Page:Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 6.djvu/279

Rh twice, and worn round the loins, and are seldom seen with an upper body-cloth.*  Puluvan.—The Puluvans have been described † as "a small tribe of cultivators found in the district of Coimbatore. Puluvans are the learned men among the Coimbatore Vellālas, and are supposed to be the depositaries of the poet Kamban's works. One authority from Coimbatore writes that the traditional occupation of this caste is military service, and derives the word from bhū, earth, and valavan, a ruler; while another thinks that the correct word is Puruvan, aborigines. Their girls are married usually after they attain maturity. In the disposal of the dead, both cremation and burial are in vogue, the tendency being towards the former. They are flesh-eaters. Their customs generally resemble those of the Konga Vellālas." The Puluvans call themselves Puluva Vellālas.  Pūnamalli.— The name of a division of Vellālas derived from Poonamallee, an old military station near Madras.  Pūni.— A sub-division of Golla.  Punjala (cock, or male). — An exogamous sept of Dēvānga.  Pūppalli.— See Unni.  Puragiri Kshatriya.— A name assumed by some Perikes.  Puramalai, Puramalainādu or Piramalainādu.— A territorial sub-division of Kallan. <section end="H279" /> <section begin="I279" />Puranadi.——Barbers and priests of the Vēlans of Travancore, who are also called Vēlakkuruppu. <section end="I279" />