Valli Ammai Kuttam.--A synonym of the Koravas, meaning followers of Valli Ammai, the wife of the God Subrahmanya, whom they claim to have been a Korava woman. Vallodi.--The name denotes a settlement in the Valluvanad taluk of Malabar, and has been returned as a sub-division of Nayar and Samantan, to which the Raja of Valluvanad belongs. Valluvan.--The Valluvans are summed up by Mr. H. A. Stuart [102] as being "the priests of the Paraiyans and Pallans. Tiruvalluvar, the famous Tamil poet, author of the Kural, belonged to this caste, which is usually regarded as a sub-division of Paraiyans. It appears that the Valluvans were priests to the Pallava kings before the introduction of the Brahmans, and even for some time after it. [103] In an unpublished Vatteluttu inscription, believed to be of the ninth century, the following sentence occurs 'Sri Velluvam Puvanavan, the Uvac'chan (Oc'chan) of this temple, will employ daily six men for doing the temple service.' Again, the Valluvans must have formerly held a position at least equal to that of the Vellalas, if the story that Tiruvalluva Nayanar married a Vellala girl is true. [104] He is said to have "refused to acknowledge the distinctions of caste, and succeeded in obtaining a Vellala woman as his wife, from whom a section of the Valluvans say it has its descent. As their ancestor amused himself in the intervals between his studies by weaving, they employ themselves in mending torn linen, but chiefly live by astrology, and by acting as priests of Paraiyans, and officiating at their funerals and marriages, though some refuse to take part in the former inauspicious ceremony, and leave the duty to those whom they consider impure Valluvans called Paraiya Tadas. Another section of the Valluvans is called Alvar Dasari or Tavadadhari (those who wear the necklace of tulsi beads). Both Saivites and Vaishnavites eat together, but do not intermarry. Unlike Paraiyans, they forbid remarriage of widows and even polygamy, and all males above twelve wear the sacred thread." According to one account, the Valluvans are the descendants of an alliance between a Brahman sage and a Paraiyan woman, whose children complained to their father of their lowly position. He blessed them, and told them that they would become very clever astrologers, and, in consequence, much respected. At the Travancore census, 1901, the Valluvans were defined as a sub-division of the Pulayas, for whom they perform priestly functions.