Page:Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 6.djvu/342

SANKATI on the thigh, and a coloured pot on the left shoulder. A few are employed at Oriya maths (religious institutions), where it is their duty to invite Bairāgis and ascetics to a dinner party, and afterwards to remove the leaf platters, and eat the food which is left.  Sankati (rāgi or millet pudding). — An exogamous sept of Bōya. Rāgi is the staple dietary of many of the lower classes, who cannot afford rice.  Sanku.— Sanku, the conch or chank (Turbinella rapa) has been recorded as a sub-division of Dāsaris, Koppala Velamas, and Paraiyans who act as conch-blowers at funerals, and as an exogamons sept of Kuruba. Sankukatti, or those who tie the chank, occurs as a sub-division of Idaiyan. The chank shell, which is regularly collected by divers off Tuticorin in the Tinnevelly district, is highly prized by Hindus, and used for offering libations, and as a musical instrument at temple services, marriages, and other ceremonials. Vaishnavites and Mādhvas are branded with the emblems of the chank and chakram. The rare right-handed chank shell is specially valued, and purchased for large sums. A legend, recorded by Baldæus, runs to the effect that "Garroude (Garuda) flew in all haste to Brahma, and brought to Kistna the chianko or kinkhorn twisted to the right". Such a shell appears on the coat-of-arms of the Rāja of Cochin and on the coins of Travancore.  Sanno (little). — A sub-division of Bottada, Omanaito, Pentiya, and Sondi.  Sanror.— A synonym of Shānāns, who claim that Shānān is derived from Sānrōr, meaning the learned or noble.  Santārasi.— An exogamous sept of Dandāsi. The members thereof may not use mats made of the sedge of this name. 