Vibhaka Gunta.--Recorded in the Madras Census Report as "a low class of wandering beggars; clubbed with Mala." Some Malas in the Vizagapatam district possess gunta manyams, or petty fields, and supplement their income by begging. Vignesvara.--A synonym for the elephant god Ganesa, which occurs as a gotra of Nagaralu. The equivalent Vinayaka is a gotra of Medara. Vilkurup.--The Vilkuruppu or Vilkollakuruppu are the priests and barbers of the Malayalam Kammalans, and also makers of umbrellas and bows (vil) and arrows. In former times they supplied the latter articles for the Malabar Infantry. Malabar and Travancore are, par excellence, the home of the palm-leaf umbrella, which still holds its own against umbrellas of European manufacture, which were, in 1904-1905, imported into India to the value of Rs. 18,95,064. A native policeman, protecting himself from the sun with a long-handled palm umbrella, is a common object in towns and villages on the west coast. Concerning the Vilkurups of the Cochin State, Mr. L. K. Anantha Krishna Aiyar writes as follows. [154] "In former times, their occupations were training low caste men to arms and athletic feats, to use sticks in fighting, and also to the use of bows and arrows, and pial school teaching. In these days of civilisation, their services are no longer required for these purposes, and they are employed in shampooing, umbrella making, and quarrying laterite stones for building purposes. In Nayar families, during tali-tying ceremonies, they have to give a bow and a few arrows. During the Onam festival also, they have to give a bow and arrows to every Nayar house, for which they get some paddy (rice), curry stuffs, a cocoanut, and some oil. When they are called in for shampooing, three oils are well boiled, and cooled. The patient lies on a plank, oil is poured over him, and every part of his body is well shampooed, and afterwards he is bathed in water boiled with medicinal herbs. The Vilkurups eat at the hands of Brahmans, Nayars, Izhuvans, and Kammalans, but abstain from taking the food of barbers, washermen, Panans, Kaniyans, and other low castes. They have to stand at a distance of thirty-two feet from Brahmans and Nayars. Pulayans and Parayans have to stand at a great distance. They live in localities occupied by the Izhuvans. They cannot approach the Brahman temples, but have to stand far away from the outer wall. They are their own barbers and washermen." Villasan (bowmen).--A synonym of Malayalam Kammalans, who formerly had to supply bows and arrows for the Travancore army. Villi.--Villi (bow) or Villiyan (bowmen) has been recorded as a synonym of the Irulas of Chingleput. Villi also occurs as a sub-division of Vettuvan, a hunting caste of the Tamil country. Villu Vedan (huntsmen using bows).--A synonym of Eravallar.