Page:Castes and Tribes of Southern India.djvu/94

AGAMUDAIYAN The more prosperous Agamudaiyans celebrate their marriages according to the Purānic type, which is the form in vogue amongst most of the Tamil castes, with variations. The astrologer is consulted in order to ascertain whether the pair agree in some at least of the points enumerated below. For this purpose, the day of birth, zodiacal signs, planets and asterisms under which the pair were born, are taken into consideration : —

1.Vāram (day of birth).—Days are calculated, commencing with the first day after the new moon. Counting from the day on which the girl was born, if the young man's birthday happens to be the fourth, seventh,thirteenth, sixteenth, or seventeenth, it is considered good. 2.Ganam (class or tribe).—There are three ganams, called Manusha, Dēva, and Rākshasa. Of the twenty-seven asterisms, Aswini, Bharani, etc., some are Manusha, some Dēva, and some Rakshasa ganam. Ashtham and Swathi are considered to be of Dēva ganam, so individuals born under these asterisms are regarded as belonging to Dēva ganam. Those born under the asterisms Bharani, Rōgini, Pūram, Pūradām, Uththarādam, etc., belong to the Manusha ganam. Under Rākshasa ganam arc included Krithika, Āyilyam, Makam, Visākam, and other asterisms. The bridal pair should belong to the same ganam, as far as possible. Manusha and Dēva is a tolerable combination, whereas Rākshasa and Dēva, or Rākshasa and Manusha, are bad combinations. 3. Sthridirgam (woman's longevity).—The young man's birthday should be beyond the thirteenth day,counting from the birthday of the girl. 4. Yōni (female generative organs).—The asterisms are supposed to belong to several animals. An 