3. Karaikkat or Karkatta. The name is said to mean Vellalas who saved or protected the clouds, or waiters for rain. Their original profession is said to have been rain-making. Their mythological origin is as follows. "In old times, a quarrel happened between the Raja of Pandya desa and the god Devendra, and things went to such lengths that the angry god commanded the clouds not to send down any rain on Pandya desa, so that the inhabitants were sorely distressed by the severe drought, and laid their complaints before the Raja, who flew into a rage, marched his army against Devendra, defeated him in battle, seized on the clouds and put them in prison, in consequence of which not a drop of rain fell on any part of the Bhuloka or earthly world, which threw the people into a great consternation, and the whole with one accord addressed their prayers to Devendra, the god of the firmament, and beseeched him to relieve them from their present distress. Devendra sent an ambassador to the Raja of Pandya desa, and requested that he would release the clouds, but he refused to do it unless they gave security for their future good behaviour, and likewise promise that they would never again withhold the rain from falling in due season on his kingdom. At this juncture, the Vellal caste of Pandya desa became security for the clouds, and, from that circumstance, were surnamed Karakava Vellal Waru, or redeemers of the clouds." [141] In an interesting account of the Karaikat Vellalas of the Palni hills by Lieutenant Ward in 1824, [142] it is recorded that "their ceremonies, it is said, are performed by Pandarams, although Brahmans usually officiate as priests in their temples. They associate freely with the Kunnavans, and can eat food dressed by them, as also the latter can eat food dressed by a Karakat Vellalan. But, if a Kunnavan is invited to the house of a Karakat Vellalan, he must not touch the cooking utensils, or enter the cooking-room. Wives are accustomed, it is supposed, to grant the last favor to their husband's relations. Adultery outside the husband's family entails expulsion from caste, but the punishment is practically not very severe, inasmuch as a Kunnavan can always be found ready to afford protection and a home to the divorcée. A man who disgraces himself by an illicit connection with a woman of a lower caste than his own is punished in a similar manner. Formerly the punishment was in either case death." It is recorded [143] that "in 1824 the Karakat Vellalas were accustomed to purchase and keep predial slaves of the Poleiya caste, giving thirty fanams for a male, and fifty for a female. The latter was held to be the more valuable, as being likely to produce children for the benefit of her owner." It is said that, among the Karaikkat Vellalas, a peculiar ceremony, called vilakkidu kalyanam, or the auspicious ceremony of lighting the light, is performed for girls in the seventh or ninth year or later, but before marriage.