Marava chieftains under a Pandya king was called Iyakkan or Yakshan.
They were demonalators and hated Siva, an Aryan deity, and their king Ravana who treated Siva with contempt had his ten heads cut off by that deity.
(b) வானெயிறிலங்க நக்குவளர் கயிலாயந்தன்னை
யாள்வலி கருதிச்சென்ற வரக்கனை வரைக்கீழன்று
தோளொடு பத்துவாயுத் தொலைத்தட னழுந் தவூன்றி
யாண்மையும் வலியுந் தீர்ப்பாரவர் வலம்புரவனாரே.
The custom of carrying off women for wives was prevalent among them; hence this kind of marriage has come to be known as Rakshasan. This form of sexual alliance which is very common among some of the modern hill tribes and largely practised by the ancient Tamils has left us trace in the social rules called the 'begging for a gir1' மசட் பாற்காஞ்சி and 'refusal to give a girl' மகண்மறுத்து மொழிதல். They are explained in the Venbamalai thus:—
எந்திழை யாட்டரு கென்னும்
வேந்தனோடு வேறு நின்றன்று.
(To see an enemy in the king who begged the gift of a jewelled maiden.)
வெம்முர ணான்மகள் வேண்ட
வம்மதிலார் மறுத்துரைத் தன்று.
(They in the fort refusing the hand of a damsel to a bitter foe.)
This kind of marriage by capture seems to have led to frequent bloody quarrels between neighbouring villages. As to their cannibalism and excess of flesh-eating and drinking of liquor more will be said
