Satani.--The Satanis are described in the Madras Census Report, 1891, as "a class of temple servants very much like the Malis of Bengal. The word Satani is a corrupt form of Sattadavan, which, literally means one who does not wear (the sacred thread and tuft of hair). For temple services Ramanuja classed Vaishnavites into Sattinavan and Sattadavan. The former are invariably Brahmans, and the latter Sudras. Hence Satani is the professional name given to a group of the Vaishnava creed. It is sometimes stated that the Satanis of the Madras Presidency are the disciples of the famous Bengali reformer Chaitanya (15th century), from whom, they say, the term Satani took its origin. But, so far as I can ascertain, this supposition rests on no better foundation than the similarity in sound of the two names, and it seems to me more than doubtful. There is no evidence of Chaitanya having ever preached in the Dravidian country, and the tenets of the Satanis of this Presidency differ widely from those of the followers of Chaitanya. The former worship only Krishna, while the latter venerate Vishnu in the form of Narayana also. The Satanis, too, have as much reverence for Ramanuja as the followers of Chaitanya have towards their guru, who is said to be an incarnation of Krishna. With regard to their religion, it will suffice to say that they are Tengalai Vaishnavites. They shave their heads completely, and tie their lower cloth like a Brahman bachelor. In their ceremonies they more or less follow the Brahmans, but the sacred thread is not worn by them. Though the consumption of alcoholic liquor and animal food is strictly prohibited, they practice both to a considerable extent on all festive occasions, and at sradhs. Drinking and other excesses are common. Some Satanis bury the dead, and others burn them. The principal occupations of Satanis are making garlands, carrying the torches during the god's procession, and sweeping the temple floor. They also make umbrellas, flower baskets and boxes of palmyra leaves, and prepare the sacred balls of white clay (for making the Vaishnavite sectarian mark), and saffron powder. Their usual agnomen is Aiya."