Pandaram is, in fact, a class name rather than the name of a caste, and it consists of priests and beggars. Mr. C. P. Brown [38] thinks that the Pandarams are not Lingayats. 'The Saiva worshippers among the Tamils are called Pandarams: these are not Vira Saivas, nor do they wear the linga or adore Basava. I name them here chiefly because they are often mentioned as being Vira Saivas, whereas in truth they are (like the Smartas) Purva Saivas, and worship the image of Siva in their houses.' It must be remarked that Mr. Brown appears to have had a confused idea of Pandarams. Pandarams wear the linga on their bodies in one of the usual modes, are priests to others professing the Lingayat religion, and are fed by them on funeral and other ceremonial occasions. At the same time, it must be added that they are--more especially the begging sections--very lax as regards their food and drink. This characteristic distinguishes them from the more orthodox Lingayats. Moreover, Lingayats remarry their widows, whereas the Pandarams, as a caste, will not. "Pandarams speak Tamil. They are of two classes, the married and celibate. The former are far more numerous than the latter, and dress in the usual Hindu manner. They have the hind-lock of hair known as the kudumi, put on sacred ashes, and paint the point between the eyebrows with a sandal paste dot. The celibates wear orange-tawny cloths, and daub sacred ashes all over their bodies. They allow the hair of the head to become matted. They wear sandals with iron spikes, and carry in their hands an iron trisulam (the emblem of Siva), and a wooden baton called dandayudha (another emblem of Siva). When they go about the streets, they sing popular Tamil hymns, and beat against their begging bowl an iron chain tied by a hole to one of its sides. Married men also beg, but only use a bell-metal gong and a wooden mallet. Most of these help pilgrims going to the more famous Siva temples in the Madras Presidency, e.g., Tirutani, Palni, Tiruvannamalai, or Tirupparankunram. Among both sections, the dead are buried in the sitting posture, as among other Lingayats. A samadhi is erected over the spot where they are buried. This consists of a linga and bull in miniature, which are worshipped as often as may be found convenient. "The managers of temples and mutts (religious institutions), known as Pandara Sannadhis, belong to the celibate class. They are usually learned in the Agamas and Puranas. A good many of them are Tamil scholars, and well versed in Saiva Siddhanta philosophy. They call themselves Tambirans--a title which is often usurped by the uneducated beggars." In the Census Report, 1901, Vairavi is returned as a sub-caste of Pandaram, and said to be found only in the Tinnevelly district, where they are measurers of grains and pujaris in village temples. Vairavi is further used as a name for members of the Melakkaran caste, who officiate as servants at the temples of the Nattukottai Chettis.