Concerning the origin of the Sale caste, it is stated, in the Andhrapada Parijatamu, that it is the result of an union between a Kamsala man and a potter woman. According to a current legend, the celestials (devatas), being desirous of securing clothing for themselves and their dependents, asked Markandeya Rishi to supply them with it. He went to Vishnu, and prayed to him. The god directed him to make a sacrificial offering to Indra, the celestial king. Markandeya accordingly performed a great sacrifice, and from the fire issued Bhavana Rishi, with a ball of thread in his hands, which he had manufactured, under Vishnu's direction, from the fibre of the lotus which sprang from the god's navel. With this ball of thread he proceeded to make cloths for the celestials. He subsequently married Bhadravathi, the daughter of Surya (the sun), who bore him a hundred and one sons, of whom a hundred became the ancestors of the Padma Sales, while the remaining man was the ancestor of the Pattu Sales. The caste worships Bhavana Rishi. At the close of the year, the caste occupation is stopped before the Sankramanam for ten days. Before they start work again, the Pattu Sales meet at an appointed spot, where they burn camphor, and wave it before a ball of thread, which represents Bhavana Rishi. A more elaborate rite is performed by the Padma Sales. They set apart a special day for the worship of the deified ancestor, and hold a caste feast. A special booth is erected, in which a ball of thread is placed. A caste-man acts as pujari (priest), and fruits, flowers, camphor, etc., are offered to the thread. The Telugu Padma Sales, and Marathi-speaking Sukun and Suka Sales, are, as will be seen from the following table, short of stature, with high cephalic index:-- Stature. cm. Cephalic index. Padma Sale 159.9 78.7 Suka Sale 161.1 81.8 Sukun Sale 160.3 82.2 The Padma and Karna Sales are dealt with in special articles.