For the following note, I am indebted to Mr. C. Hayavadana Rao. "Dr. H. H. Wilson [34] is of opinion that the word Pandaram is 'more properly Panduranga, pale complexioned, from their smearing themselves with ashes. It is so used in Hemachandra's history of Mahavira, when speaking of the Saiva Brahmans.' A more popular derivation of the name is from Bandaram, a public treasury. A good many well-to-do Pandarams are managers of Siva temples in Southern India, and accordingly have the temple treasuries under their care. It is, however, possible that the name has been acquired by the caste by reason of their keeping a yellow powder, called pandaram, in a little box, and giving it in return for the alms which they receive. Opinions are divided as to whether the Pandarams are Lingayats or not. The opinion held by F. W. Ellis, the well-known Tamil scholar and translator of the Kural of Tiruvalluvar, is thus summarised by Colonel Wilks. [35] "Mr. Ellis considers the Jangam of the upper countries, and the Pandaram of the lower, to be of the same sect, and both deny in the most unequivocal terms the doctrine of the metempsychosis. A manuscript in the Mackenzie collection ascribes the origin of the Pandarams as a sacerdotal order of the servile caste to the religious disputes, which terminated in the suppression of the Jain religion in the Pandian (Madura) kingdom, and the influence which they attained by the aid which they rendered to the Brahmans in that controversy, but this origin seems to require confirmation. In a large portion, perhaps in the whole of the Brahmanical temples dedicated to Siva in the provinces of Arcot, Tanjore, Trichinopoly, Madura and Tinnevelly, the Pandaram is the highest of the temple, and has the entire direction of the revenues, but allows the Brahmans to officiate in the ceremonial part according to their own good pleasure, as a concern altogether below his note. He has generally the reputation of an irreproachable life, and is treated by the Brahmans of the temple with great reverence, while on his part he looks with compassion at the absurd trifles which occupy their attention. These facts seem to point to some former revolution, in which a Jangam government obtained a superiority over the Brahmanical establishments, and adopted this mode of superseding the substantial part of their authority. It is a curious instance of the Sooder (Sudra) being the spiritual lord of the Brahman, and is worthy of further historical investigation." Dr. Wilson [36] also thinks that the Pandarams are Lingayats. Mr. H. A. Stuart [37] says that they are a class of priests who serve the non-Brahman castes. They have returned 115 sub-divisions, of which only two are sufficiently large to require mention, Andi of Tinnevelly and Malabar, and Lingadari of Chingleput and Tinnevelly. Andi is a quasi-caste of beggars recruited from all castes, and the Lingadari Pandarams are the same as Jangams.