; the girl and manavalan (bridegroom) being made to lie on a bed together, and left there alone for a few moments. Amongst the Mala Pothuvals this is done twice, once on the first and once on the last day, and they apparently also spend the three nights of the ceremony in the same bed-chamber, but not alone, an Enangatti sleeping there as chaperone. In these two castes, as in most if not all others, the ceremony also entails the pollution of the girl and her bridegroom. Amongst the Marars, they are purified by a Nambudiri after they leave their quasi-nuptial couch. Amongst the Mala Pothuvals, they are not allowed to bathe or to touch others during the wedding till the fourth day, when they are given mattu (change of cloths) by the Veluttedan." Podala occurs as a Canarese form of Poduval. Pogandan.--A synonym of Pondan.