Page:Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 6.djvu/289

Rh thirteenth days, and, on the seventh day, toddy must be freely given.  Rao.— The title of Dēsastha Brāhmans, and various Marātha classes, Jains, and Sērvēgāras. Some Perikes, who claim Kshatriya origin, have also assumed Rao (=Rāya, king) instead of the more humble Anna or Ayya as a title.  Rarakkar.——The Rarakkars or Vicharakkars are exorcisers for the Kuravans of Travancore.  Rāti (stone). — A sub-division of Oddē.  Ratna (precious stones). — An exogamous sept of Kuruba. The equivalent Ratnāla is a synonym of Rālla Balijas, who deal in precious stones.  Rattu.——A sub-division of Kaikōlan.  Rāvāri.— Recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, as a trading section of the Nāyars. The word is said to be a corruption of Vyāpāri, meaning trader. The equivalent Rāvēri occurs as a class inhabiting the Laccadive islands.  Rāvi Chettu (pīpal tree: Ficus religiosa). — An exogamous sept of Kālingi. The pīpal or aswatha tree may be seen, in many South Indian villages, with a raised platform round it, before which Hindus remove their shoes, and bow down. On the platform, village council meetings are often held. It is believed that male offspring will be given to childless couples, if they celebrate a marriage of the pīpal with the nīm tree (Melia Azadirachta). <section end="H289" /> <section begin="I289" />'''Rāvulo. —' It is recorded, in the Madras Census Report, 1901, that "there are three castes of temple servants among the Oriyas, the Rāvulos, the Mālis and the Mūnis. The Rāvulos blow conches (shells of Turbinella rapa'') in the Saivite temples and at Brāhmans' weddings, sell flowers, and regard themselves as <section end="I289" />