Page:Castes and tribes of southern India, Volume 5.djvu/188

NAMBUTIRI BRAHMAN :3. Santhi (officiating as temple priests): the right of performing priestly functions in temples.
 * 4. Arangu (stage): the right of taking part in the performance of Sastrangam Nambūdris.


 * 5. Panthi (row of eaters): the right of messing in the same row with other Brāhmans.

Those who enjoy the privilege of No. 1 in A are entitled to all the privileges in A and B; those enjoying No. 2 In A have all the privileges from No. 2 downwards in A and B; those having No. 3 in A have similarly all the privileges from No. 3 downwards in A and B, and so on. Those entitled to No. 1 in B have all the privileges except No. 1 in A; similarly those entitled to No. 2 in A have all the privileges from No. 2 downwards in B, but only from No. 3 downwards in A, and so on."

Among the people of good caste in Malabar, to speak of one as a hairy man is to speak of him reproachfully. Yet, putting aside Muhammadans, the highest of all, the Nambūtiris are certainly the most hairy. In the young Nambūtiri, the hair on the head is plentiful, glossy, and wavy. The hair is allowed to grow over an oval patch from the vertex or a little behind it to a little back from the forehead. This is the regular Malabar fashion. The hair thus grown is done into a knot hanging over the forehead or at one side according to fancy, never hanging behind. The rest of the head, and also the face is shaved. The whole body, excepting this knot and the back, is shaved periodically. Karkkadakam, Kanni, Kumbham and Dhānu are months in which shaving should be avoided as far as possible. An auspicious day is always selected by the Nambūtiri for being shaved. Gingelly oil (enna) is commonly used for the hair. When a Nambūtiri's wife is pregnant, he refrains from the barber, letting his hair grow as it will. And, as he may