Pandaram is used both as the name of a caste, and of a class composed of recruits from various castes (e.g., Vellala and Palli). The Pandaram caste is composed of respectable people who have settled down as land-holders, and of Sanyasis and priests of certain matams (religious institutions), and managers of richly endowed temples, such as those at Tiruvadudurai in Tanjore and Mailam in South Arcot. The common name for these managers is Tambiran. The caste Pandarams are staunch Saivites and strict vegetarians. Those who lead a celibate life wear the lingam. They are said to have been originally Sozhia Vellalas, with whom intermarriage still takes place. They are initiated into the Saivite religion by a rite called Dhikshai, which is divided into five stages, viz., Samaya, Nirvana, Visesha, Kalasothanai, and Acharya Abhishekam. Some are temple servants, and supply flowers for the god, while others sing devaram (hymns to the god) during the temple service. On this account, they are known as Meikaval (body-guard of the god), and Oduvar (reader). The caste Pandarams have two divisions, called Abhisheka and Desikar, and the latter name is often taken as a title, e.g., Kandasami Desikar. An Abhisheka Pandaram is one who is made to pass through some ceremonies connected with Saiva Agama. The mendicant Pandarams, who are recruited from various classes, wear the lingam, and do not abstain from eating flesh. Many villages have a Pandaram as the priest of the shrine of the village deity, who is frequently a Palli who has become a Pandaram by donning the lingam. The females are said to live, in some cases, by prostitution. The Lingayat Pandarams differ in many respects from the true Lingayats. The latter respect their Jangam, and use the sacred water, in which the feet of the Jangam are washed, for washing their stone lingam. To the Pandarams, and Tamil Lingayats in general, this proceeding would amount to sacrilege of the worst type. Canarese and Telugu Lingayats regard a Jangam as superior to the stone lingam. In the matter of pollution ceremonies the Tamil Lingayats are very particular, whereas the orthodox Lingayats observe no pollution. The investiture with the lingam does not take place so early among the Tamil as among the Canarese Lingayats.