For the following note on Tampans and Tirumalpads, I am indebted to the Travancore Census Report, 1901. "The Tampans and Tirumalpats come under the category of Malabar Kshatriyas.The word Tampan is a contraction of Tampuran, and at one time denoted a ruling people. When they were divested of that authority by the Ilayetattu Svarupam, they are said to have fallen from the status of Tampurans to Tampans. Their chief seat is the Vaikam taluk. The Tirumalpats do not seem to have ruled at all. The word Tirumulpatu indicates those that wait before kings. There is an old Sanskrit verse, which describes eight classes of Kshatriyas as occupying Kerala from very early times, namely (1) Bhupala or Maha Raja, such as those of Travancore and Cochin, (2) Rajaka or Rajas, such as those of Mavelikara and Kotungallur, (3) Kosi or Koiltampuran, (4) Puravan or Tampan, (5) Sripurogama or Tirumulpat, (6) Bhandari or Pantarattil, (7) Audvahika or Tirumalpat, (8) Cheta or Samanta. From this list it may be seen that two classes of Tirumulpats are mentioned, namely, Sripurogamas who are the waiters at the Raja's palace, and the Audvahikas who perform Udvaha or wedding ceremony for certain castes. Both these, however, are identical people, though varying in their traditional occupations. The chief seats of the Tirumulpats are Shertallay and Tiruvalla." The Tampans and Tirumulpats are, for all purposes of castes, identical with other Malabar Kshatriyas. Every Tampan in Travancore is related to every other Tampan, and all are included within one circle of death and birth pollution. Their manners and customs, too, are exactly like those of other Kshatriyas. They are invested with the sacred thread at the sixteenth year of age, and recite the Gayatri (hymn) ten times thrice a day. The Nambutiri is the family priest, and (death) pollution lasts for eleven days. The Kettukalyanam, or tali-tying ceremony, may be performed between the seventh and the fourteenth year of age. The tali is tied by the Aryappattar, while the Namputiris recite the Vedic hymns. Their consorts are usually Namputiris, and sometimes East Coast Brahmans. Like all the Malabar Kshatriyas, they follow the marumakkathayam system of inheritance (through the female line). Tampans and Tirumulpats are often the personal attendants of the Travancore Maharajas, whom they serve with characteristic fidelity and devotion.The Tirumulpats further perform the tali-tying ceremony of the Nayar aristocracy. The names of the Tirumulpats and Tampans are the same as those of other classes of Kshatriyas. The title Varma is uniformly added to their names. A few families among these, who once had ruling authority, have the titular suffix Bhandarattil, which is corrupted into Pantarattil. The Tampans call themselves in documents Koviladhikarikal, as they once had authority in kovils or palaces. Tiruman (holy deer).--An exogamous section of Kallan.